Boxing fans have every reason to complain in 2024.
Between pay-per-view prices, Ryan Garcia’s positive steroid test and the sport’s relentless struggle to create compelling fights, there hasn’t been much to appreciate.
Yes, Oleksandr Usyk briefly became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000, but within weeks of his dramatic victory over Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian icon was forced to relinquish his IBF belt due to the same procedural nonsense that has plagued the sport for years.
What boxing needs, according to arguably the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, is “the best fighting the best.”
“I feel like boxing should dig up certain fights that should be made instead of saying ‘oh this guy doesn’t sell (pay-per-view)’ or ‘this guy’s not ready’ or ‘this guy didn’t perform well in his last fight,'” undefeated Terence Crawford told DailyMail.com while promoting his junior middleweight debut on August 3 against Israil Madrimov. “Fighters should fight each other, and the best in the division should fight the best in the division.”
And Crawford isn’t just talking about divisional matchups. When asked if he thinks a potential fight between himself and undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is feasible, the 36-year-old didn’t hesitate: “I definitely think it’s a realistic fight. I think that fight can definitely happen, and we’ll see.”
Terence Crawford (left) and Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan (right) pose for a photo on Wall Street
Canelo Alvarez poses on stage during his official weigh-in at Toshiba Plaza on May 3
“I think I can sell myself anywhere,” he continued. “I don’t think it matters what state we fight in. I think the fight sells itself.”
Both of them would not be short of options.
In addition to Las Vegas, boxing’s commercial epicenter, they could choose AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, where Alvarez has been a major draw in the past, or accept a potentially lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. Even Los Angeles, where Crawford faces Madrimov next month, is a viable option for a major pay-per-view event.
The point is, Crawford-Canelo is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime fight that can generate monumental revenue, define careers and help end boxing’s current crisis.
But Crawford (40-0) can’t afford to look too far ahead yet.
Bud, as he is known, says his “main target” is August 3 and Madrimov, a 29-year-old Uzbek with a 10-0-1 record and the current WBA super welterweight champion.
“I think his movement, his power, his size, his stamina, his own unconventional movements make him different,” Crawford said when asked to compare Madrimov to some of his other rivals. “All of those things go together to make him different from some of the fighters I’ve seen.”
The danger is that Crawford has been out of the ring since July 29, 2023, when he scored a ninth-round TKO victory over Errol Spence Jr. in a welterweight title unification fight.
Referee Harvey Dock raises Crawford’s arm after beating Errol Spence Jr. in 2023
Of course, Crawford doesn’t necessarily see ring rust as a problem.
“I think ring rust can have two effects,” Crawford said. “It can be good for a boxer, because his body is rested.
“Or it could backfire on him. He won’t be in the right moment because he hasn’t been in the ring for a while.”
Asked how he’ll fare against Madrimov, Crawford didn’t hesitate: “I’m fine.”
Besides, ring rust isn’t entirely your fault.
Crawford wanted to have a busier 2024, but despite a lengthy back-and-forth with Spence’s team, a rematch never came to fruition.
“I would have liked to have been busier before this, but there were some stipulations in the contract between Spence and I that prevented me from being as busy as I would like to be,” Crawford said. “But I know the future is bright and I look forward to being busier.”
As always, Crawford remains patient with a business that can sometimes feel like an unregulated black market. But while he describes himself as a “victim” of the industry — someone who has sued former promoter Top Rank and who believes he has been sidelined for major fights in the past — Crawford isn’t ready to give up.
He is excited about his move up to super welterweight and says there are “a lot of fighters moving up from 147 to 154,” making the division more competitive.
Canelo Alvarez punches Jaime Munguia during their May 4 victory in Las Vegas
At the same time, “there aren’t many champions,” he says, making the division one of the most open in boxing.
Asked if he needs to be stopped in the ring before considering retirement, Crawford hesitated.
“Of course I can’t box forever,” he said. “Time will tell, you know?”
Crawford said he has not yet discussed the decision with his family and that, as for his six children, they are not yet ready for him to be a stay-at-home dad.
“My children,” he said, “think I’m going to box until I’m 100.”
That may be a stretch, but with the possibility of becoming a champion in a fourth division (he’s already held titles at 135, 140 and 147 pounds), not to mention the possibility of a lucrative fight with Canelo, the Omaha native still wants to add a few things to his resume.
