Terence Crawford’s mother paid children to beat him because she thought it would help him become the pound-for-pound boxing sensation he is today
- Terence Crawford’s mother, Debra, paid other children $10 to beat him when he was a child
- Debra refused to hug, kiss or tell Crawford she loved him when he was a little boy
- Fans said Errol Spence had no chance against someone who had been through this
Terence Crawford’s mother paid children to beat him and punished the superstar with a leather belt during his childhood – insisting it made him the success he is today.
Crawford’s mother Debra had an unorthodox approach to parenthood and paid local community children $10 (£8) each to fight her son on the streets.
She also undermined Crawford’s in-ring accomplishments and refused to tell her son that she loved him or was proud of him.
The 35-year-old’s mother also admitted to ‘beating him with a belt’ and ‘knocking his ass’ for doing so the pound-for-pound feel he is today.
As it stands, Crawford owns a 40-0 pro record after beating Errol Spence to claim the undisputed welterweight crown.
Terence Crawford’s mum paid people to beat him and punished the superstar with a leather belt during his childhood – insisting it made him the success he is today
Crawford’s mother, Debra, also undermined his in-ring accomplishments and refused to tell her son that she loved him or was proud of him.
As it stands, Crawford owns a 40-0 pro record after beating Errol Spence to win the undisputed welterweight crown.
Speaking after last month’s fight, Crawford said he intends to quit the sport soon. However, he insists there are a few big nights ahead of him before that.
Crawford – who is currently chasing a blockbuster showdown with undisputed super-welterweight (154lb) champion Jermell Charlo – has cemented his place in history.
He has become one of the most successful names in the sport, with fans around the world singing his praises.
However, it took her mother a while to appreciate her accomplishments. Instead, she downplayed Crawford’s career and refused to show him any affection.
Speaking to ESPN in 2018, Crawford’s mother said: “If Bud was bad, someone would come and tell me and I would go and pick him up and take him home and give him an ass boo, with a belt.
“Some of the things I told him at the time were to make him a man and not be afraid of anyone, that was a hard lesson but he had to learn it.
“I told the kids I’d give ten bucks a piece to anyone who could whoop Bud, but no one could.”
She ended by saying: “I never said ‘I love you’ to her, I never liked that as a kid, I never liked hugs or kisses and it grew with me .”
Crawford said his mother’s parenting style filled him with rage when he was younger and he would spend his time trying to prove her wrong.
The boxing star said: ‘Everything I did, whether in the ring or not, I wanted to win to prove a point to my mum because she was telling me I was going to get my ass kicked and that I was not good enough.
“It filled me with rage and every time I stepped into the ring I wanted to win so badly to prove a point to him.
Fans took to social media to say Debra’s parenting style was ruthless and Spence stood no chance against a man with such a difficult childhood.
It was a dominating display from Crawford and fellow American Spence was punished
Faced with such controlled savagery, a bloodied Spence kicked the deck three times before being stopped on his feet
“I was getting kicked out of school and doing bad things, but getting booed just made me immune to the pain. I was always in trouble, so I always got booed, but at some point, I got numb.
Fans took to social media to say Debra’s parenting style was ruthless and Spence stood no chance against a man with such a difficult childhood.
In nine rounds at T-Mobile Arena, Crawford gave the welterweight leader of the past half-decade an absolute beating.
In the face of such controlled savagery, a bloodied Spence kicked the deck three times before being stopped on his feet.
