Terence Crawford’s historic efficiency in a unanimous choice victory over Canelo Alvarez in September, witnessed by greater than 40 million viewers on Netflix, gained him the undisputed tremendous middleweight championship and helped cement his legacy among the many all-time greats. Together with changing into undisputed champion in a 3rd weight class, he additionally joined solely a handful of five-division world champions all through boxing historical past. However with that win within the rear-view mirror, we now deal with what may very well be subsequent for ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
A rematch with Canelo would include one other monumental payday, however is that battle essential? Crawford dominated Canelo, and chances are high the rematch would play out the identical method. I view that possibility as straightforward cash for Crawford.
But when there’s no rematch, who ought to Crawford battle to additional improve his legacy? Ought to he go down in weight by eight kilos in an try to overcome the 160-pound division, a weight class the place he’s by no means fought? Or ought to he check himself additional by combating greater, extra expert, established pound-for-pound-ranked fighters in bouts that might deliver immense danger however the potential for unsurpassed glory?
As I evaluation the panorama, 5 names stand out as attainable Crawford opponents, with one in every of them providing him a particular bonus match with huge cash and bragging rights. Any of those 5 names would undoubtedly assist additional his already illustrious profession, however two of the names maintain a excessive degree of concern and would check each single capability of Crawford’s existence.
Let’s break down every of those potential matchups.
WBC middleweight champion | Change-hitter
If Crawford decides to problem for a 160-pound world title, a win would make him solely the second fighter in males’s boxing and third general to win a title in six divisions (Manny Pacquiao has gained titles in eight weight courses, Amanda Serrano in seven).
There’s sparring footage of Crawford working with Adames at Gleason’s Health club in Brooklyn a number of years again, displaying glimpses into how the 2 fighters matchup stylistically. Overlook the load or the date of that sparring session. It was a back-and-forth battle, each fighters displaying ability and can. What stood out to me, regardless of Adames being the naturally bigger man, was that the middleweight didn’t look like the dominant determine. Adames isn’t any pushover. Ability-wise, he’s an actual drawback for anybody in his weight class. He brings versatility, sharp timing, exact punch placement and quite a lot of assaults — upstairs and downstairs — all backed by reputable punching energy.
That stated, Adames doesn’t change stances as fluidly or instinctively as Crawford, who’s one in every of boxing’s greatest switch-hitters. Adames can actually battle properly sufficient to bother even a technical fighter like Crawford, and he confirmed that of their sparring exchanges. But when we’re speaking a few targeted, fully-prepared Crawford, one who’s had a complete camp to adapt to 160 kilos and is dialed in on one single goal, it’s exhausting to wager towards Crawford.
Crawford’s expertise, composure beneath strain, his know-how and know-when and the flexibility to make mid-fight changes are what separate him from the remainder. In a situation the place every thing else is equal, Crawford would probably break Adames down, systematically attacking his physique. I believe that in the event that they have been to battle, it will be one other master-class efficiency that might finish with Crawford stopping Adames inside 10 rounds.
Crawford’s possibilities of successful: 70%
IBF, WBO middleweight champion | Southpaw
It has been reported that negotiations for a December middleweight unification battle between Alimkhanuly and WBA champion Erislandy Lara are underway. If this battle have been to occur, the winner would undoubtedly be kingpin at 160 kilos, holding down three of the 4 main titles. Which may pique Crawford’s curiosity.
A Crawford vs. Alimkhanuly battle can be very attention-grabbing. Overlook a few chess match; this might be a sword battle. Each transfer can be sharp, each second calculated, as each males carry the facility to do injury with both hand. A southpaw vs. southpaw entanglement, this bout would shortly grow to be a harmful recreation of discomfort, demanding not solely smarts however inner fortitude and tactical savagery.
At 5-foot-11½, Alimkhanuly brings dimension and a commanding bodily presence. His hand pace, punching energy and surgical accuracy make him a technical nightmare for any adversary. A grasp counterpuncher, he doesn’t waste pictures; he punishes errors and forces his opponents to make errors, resulting in extra punishment. Whereas Alimkhanuly’s pure counterpunching is the inspiration of his offense, his jab typically opens up clear scoring alternatives. Alimkhanuly’s quickness would push Crawford’s adaptability to the brink, forcing split-second selections beneath strain. His sharp imaginative and prescient and timing would put Crawford’s famed defensive instincts to the final word check.
This battle would in the end come right down to will — who’s keen to chunk down when it issues most, endure ache and return hearth with out hesitation. As harmful as Alimkhanuly is, I nonetheless imagine Crawford has what it takes to beat his dimension and talents. Crawford holds a transparent edge in skilled expertise, with double the variety of Alimkhanuly professional fights, and has confronted the next caliber of opposition.
My largest concern for Alimkhanuly lies in his lack of 12-round expertise; he’s gone the gap solely as soon as (a unanimous choice over Denzel Bentley in 2022) and hasn’t fought greater than 9 rounds in his 4 fights since. That raises questions on how he would maintain up in deep waters towards a relentless, menacing, good fighter equivalent to Crawford. Alimkhanuly exhibits a willingness to soak up a number of pictures in an effort to ship his personal heavy artillery, however he tends to generally linger within the pocket a second too lengthy. These pauses may very well be expensive towards somebody as gung ho and astute as Crawford. I might favor Crawford by break up choice. It might not be straightforward.
Crawford’s possibilities of successful: 55%
WBA middleweight champion | Southpaw
Whereas Lara hasn’t fought since a ninth-round TKO victory over Danny Garcia in September 2024, he stays the WBA middleweight champ. Lara, 42, continues to carry out at an elite degree and will probably face Crawford, offered he efficiently will get previous Janibek Alimkhanuly of their rumored however unofficial showdown in December.
A matchup between Crawford and Lara can be considered as a high-risk, low-reward battle for Crawford, aside from the possibility so as to add one other world title to his treasure chest of accolades.
Lara is notoriously troublesome to look good towards. His punch output is low, however his defensive model, constructed on lateral motion and pinpoint counterpunching, makes him a irritating puzzle to unravel. Lara makes use of wonderful footwork to manage vary and tempo, pot-shotting from the surface and infrequently giving his opponents clear openings to land their offense.
Curiously, Lara matches Crawford in attain (75 inches), which implies each fighters can be compelled to assume critically about positioning. If Lara opts to field and transfer, Crawford has the instruments to grow to be the hunter, lower off the ring, work the physique and finally nook him. Whereas Lara’s capability to dictate tempo is one in every of his best strengths, his offensive financial system can also be a mirrored image of his age and the necessity to preserve vitality.
Crawford, nonetheless, is a grasp of adaptation and figuring out weaknesses. For him, recreation plans are solely the start line. In opposition to Lara, he’d probably need to experiment early, mixing aggression with calculated assaults till he discovered the suitable steadiness to lure Lara and mount a sustained offense. Lara, in the meantime, would goal to outlive and frustrate Crawford, shopping for time and lulling him into chase mode, hoping to time him with a pointy, straight left, his bread and butter punch. However Crawford is just too clever, too disciplined and too detail-oriented to fall into such a lure.
I see Crawford going the gap with Lara and incomes a clear-cut unanimous choice.
Crawford’s possibilities of successful: 75%
The subsequent two potential, although unlikely, fights would symbolize the final word check of Crawford’s dimension, ability, willpower and sheer will. On the highest degree of the game, it’s not simply expertise that prevails, however focus and focus from the opening bell to the ultimate spherical. That is the place legendary fighters confront their true limits. All of them, sooner or later, believed they have been unbeatable. However the ring reveals the reality. If Crawford dares to stroll this path, going through giants and chasing greatness past weight and logic, it gained’t be simply one other chapter in his profession. It might redefine his legacy and pressure the boxing world to ask: Is Terence Crawford the best fighter of all time?
WBC mild heavyweight champion | Orthodox
A matchup between Crawford and Benavidez could also be unlikely, particularly with Benavidez now campaigning at 175 kilos, however let’s think about a situation the place Benavidez, a former tremendous middleweight champion, decides to return right down to 168 kilos and tackle the nice “Bud” Crawford. It might be nothing in need of a world stopper.
Crawford vs. Benavidez wouldn’t simply be a psychological recreation of you-go-I-go abilities battle; it will be a bodily grueling, big-money conflict — hell on earth. Benavidez brings a ferocious vitality and intense psychological perception into the ring, and we all know Crawford brings the identical. Benavidez’s dimension (6-foot-2), size (74½-inch attain) and relentless offensive strain would pressure Crawford to faucet right into a deeper degree of competitiveness than we’ve ever seen from him.
Benavidez dismantled his opposition at 168, slowly disintegrating slick boxer Caleb Plant and overwhelming the extremely expert southpaw Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, who had moved up from 160. Benavidez devours excessive guards with high-volume mixtures and shrinks the ring with lengthy, stalking steps, breaking his opponents down by focusing on their physique, taking out their legs and willpower. He offsets their technical rhythm and talents till there’s nothing left.
Benavidez applies daunting strain — educated, purposeful, punishing strain. Fighters like him, with a mixture of dimension, energy, method, and nonstop willpower, can overwhelm even elite particular skills. However Crawford?
Crawford is extra expert than Benavidez, who depends on his monumental will. That’s what would make this matchup so distinctly good. And whereas I’ve my doubts, on condition that the bodily disadvantages can be actual on this one, I might by no means wager towards the nice Crawford.
Crawford’s possibilities of successful: 50%
IBF, WBO, WBA mild heavyweight champion | Orthodox
Crawford cemented his greatness by stepping up two weight courses towards Canelo Alvarez, seizing that second as an underdog to show he belonged among the many sport’s all-time greats. However there’s one other degree of problem taking a look at Crawford from afar, one other alternative to stretch the boundaries of greatness and creativeness. A fantasy matchup with Bivol, the person who handed Canelo his second profession loss, would push Crawford to his absolute limits. Bivol was as soon as even keen to drop down in weight to 168 to face Canelo for undisputed supremacy. If there’s anybody able to testing each ounce of Crawford’s ability, will and adaptableness, it’s Bivol.
Whereas a matchup with Benavidez would push Crawford to his bodily restrict, a showdown with Bivol can be a cerebral battle, an final check of ability, technique and adaptableness on the highest degree of boxing. Not like Canelo or Benavidez, Bivol doesn’t depend on physicality; he outmaneuvers opponents. Crawford’s energy, which overwhelmed welterweights and even shocked bigger males, probably wouldn’t carry the identical impact towards Bivol. And the identical goes in reverse. Bivol isn’t a KO puncher, however he’s correct, quick and sharp; he wears you down with timing and angles moderately than uncooked pressure. It’s price noting that Bivol stood agency beneath the facility and strain of Artur Beterbiev, one in every of boxing’s most feared punchers, of their two fights in October 2024 and February 2025.
Crawford’s physicality and excessive ring IQ wouldn’t rattle a fighter as composed and disciplined as Bivol. Crawford can be punching upward towards the 6-foot Bivol, and whereas Crawford could possess a slight attain benefit, Bivol’s superior footwork and distance management would neutralize that edge. Bivol’s in-and-out motion would make him troublesome to time, and his tight guard and pinpoint jab would make closing the gap a difficult activity for Crawford.
Bivol doesn’t waste motion — neither does Crawford — making each step, feint and punch depend. What would make this matchup particularly troublesome for Crawford is that Bivol wouldn’t chase him. He’d pressure Crawford to steer, drawing him in solely to take advantage of the openings that observe. In his southpaw stance, Crawford can be notably weak to Bivol’s crisp proper hand, which he instances properly towards lefties. The battle for positioning, to search out the vary to land, can be mentally and bodily exhausting for Crawford, who thrives on systemically breaking opponents’ extra probably strategy. However towards Bivol, there is no such thing as a rhythm to interrupt. Solely layers of self-discipline and management stay.
Finally, Bivol’s mastery of the basics, his poise, vary, timing, dimension, ring IQ and protection might very properly neutralize every thing that makes Crawford distinctive. In a high-speed chess match, Bivol has the scale, model, grit and ring smarts to outpoint Crawford. Not as a result of Crawford isn’t nice, however as a result of Bivol’s greatness and magnificence are simply the improper sort of matchup for Crawford.
They are saying cash makes the world go spherical, however in boxing it fuels ambition. For a real prizefighter, success solely makes you need extra. The primary three potential Crawford fights listed above can be about legacy, not a lot about severe cash as about changing into undisputed throughout 4 weight courses. However there’s additionally a secret chapter about timing, alternative and the way badly the folks round Crawford need to make it occur.
Crawford’s possibilities of successful: 45%
Tremendous middleweight contender | Orthodox
With Crawford being the brand new king of the 168-pound division, he’s now not the hunter; he’s the hunted. Rising contenders equivalent to Diego Pacheco, Christian Mbilli and Sheeraz are all eyeing the chance to dethrone the pound-for-pound king. Amongst them, Sheeraz stands out not only for his undefeated report however for his current breakout efficiency towards Berlanga.
The actual query is: Is Crawford serious about Sheeraz? The reply probably comes down to at least one factor: cash. If the worth is true, the battle is true; nothing is off the desk.
Skilled by former world champion Andy Lee, Sheeraz seemed distinctive in that battle. He displayed calm footwork, clever positioning and, most notably, a capability to manage vary with poise and confidence. By slowing his leg motion and staying planted extra typically, he was in a position to generate extra punching energy with out sacrificing timing. He reacted successfully to Berlanga’s assaults by touchdown clear, hurtful pictures.
A matchup between Crawford and Sheeraz can be fascinating, primarily because of the sheer dimension distinction. Sheeraz stands at 6-foot-3, towering over Crawford by a full 7 inches. Nonetheless, what’s astonishing is that Crawford’s 75-inch attain is basically equal to Sheeraz’s, neutralizing one of many ordinary benefits that include top. Crawford is a whole fighter in each sense. He’s an elite switch-hitter, a locksmith with a key to unlock any door contained in the ring. In opposition to greater, taller fighters equivalent to former opponent Viktor Postol, Crawford has already confirmed that he can outbox them going backward, utilizing his superior timing and distance management to dismantle their offense with out having to get inside, as most shorter fighters are historically taught to do.
What would make Crawford so harmful in a matchup towards Sheeraz isn’t simply ability; it’s expertise and his capability to remove what his opponent does greatest. Sheeraz is efficient at shortening his punches, regardless of his dimension, delivering quick and compact uppercuts and hooks within the pocket — a uncommon trait for a fighter of his top. Nonetheless, Crawford is the kind of fighter who anticipates these changes and capitalizes on them contained in the ring. I see the battle being aggressive early, however I anticipate Crawford would draw back within the seventh spherical, as Sheeraz begins to expire of concepts on the way to counter Crawford’s skills and abilities. I’d take Crawford by late stoppage.
Crawford’s possibilities of successful: 60%
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