Morning Report | Terence Crawford: Conor McGregor’s boxing was better than Jake Paul’s vs. Anthony Joshua

Undisputed welterweight champion Terence "Bud" Crawford, widely regarded as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite, recently offered a compelling analysis of high-profile crossover boxing bouts, weighing in on the performances of mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor and social media sensation Jake Paul. Speaking during a Kick stream with content creator Adin Ross, Crawford provided his expert perspective, ultimately concluding that McGregor’s lone professional boxing outing against the legendary Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017 showcased greater competitive merit than Paul’s recent encounter with two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Crawford’s insights carry significant weight within the boxing community, given his pristine 40-0 professional record, which includes 31 knockouts, and his undisputed status across multiple weight classes, cementing his reputation as a tactical master and astute observer of the sweet science.

The discussion pivoted to McGregor’s highly anticipated 2017 "Money Fight" against the then-undefeated Mayweather. McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, surprised many by lasting into the tenth round against the defensive wizard before succumbing to a technical knockout (TKO). Crawford, reflecting on this contest, stated, "McGregor actually did—to me, he did real good against Floyd when he was boxing. He did better than I thought he would do. He did better than Jake Paul did against Anthony Joshua. And he landed some good shots on Floyd, so I have to say he did pretty good. He did better than I thought he would." This assessment from Crawford underscores a perception that McGregor, despite being a debutant in professional boxing against arguably the greatest defensive boxer of all time, exhibited a more formidable and surprising challenge than Paul did against a top-tier active heavyweight.

The August 26, 2017, clash between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, transcended traditional boxing events, becoming a global spectacle. Pre-fight narratives were dominated by the unprecedented nature of an MMA fighter crossing over to face a boxing icon. Mayweather, who had retired with a flawless 49-0 record in 2015, returned specifically for this mega-bout, eyeing a historic 50-0 milestone. His illustrious career was defined by unparalleled defensive prowess, tactical genius, and a meticulous approach to breaking down opponents. McGregor, on the other hand, entered as the UFC’s biggest star, renowned for his devastating left hand, unorthodox striking angles, and unparalleled self-belief. His transition to boxing was met with skepticism from purists but immense excitement from a broader audience, leading to over 4.3 million pay-per-view buys in North America alone, making it one of the highest-grossing fights in history.

In the early rounds, McGregor defied expectations, utilizing his unconventional stance and reach to land several clean shots on Mayweather. He pressed the action, showing unexpected comfort in the squared circle. Mayweather, a master of adaptation, allowed McGregor to expend energy in the initial exchanges, studying his patterns and timing. As the fight progressed into the middle rounds, Mayweather began to systematically break down the Irishman, exploiting McGregor’s diminishing stamina and defensive vulnerabilities. By Round 9, McGregor was visibly fatigued, and Mayweather, shifting from his customary defensive style to an aggressive pursuit, unleashed a barrage of punches. In Round 10, a sustained flurry from Mayweather forced referee Robert Byrd to step in and stop the contest at 1:05, awarding Mayweather a technical knockout victory and his 50th professional win. While the outcome was a TKO loss for McGregor, his ability to compete for ten rounds against an all-time great, and land significant punches, was widely seen as a commendable effort, particularly for a fighter making his professional boxing debut.

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In stark contrast to McGregor’s singular professional boxing venture, Jake Paul has carved out an unconventional career path within the sport, amassing a 9-1 professional record since his debut in 2020. "The Problem Child" began his boxing journey facing fellow YouTubers, then transitioned to challenging former mixed martial artists like Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (twice), Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. While these opponents were recognizable names, none possessed the elite boxing credentials of a multi-time world champion. His sole professional loss came against Tommy Fury in February 2023. Paul’s journey has been marked by significant media attention and considerable financial success, positioning him as a polarizing figure who has brought new eyes to boxing, albeit often drawing criticism for the perceived quality of his opposition.

Paul’s recent contest against Anthony Joshua, which occurred on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium, represented an enormous leap in competition. Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist at the 2012 London Games, is a two-time unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion. His professional record stood at 28-3 with 25 knockouts entering the bout with Paul, featuring wins over notable heavyweights like Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin. Despite recent losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua had re-established himself as a formidable force in the heavyweight division with victories over Jermaine Franklin and Otto Wallin. The fight between Paul and Joshua, sanctioned as a professional bout, was met with widespread skepticism regarding its competitive integrity, with many boxing analysts and fans viewing it as a mismatch designed primarily for commercial appeal.

Crawford’s critique of the Paul-Joshua fight was notably blunt. He described the bout as "mostly a farce," elaborating, "Everybody in the world that knows boxing knows if it wasn’t scripted, that he was getting knocked out." Paul lasted until the sixth round, but Crawford suggested that this was less a testament to Paul’s defensive skill and more a consequence of his unorthodox and often criticized tactics. "Paul repeatedly diving for Joshua’s legs to prevent being counter-punched whenever the fighters closed the distance," according to the undisputed champion, was a key factor. Crawford further explained, "AJ was just trying to cut the ring—well, he really wasn’t trying to cut the ring off—but he was just trying to catch up to him. Jake is an athlete, so his movement was catching AJ off guard." This assessment suggests that Paul’s unusual defensive maneuvers, while perhaps effective in prolonging the fight, did not equate to a truly competitive boxing performance in Crawford’s eyes, and Joshua’s eventual sixth-round knockout was merely a matter of time and adaptation.

Terence Crawford also briefly touched upon the 2021 exhibition bout between Floyd Mayweather and Jake Paul’s elder brother, Logan Paul. This contest, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, was not officially scored, meaning no winner was declared despite Mayweather’s clear dominance throughout the eight rounds. Crawford noted that both Logan and Jake Paul "are both bigger than Floyd too, though," highlighting the significant size advantage the Paul brothers held over the much smaller Mayweather, a natural welterweight. Exhibition bouts, while lucrative, exist outside the official competitive framework of professional boxing, often blurring the lines between sport and entertainment. Logan Paul’s ability to "go eight rounds with one of boxing’s greats," as Crawford observed, was primarily due to the exhibition format and the lack of a definitive scoring system or knockout incentive for Mayweather to finish the fight aggressively.

The rise of crossover boxing, spearheaded by figures like McGregor and the Paul brothers, continues to generate debate within the combat sports world. Traditionalists often decry these events as diluting the integrity of boxing, while proponents argue they attract new audiences and financial investment. Crawford’s nuanced view reflects this complexity. Despite his sharp criticism of the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight, he acknowledged Paul’s overall progression in the sport. "He’s definitely a better fighter now, for sure," Crawford conceded, indicating that while Paul’s recent high-profile challenge against Joshua was deemed a mismatch, his dedication to training and consistent ring appearances have demonstrably improved his technical abilities since his debut. This perspective suggests a recognition of Paul’s commitment to the craft, even if his choice of elite opponents at this stage of his development might be premature in the eyes of an undisputed champion like Crawford. Crawford’s assessment, therefore, provides a valuable, high-level professional opinion on the relative merits of these distinct crossover ventures.

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