LAS VEGAS — The boxing world is abuzz with renewed debate regarding Terence Crawford’s place in history following his dominant victory over Canelo Alvarez, a win that has reignited discussions about a hypothetical matchup with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Despite Crawford’s own reluctance to engage in comparisons, the question of whether he could have defeated Mayweather in their respective primes has become a central topic among fans and analysts alike.

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs), two weeks shy of his 38th birthday, delivered a masterful performance against Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, moving up three weight divisions to outbox and outmuscle the Mexican superstar. The victory not only cemented Crawford’s status as one of the sport’s elite but also fueled speculation about his potential to overcome Mayweather, who retired in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record.

The Crawford-Alvarez fight, witnessed by a crowd of 70,000, was seen by some as a battle to determine the best boxer of the post-Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao era. Crawford’s triumph has led many to believe that he has indeed surpassed his contemporaries, including Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue, in the pound-for-pound rankings. Crawford’s accomplishment of winning titles in five divisions and becoming the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three different weight classes further bolsters his claim to greatness.

For years, Crawford faced challenges in securing legacy-defining fights due to promotional and political divides within the boxing world. However, his recent move to promotional free agency has allowed him to showcase his talent against top-tier opponents. In 2023, he delivered a dominant performance against Errol Spence Jr. to become the undisputed welterweight champion. He then moved up in weight to capture a 154-pound title against Israil Madrimov in the summer of 2024.

The victory over Alvarez has not only elevated Crawford’s financial standing but also significantly enhanced his legacy. However, when asked about comparisons to Mayweather, Crawford demurred, stating, "Listen, Floyd was the greatest of his era, and I’m the greatest of my era. There is no need to compare."

The debate intensified when Alvarez, in a display of respect for Crawford, was asked which fighter he considered superior. Alvarez, who suffered his first professional defeat to Mayweather in 2013 at the age of 23, responded, "[Crawford] deserves all of the credit. I tried my best tonight and just could not figure out the style; he had everything. I think Crawford is way better than Floyd Mayweather."

The comparison between Mayweather and Crawford is complex, given the slightly overlapping eras in which they achieved their greatest success. Crawford won his first world title in 2014, just one year before Mayweather’s final title fight before his initial retirement. Alvarez, whose resume boasts numerous high-quality wins, had long been considered the dominant force of his era until Crawford’s recent victory.

While Crawford’s recent performances against Spence and Alvarez have solidified his reputation as one of the greatest boxers of this century, it was not until the Spence fight at the age of 35 that he gained widespread recognition as an all-time great. Despite Crawford equaling Mayweather’s achievement of winning titles in five divisions, a comparison of the name value of their opponents arguably favors Mayweather.

Crawford has secured world titles with impressive wins against undefeated champions such as Yuriorkis Gamboa, Viktor Postol, Jeff Horn, and Madrimov. However, his list of elite victories is often limited to Shawn Porter, Spence, and now Alvarez. He has also defeated notable names like Amir Khan and Kell Brook in pay-per-view events, but both fighters were considered past their prime at the time.

Mayweather, known as "Money" for his financial success and status as the highest-paid boxer in history, dominated the pound-for-pound rankings for much of his career. He boasts an unparalleled run of victories over current and future Hall of Famers, including Arturo Gatti, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao, and Alvarez. Mayweather also secured impressive title wins against Genaro Hernandez, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Zab Judah, Robert Guerrero, and Marcos Maidana (twice).

However, a simple comparison of resumes does not fully capture the nuances of the debate. Crawford lacked Mayweather’s showmanship and pay-per-view appeal, which made it difficult for his former promoter, Top Rank, to secure big fights for him. This undoubtedly played a role in the fact that a potential fight with Pacquiao never materialized, despite them sharing the same promoter. While Mayweather’s resume is likely to age well due to the name value of his opponents, some critics argue that the timing of his biggest fights was strategic, allowing him to fight opponents on his own terms.

The Mayweather-Pacquiao superfight, the richest title bout in boxing history, occurred several years after its ideal timeframe, following two Pacquiao losses. Mayweather also required Alvarez to drop three pounds to a catchweight, fought Mosley when he was nearly 39 after a 16-month layoff, and intentionally missed weight by two pounds to gain an advantage against Marquez.

The most compelling argument in favor of Crawford lies in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, particularly during their welterweight primes. Mayweather competed at 147 pounds for much of the final decade of his career, going 12-0 at welterweight between the ages of 28 and 38. Crawford, meanwhile, fought as a welterweight for five years, going 8-0 from the ages of 30 to 35.

Some critics argue that a contemporary fighter like Crawford, with his elite speed, power, and ring IQ, would have been the type of opponent that Mayweather would have avoided during his prime. This is similar to the belief that Mayweather avoided a fight with former champion Paul Williams during his brief reign as an elite welterweight from 2006 to 2008, and why Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard are often considered nightmare matchups for him.

Crawford’s additional attributes further complicate the equation. He is one inch taller than Mayweather, has a three-inch reach advantage, is one of the best defensive boxers of this century, and is a switch-hitter who won his biggest fights against Spence and Alvarez exclusively as a southpaw. Crawford also possesses a notable mean streak and exceptional finishing ability, particularly late in fights, which is something Mayweather never faced at 147 pounds against an opponent in their prime. Mayweather defeated older versions of De La Hoya and Cotto when they were both at 154 pounds.

This comparison is not intended to diminish Mayweather’s accomplishments or overlook his impact on the sport, both commercially and critically. It is important to remember that Mayweather, a consummate boxer-puncher, lost his ability to aggressively pursue knockouts due to chronic hand injuries, which led to a shift in his style towards a more defensive, pot-shotting approach.

However, given Crawford’s "daring-to-be-great" mentality and his recent accomplishments, it is not unreasonable to suggest that he would have posed significant problems for Mayweather had they met in their respective primes. While Mayweather may have a more impressive list of names on his resume, Crawford has arguably taken more risks to prove his greatness. Both fighters made their professional debuts relatively close in weight, with Mayweather at 131 pounds in 1996 and Crawford at 137 pounds in 2008. It is particularly impressive that Mayweather, who never became an undisputed champion, topped out at 154 pounds, while Crawford, without the need for catchweights, captured the 168-pound title for his third undisputed reign.

Regardless of how one ranks him, Crawford possesses the old-school tenacity and adaptability to suggest that he could have thrived in any era of boxing. Despite the delayed opportunity to shine, Crawford still has time to add to his legacy, particularly if he decides to move up to 160 pounds.

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