Terence Crawford has but to say whether or not he needs to take the time to grow to be the undisputed champion at 154. It will possible contain the 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) combating Tim Tszyu to seize the IBF title and Sebastian Fundora to win the WBC and WBO belts.
It’s undoubtedly attainable for Crawford to grow to be the undisputed champion in a 3rd weight class, but it surely’s potential he must struggle three extra occasions to perform that job.
Age Displaying
Does Crawford wish to run the gauntlet at 37 to seize the final three belts? I’ve my doubts. He seemed like he was combating at 75% capability in opposition to Israil Madrimov on August third and seemed nothing just like the fighter that had reigned at 147 from 2018 to 2023. The mix of age, inactivity, and the load improve to 154 eroded Crawford’s abilities.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh would possible need Crawford to struggle WBC interim 154-lb champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. in between the Fundora and Tszyu fights. Beating these three fighters at age 37 or 38 can be a tall order for Crawford.
– Sebastian Fundora
– Tim Tszyu
– Vergil Ortiz Jr.
The Nebraska native Crawford barely beat WBA champion Israil Madrimov in his debut at 154 on August third. He would have misplaced that struggle if the Uzbek had been busier within the championship rounds by happening the assault.
Fundora, Vergil Jr., and Tszyu may have watched the Crawford-Madrimov struggle and can guarantee they don’t give these late rounds away by combating passively. The Madrimov struggle confirmed that Crawford lacked the identical energy at 154 that he possessed at 147, 140, and 135.
He’s not going to have the ability to out-slug Tszyu, Fundora, or Vergil Jr., and he can be pressured to attempt to beat them utilizing his boxing abilities. It is not going to be straightforward to win a call in opposition to these highly effective and busy fighters with out staying on the transfer for twelve rounds to make it boring.
The Query of Motivation
“If it’s two fights to get all 4 belts, I may see it. If he’s bought to take an interim struggle in between, and that interim struggle is Vergil Ortiz. The query is whether or not Terence Crawford needs to struggle three extra occasions. I may see him combating two extra occasions,” mentioned Chris Mannix on his YouTube channel about whether or not Terence Crawford will try and seize the remaining three belts at 154 to grow to be a three-division undisputed champion.
“Does he wish to struggle three extra occasions at age 37?” Mannix continued about Crawford. “He’s been very selective together with his opponents in recent times. He bought the undisputed at 147 largely as a result of one man [Errol Spence] had these different [three] belts.”
The reply is straightforward: Crawford now not has the ambition to place within the laborious work to grow to be undisputed except all of the belts are held by one fighter, and even then, it’s bought to be a brilliant well-liked fighter who’ll make him some huge cash. In different phrases, laziness has set in with the Nebraska native, and he’s content material to remain at residence, ready for the money to fall in his lap by the forces of gravity.
Cash because the Driving Power
“So, does he wish to struggle Tim Tszyu? Chase Sebastian Fundora and chase a Vergil Ortiz in between, which might be a really bodily struggle. Solely Crawford is aware of the reply to that. Clearly, cash talks. He mentioned within the ring after the win over Madrimov, ‘It’s concerning the payday. It’s concerning the bag. I wish to care for my household now and for future generations.’ If that cash is on the desk, I suppose he does it,” mentioned Mannix.
The way in which Turki was speaking about Crawford solely wanting the Canelo struggle, he gained’t be prepared to run the gauntlet in opposition to the 2 killers to choose up the remaining three belts, particularly at age 37, displaying indicators of age and deterioration. You possibly can solely think about what the lanky 6’6″ Fundora would do in opposition to an growing older Crawford or a giant puncher like Tszyu. These two can be a pure nightmare for him.
“We noticed Errol Spence contained in the ring after the Tim Tszyu struggle. That’s the struggle they ideally need,” mentioned Lance Pugmire about WBC/WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora.
Until Turki presents Fundora some huge cash to struggle Crawford first, he’ll select the extra winnable struggle in opposition to Errol Spence. The Crawford struggle will nonetheless be there if he needs to grow to be undisputed at 154.
