Terence Crawford became a four-division world champion this month and he believes only one other fight can add to that already impressive legacy.
The 36-year-old from Omaha vacated his undisputed status at welterweight, won convincingly against Errol Spence Jr last year, to move up to the 154 ranks and beat Israil Madrimov over the distance.
Post-fight there was speculation as to what comes next. Crawford has made it clear he wants to move up in weight again, two divisions more, to challenge Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.
Canelo said he would not discuss the fight until after his September 14 bout with Edgar Berlanga is done and dusted, so in the meantime Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh offered Crawford a fight with Vergil Ortiz to defend his super-welterweight belt. The Saudi businessman said he was pretty sure it would be rejected as ‘Bud’ only has eyes for Canelo.
Crawford’s coach Brian McIntyre was asked by Luke Thomas if he may never compete again if he doesn’t land the fight. ‘BoMac’ said only time will tell but that it is a possibility.
“He mentioned it a couple times. Just let the dust settle a little but and just see where he at after a couple months go by. But he told me the same thing that he’s telling the world – ‘that’s the fight that I want, I want to put a stamp on my legacy and I want to go out on top.'”
Asked if there is any fight beyond Alvarez that interests him as a coach, McIntyre said no.
“Not really. There’s nothing else left for Bud to prove. At 54 or going back down to 47, he accomplished everything that we set our eyes on. He wants that Canelo fight and I want him to have it to because not only will it solidify him as a fighter, it will solidify us as coached when we get the job done.”
All eyes turn to Canelo-Berlanga on September 14 and, should he keep the belts, whether or not a big enough offer can be made by Alalshikh.
