Although boxing superstar Terence Crawford is just two days away from facing an undefeated world champion, fans and pundits can’t help but wonder what’s next for the pound-for-pound star.
With WBA super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov looming in his path, the temptation to plot Crawford’s next move is too strong to ignore. There are several possibilities in numerous weight classes, but who is most likely to be called up?
It must be said that we are talking about hypotheticals. Madrimov is an excellent boxer and puncher, and a large percentage of fans and media who know nothing about him are overlooking him. Crawford is the favorite and rightly so, but stranger things have happened.
Just for fun, though, let’s assume Crawford wakes up Sunday as the WBA 154-pound champion. Who would be next on Bud’s hit list?
The Jugo Mobile looks at the options available to Crawford in the coming months.
Will Terence Crawford fight Canelo Alvarez?
Maybe the question should be: Will Canelo Alvarez fight Terence Crawford?
The chances of this fight happening are very slim, simply because Canelo has a lot to lose. While Crawford would receive a huge sum of money and high praise for taking on a much bigger man, Canelo risks damaging his legacy almost beyond repair.
Despite everything he has accomplished in boxing, Canelo’s loss to Crawford would define his career and render past accomplishments redundant. Fans would quickly forget the masterful wins, multitude of titles, and pound-for-pound rise. Instead, they would quickly point out that Canelo was knocked off his pedestal by a welterweight.
There are things that are worth more than money. The risk for Canelo is not worth it.
Will Terence Crawford fight Jaron “Boots” Ennis?
In many ways, this fight is not worth the risk for Crawford.
“Boots” is the current IBF welterweight champion and a bright talent. At 32-0, the 27-year-old switch-hitter is still untested in an eight-year professional career and is considered by many to be a future pound-for-pound number one.
Crawford, who has reigned in three pisions for more than a decade, only recently achieved superstar status. Ennis, meanwhile, became world champion last year, has only won three title fights and is better known to the hardcore crowd.
From a business perspective, Crawford would be in no rush to make this fight happen. At 36, he has other big fight options available to him at considerably less risk, so why give Boots a chance at winning the lottery?
It may be frustrating for fight fans, but this line of thinking is a reality.
Will Terence Crawford fight Sebastian Fundora?
In March, Fundora made a late replacement for Keith Thurman to defeat previously undefeated Tim Tszyu, capturing the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles in the process.
Just weeks later, it was reported that Fundora would be making his first defense against former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. However, there has been no official announcement and mandatory assignments are now approaching.
In April, the WBO ordered Fundora to fight the winner of the Crawford-Madrimov fight. If Crawford prevails, then the 6-foot-5 Fundora would be guaranteed a career-high payday against the pound-for-pound star and have a chance to make history.
Fundora is associated with Premier Boxing Champions, which would have been a problem a few years ago. The good news is that Crawford is now a free agent and the PBC would be very keen to secure his services for such a fight.
Will Terence Crawford fight Bakhram Murtazaliev?
Who? While not a household name, Murtazaliev is the undefeated IBF super welterweight world champion.
The 31-year-old Russian achieved that distinction by stopping Jack Culcay in April and there’s a chance he could enter the Crawford sweepstakes very soon.
Murtazaliev, who lives in the United States, is represented by Egis Klimas, one of boxing’s most astute figures. If Crawford is aiming to make a splash at 154lbs, then expect the IBF champion’s team of experts to position him for a dream fight.
