Tag: Boxing Junkie

Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create our own “Who Wins?” feature, in which we pit a single fighter against each of five potential opponents and indicate who we believe would win the fights.

We started yesterday with our No. 1 boxer pound-for-pound, Vasiliy Lomachenko, who faced Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Miguel Berchelt and Ryan Garcia in our mthyical fights.

Lomachenko went 14-0-1 (3 KOs) in those bouts, setting a high standard for those who follow.

Today our featured fighter is No. 2-rated Terence Crawford, who has been pitted against Errol Spence, Manny Pacquiao, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia in the deep welterweight division. As in the case of Lomachenko, our staffers – Michael Rosenthal, Norm Frauenheim and Sean Nam – give their picks in each of those five fights.

We then tally Crawford’s record in those fights and present our standings for the first time.

We want to acknowledge that the choice of possible opponents is subjective. We’re looking for the best possible but also realistic foes for our featured boxers. One caveat: We won’t consider promotional and managerial rivalries that often stand in the way of the best matchups.

And we’re operating under the assumption that none of our featured boxers will fight with ring rust as result of their forced coronavirus-related layoff.

The plan is to work our way down our pound-for-pound list each day, meaning we’ll focus on No. 3 Canelo Alvarez tomorrow.

So here goes: Crawford vs. his five potential opponents.

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CRAWFORD (36-0, 27 KOs) VS. SPENCE (26-0, 21 KOs)

Rosenthal: Crawford is a better all-around fighter than Spence, quicker, more athletic, more dynamic, more power pound-for-pound. The problem for him is that Spence is almost as good as he is (assuming he has fully recovered from his crash) and the naturally bigger, stronger man, which would determine the winner. They would engage in a competitive, give-and-take fight until Crawford wears down and Spence pulls away. Spence by a close decision.

Frauenheim: It’s the fight everyone wants to see. But it’s getting perilously close to a past-due date. Crawford is 32. Spence hasn’t fought since an auto accident. Is he the same? If he is, it’s a classic. Spence has size, power. Crawford has precision in both hands. His instincts are deadly. Crawford, split decision.

Nam: Much of this depends on whether Spence is the same fighter he was before his hellacious car crash last year. If not, it’s hard to see Spence as the favorite. Crawford has yet to face a top-tier welterweight but the way in which he has dispatched his past several opponents suggests he is a difficult proposition for any elite 147-pounder. His versatility – ability to switch hit, fight off the back point, counter, come forward, finish, et al. – is precisely why Spence, despite his superior size and power at the weight, can’t afford to lose a step. Crawford by unanimous decision.

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CRAWFORD VS. MANNY PACQUIAO (62-7-2, 39 KOs)

Rosenthal: Fun matchup, as most of Pacquiao’s are. Pacman proved against Keith Thurman that he shouldn’t be underestimated, even in his 40s. That said, Crawford is a notch above Thurman, wouldn’t be at a size disadvantage against the smallish Pacquiao and presumably wouldn’t be coming off a long layoff, as Thurman was when he faced Pacquiao. Crawford is too quick, too good, too young for this version of Pacquiao. Crawford by clear decision.

Frauenheim: There’s a reason Freddie Roach has suggested there are better fights for Pacquiao. This is one he can’t win. Crawford is in his prime. Pacquiao is past his. Pacquiao showed surprising quickness against Thurman. But Thurman was limited by a hand injury. A two-fisted attack from the switch-hitting Crawford would be too much. Crawford, late-round TKO.

Nam: As inspiring as Pacquiao’s recent run has been, throttling the likes of Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman, Crawford would mark an end to the senator’s joyride. Crawford’s counterpunching ability will disrupt Pacquiao’s usual in-and-out motion. Recall that Pacquiao has historically had trouble against particularly good counterpunchers. Crawford wins on points.

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CRAWFORD VS. PORTER (30-3-1, 17 KOs)

Rosenthal: Porter is a difficult matchup for anyone because of his relentless, swarming style, as he proved against Spence. And, again, Crawford would be at a size and strength disadvantage. Like Spence, Crawford would have to work for everything he gets in this fight and would be fortunate to have his hand raised. He’s tougher than people realize, though, and will emerge with a razor-thin decision.

Frauenheim: Crawford’s toughest fight. Porter’s smarts are matched by durability. Porter is effective inside and he gets there with foot speed. On the inside, he can limit Crawford’s leverage and angles. Crawford will be careful early, adjust and do enough damage late to win a narrow decision.

Nam: Fighting Porter is like climbing over a barbed wire fence: You’re going to come out the other side with cuts and scrapes. Crawford would be no exception. Porter’s aggressiveness (read: roughhouse tactics) will give Crawford lots to chew on in the early going. But expect the Omaha native to adjust in the second half of the bout and start finding ways to tag Porter cleanly en route to a unanimous decision.

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CRAWFORD VS. THURMAN (29-1, 22 KOs)

Rosenthal: Thurman might have a slight size and strength advantage over Crawford, as well as more experience against top 147-pounders, but that’s it. Crawford is a better fighter than Thurman is every conceivable way, particularly a Thurman who has battled injuries. Crawford withstands whatever Thurman has to offer, outboxes him and wins a clear decision. Of these matchups, this could be the easiest for Crawford.

Frauenheim: If healthy, Thurman is dangerous. But injuries have forced him out of his power-first style. He was careful in losing to Pacquiao because of a hand injury. He showed he could adjust. He’d have to make many adjustments against Crawford, whose style is defined by seemingly endless adjustments. Crawford, unanimous decision.

Nam: Thurman is currently out of commission nursing yet another injury. When he returns, who knows if he’ll be the same. He claims he wasn’t 100% in his points loss against Pacquiao. Hard to give any welterweight a chance against Crawford if you’re not at your best. Though Thurman boasts a fearsome straight right, he has not stopped any opponent since shopworn Luis Collazo in 2015. His chin is also a concern. He was buzzed dangerously by Josesito Lopez and was dropped once and hurt badly to the body against Pacquiao. Crawford will walk him down late and stop him.

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CRAWFORD VS. GARCIA (36-2, 21 KOs)

Rosenthal: Garcia is a better fighter than he gets credit for. He is an excellent counterpuncher and has a lot of pop in his punches, which makes him competitive in any fight. He would give Crawford more trouble than some might expect. In the end, though, Crawford’s all-around ability would be too much for a game, but slightly overmatched Garcia. Crawford wins a clear decision in a competitive fight.

Frauenheim: It’s a tricky fight. Garcia is a counter-puncher, as good as any. His left is dangerous. Underestimate it and you’re Amir Khan, whom he stopped in 2012. By now, Crawford knows about that left. He also has more than enough in his skill set to elude the power while landing his own counters with both hands. Crawford, unanimous decision.

Nam: Early on, it’s a tactical fight between two superb counterpunchers. But as the fight progresses and both men open up, expect Garcia’s somewhat plodding footwork and subpar power at the weight to work against him in the late rounds of the fight. Crawford, who has a knack for tailoring his game plan to his opponent, will gradually break down Garcia, stopping him late.

THE FINAL TALLY

Crawford: 14-1 (3 KOs)

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THE STANDINGS

Lomachenko: 14-0-1 (4 KOs)
Crawford: 14-1 (3 KOs)

 

Read more:

Won Wins? Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. five potential opponents