How does Terence Crawford top that?
The new undisputed 147-pound champion probably can’t given the magnitude of his meeting with Errol Spence Jr., who he dropped three times and knocked out in nine rounds Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Crawford will try to maintain his momentum, however. That means he’ll want to face an opponent that fans perceive to be compelling while balancing the need to face mandatory challengers, which is always tricky.
The top 147-pound contenders in each of the four major sanctioning bodies are: Jaron Ennis (IBF); Eimantas Stanionis (WBA); Vergil Ortiz (WBC); and Alexis Rocha (WBO).
Of course, Crawford can opt to move up to 154 pounds, at which he could conceivably face Spence in a rematch or wait for Jermell Charlo to move back down to that weight after he fights Canelo Alvarez at 168 on Sept. 30, although Crawford certainly would take an interim fight.
Here are five immediate options for Crawford (in order of preference):
JARON ENNIS
Record: 31-0 (28 KOs)
This is the matchup fans are talking about. Ennis doesn’t have the track record of Spence but he aces any eye test. He’s the only welterweight who can match Crawford’s speed, power and explosiveness – maybe even exceed it – and he obviously has technical ability, although he hasn’t proved it against one of the top handful of 147-pounders. I would pick Crawford to beat any welterweight or junior middleweight at the moment, including Charlo. That’s a given after what we saw on Saturday. The goal should be to find the man who poses the most significant threat. That would be Ennis, a physical freak who has the ingredients to be truly special. And he’s 26, nine years younger than Crawford and in his prime. No other potential 147-pound matchup compares.
VERGIL ORTIZ
Record: 19-0 (19 KOs)
Ortiz is similar to Ennis, although he certainly doesn’t have the speed of his Philadelphia counterpart. That could be his undoing against Crawford, whose quickness has been a key factor in his success. And Oritz’s resume is no better than Ennis’, perhaps worse. The 25-year-old Texan has taken down solid opposition but he has faced no one with the ability to provide a genuine test. However, he’s a well-schooled boxer. His knockout percentage speaks for itself. He can hurt or break down anyone with the right punch or punches, including Crawford. At least that would be the perception going into the fight, which would go a long way in selling it to the public. And Ortiz, like Ennis, also would have youth on his side. Ortiz probably doesn’t have the tools to present a serious threat to Crawford but the matchup is good on paper. One caveat: He pulled out of a fight with Eimantas Stanionis last month because of health concerns. He needs to sort that out.
EIMANTAS STANIONIS
Record: 14-0 (9 KOs)
The 28-year-old Lithuanian was due his shot at the WBA title but stepped aside so then-titleholder Spence could fight Crawford. That probably doesn’t mean much now, although he certainly is near the front of the line to face Crawford. His relative lack of name recognition would be a liability in the promotion, although hardcore fans would buy into the fight. Stanionis is an excellent all-around fighter, though. He’s is similar to Spence in that he has refined technique and unusual toughness, although the latter certainly didn’t serve Spence last Saturday. He doesn’t have a deep resume but he’s coming off his most significant victory, a split decision over previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev in April of last year that should’ve been unanimous. Stanionis, like the others, would be a significant underdog against Crawford but he has good tools and a fighting spirit that could server him well.
KEITH THURMAN
Record: 30-1 (22 KOs)
A lot of fans will roll their eyes when they see that Thurman is on this list. The former two-time 147-pound titleholder has been relatively inactive – one fight in the past four years – and appears to be past his prime, as we saw when he lost a split decision to 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao in 2019. He battled injuries during his time away. On the upside he’s only 34, a year younger than Crawford, and is coming off a one-sided decision over Mario Barrios in February of last year. Could Thurman beat Crawford? Almost certainly not. However, a fighter of his pedigree would be a solid opponent and his recognizable name and outgoing personality would help sell the fight. Crawford could do worse than Thurman.
ERROL SPENCE JR.
Record: 28-1 (22 KOs)
Spence can trigger a rematch clause in their original contract, which would set up a second fight at either 154 pounds or perhaps a catch weight above 147. That’s a bad idea for both men. The fight on Saturday couldn’t have been more conclusive, meaning a rematch makes no sense. Crawford has nothing to prove. As one colleague put it, “That would be money over logic.” And I don’t believe fans would be as interested in seeing a second fight as Crawford and Spence seem to think they would. Fans are savvy. They know what they saw. They’re not interested in mismatches, which is what a second Crawford-Spence fight would be. Don’t be shocked if it happens, though. Spence can demand it and Crawford would find the low-risk payday attractive.
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