Eight years after Floyd Mayweather retired undefeated, Terence Crawford followed suit. Had their eras crossed over and an all-American super fight taken place, one man would not be able to boast the same. Manny Pacquiao has weighed in on who would have kept their 0 intact.
The match-up would have been one of the most technically intriguing of the modern era, pitting Mayweather’s defensive brilliance, timing and control against Crawford’s switch-hitting, ring IQ and adaptability to land spiteful shots.
It would be defined by small margins rather than all-out action, a slow-burner through and through but perhaps one of the most intriguing chess matches in the history of the sport for the hardcore fan.
If the fight landed at welterweight, the division Crawford felt most dangerous, it would be the more defensive, measured ‘Money’ Mayweather rather than the physically dominant ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ from his super-featherweight days.
Pacquiao, who lost to Mayweather in 2015 though may have the chance to avenge that later this year, was asked on DAZN’s Inside the Ring who, in a prime-for-prime battle, he picks to win. He backed Crawford for one key reason.
“I think Terence Crawford, in both primes. He has an advantage – southpaw. I saw Crawford as a southpaw, he mastered it. He knows how to maximise his advantage.”
Crawford’s switch-hitting proved an impossible puzzle for his opponents over 42 fights, and, guided by coach Brian ‘BoMac’ MacIntyre, he knew exactly what stance to employ against who. The most recent example was in his final fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, whom Mayweather also beat, when he fought predominantly southpaw throughout.
Mayweather proved on nine occasions that he could deal with lefties, including against Pacquiao himself. Despite being stunned by Zab Judah, his closest call arguably came against an orthodox fighter in Jose Luis Castillo.
Though Pacquiao seems convinced, there would still be strong arguments for Mayweather – it’s a testament to the brilliance of both men that it will become one of the most debated fantasy fights in boxing.