What’s Next For Terence Crawford? After Khan

Terence Crawford won the most high profile bout of his professional boxing career. However, his win is somewhat lacking because he didn’t get to end the fight on his own terms.

The WBO welterweight champion hit Khan with an accidental low blow in the sixth round and Khan’s trainer Virgil Hunter asked the bout to be stopped. This caused Crawford to win by a TKO that left a bitter taste in his tongue.

Prior to the anti-climatic finish, Crawford had dominated the bout and was clearly putting on a show. Bud displayed speed, power, hand speed and footwork against the aging and faded Khan. After the bout, Crawford let the crowd know who he wants to fight next:

“There’s only one fight they are talking about and that’s Spence. Whenever they want it, I’m here.” – @terencecrawford

— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) April 21, 2019

Pound for Pound

The Ring Magazine ranks Crawford as the #2 top pound for pound fighter in the planet. The only boxer ranked higher than Bud is lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko. Next to Crawford in the rankings are Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

No question Terance Crawford is deserving of a pound for pound ranking. He’s gone all the way up to welterweight from lightweight and he continues to dominate his opposition. But for Crawford to deserve the #2 position, his next fight should be against a better opponent. Amir Khan was washed up a long time ago. Jose Benavidez Jr. one fight ago wasn’t a marquee name. Neither was Jeff Horn, from whom he took the WBO belt.

The welterweight division has been the most talent-laden in boxing for years. Even with Mayweather retired, welterweight still has plenty of big names like Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, and even Manny Pacquiao. But because these names are promoted by the PBC, making the fights could have its issues especially since Crawford works with Top Rank. But for Crawford to be pound for pound, he must face and beat the big names out there,

Facing The Truth

After beating Khan, Crawford let the crowd know who he wants to fight next. Spence is probably the best welterweight in the game today, even if Keith Thurman claims that he is. Known as “The Truth”, Spence is coming off a unanimous decision win over Mikey Garcia last March. He won the IBF welterweight title with an 11th round TKO win over Kell Brook in May 2017. He’s successfully defended the belt three times and like Crawford, his resume isn’t that impressive.

Spence has long been linked to Keith Thurman but the two have yet to even talk about a fight. Instead, after beating Mikey Garcia in his last fight, Spence took the mic and called out Manny Pacquiao instead. Pacquiao is coming off a win over Adrien Broner last January. But if Spence thinks he’s the best welterweight in the game today, he should fight Crawford or Thurman instead of Manny Pacquiao.

One Time Only

Other than Errol Spence, the opponent that would boost Terence Crawford’s resume would be Keith Thurman, who is the former WBA and WBC welterweight champion. Thurman has always been considered as the best welterweight in the post-Mayweather era. However, after going through several injuries, he was stripped of his belts.

Thurman is coming off a win over Josesito Lopez last January but it wasn’t a win that boosted his stock. Thurman looked rusty against Lopez, the underdog had his moments in the fight where he looked like he was hurting and dominating Thurman.

But remember that Thurman too called out Manny Pacquiao after his win over Lopez, saying it would be an honor for him to fight a legend in Pacquiao. But if Thurman wants his stock in the division to rise again, then he must look for a better opponent than the past-his-prime Filipino boxing superstar. Terence Crawford should be on top of that list. However, Thurman said last December that Crawford and Spence aren’t in his 2019 radar.

It’s Showtime

If Crawford cannot book a date with Errol Spence or Keith Thurman, then there is also Shawn Porter. Nicknamed Showtime, Porter is the current WBC welterweight champion. He won that belt by outpointing Danny Garcia in September 2018. Porter has two losses on his resume. One was to Kell Brook in 2014 when he lost the IBF welterweight championship via split decision. The other was a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Keith Thurman.

Among the welterweight elites of today, Shawn Porter is perhaps the least skilled. However, Showtime may have the best heart and the most determination among the current welterweight champions in boxing. What Porter lacks in skill, he makes up for in effort and hard work inside the boxing ring.

Showtime Shawn Porter was an underdog when he fought Danny Garcia. But he beat Swift by being more aggressive, throwing more punches and showing no fear. Porter’s pace and volume are a headache for any opponent. What Porter lacks in skill, he makes up for it in his effort.

What’s the Latest?

Most recently, the WBC announced that Errol Spence vs Shawn Porter is happening next. Although that bout isn’t finalized yet, it is going to be a title unification fight with the winner going home with both the WBC and IBF belts. It’s also probably going to be the best welterweight fight of 2019 and Crawford isn’t involved in it.

As for Keith Thurman, the rumors continue to say that he is working on a deal to fight Manny Pacquiao on July 20. A lot of quarters are criticizing Thurman for preferring to fight Pacman instead of his contemporaries. But remember that he said in December 2018 that Spence and Crawford aren’t part of his 2019 plans mainly because he still wants to regain peak form after 22 months of due to injury.

If these current rumors are correct, then Terence Crawford will be left out and he may have to consider fighting Danny Garcia or Manny Pacquiao. Well everyone wants Manny Pacquiao because he is the big money bout for any fighter. If Terence Crawford doesn’t get Spence or Thurman in his next fight, then he should prefer booking a bout with Danny Garcia over a money bout with Pacquiao. Bud should be more concerned about building his resume. The money fights will come along once he’s proven his true worth.