Legends are often measured against each other, but some names resist direct comparison. That debate reignited after Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford dismantled Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium, a win that crowned him the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed in three divisions. With that, fans quickly drew parallels to Floyd Mayweather, the man who beat Alvarez years ago.
Canelo Alvarez, however, didn’t hesitate. At the post-fight press conference, he stated “I think Crawford is way better than Mayweather.” A bold claim that raised eyebrows across the boxing world. And now, Crawford’s own coach, Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre, has stepped into the conversation with his own blunt take!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Terence Crawford’s coach backs Canelo Alvarez on comparison to Floyd Mayweather
In a recent interview with Fight Hub TV on YouTube, Bomac proudly wore a ‘GOAT’ hat, and he didn’t shy away when asked about Bud’s career. McIntyre stated, “Yeah, I’m definitely feeling that way, man, the GOAT, greatest of all time, you got to give it to him, you got to give it to his coaches. Not just me, Esau, Red, Bernie, Chet, the nutritionist, everybody played a part.”
When pressed on Alvarez’s remark about Terence Crawford being better than Floyd Mayweather, the veteran coach didn’t hesitate as he immediately responded during the interview, “Who, Terence? Oh, of course. Of course he is.” For him, the discussion seemingly isn’t even close; Crawford has surpassed what Mayweather represented in the ring.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But here’s the wrinkle: Crawford himself has stayed diplomatic. After becoming a five-division champion and toppling Alvarez with scorecards of 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112, he dismissed the idea of historical comparisons. According to him, “Listen, Floyd was the greatest in his era. I’m the greatest in my era. It ain’t no need to compare me to Floyd or Floyd to me.”
It’s a fascinating split. The fighter himself avoids the debate, but his coach and even his opponent throw fuel on the fire. Floyd Mayweather’s win over a young Canelo Alvarez in 2013 remains a key point in his legacy, but Crawford’s destruction of a far more seasoned Alvarez gives weight to these fresh claims.
While the debate rages on, what’s clear is this: after his victory at Allegiant Stadium, Terence Crawford’s name now belongs in the same breath as boxing’s immortals. But according to a veteran voice in the world of sports media, there’s something that the boxing world might be overlooking in the Crawford vs Mayweather comparisons!
Stephen A. Smith lays out one crucial difference between Crawford and Mayweather
Speaking to FightHype moments after the fight, Stephen A. Smith broke down exactly what impressed him about Crawford. “I’m not surprised. I took (Crawford) to win by decision coming into the fight,” he stated. According to him, Alvarez was too experienced to be stopped, but the real question was whether Crawford had the skill and power to keep him off balance. “For the most part, that answer was yes,” he further shared.
Smith then confessed, “But then [Crawford] stepped in there, and he exchanged on several occasions, and survivved, and prospered. And I gotta give credit where credit is due” . What stood out to Smith was the fact that Crawford didn’t just outbox Alvarez; he stood toe-to-toe and proved he could absorb and respond under pressure.
The conversation then shifted toward the inevitable comparison with Floyd Mayweather. Here, Smith drew a clear line. “I’m not gonna sit up here and say that. I think that Floyd Mayweather was such a magician defensively,” he explained. He went on to remind fans that Mayweather’s damaged hands limited his knockout power, but he still put on “masterful performances because he was so superior, skill-wise and defensively.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Finally, Smith pointed to what separates the two fighters. “Tonight, with Crawford, we saw him take a punch on several occasions. With Floyd, we didn’t see that too often because you couldn’t hit him. That’s the difference,” he concluded.
So the question now becomes, is it even fair to measure one magician against another? Or should fans simply embrace that boxing was blessed with two masters of their craft? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!