Sometime late Saturday night, Terence “Bud” Crawford arrived at the top of the mountain.
In a thrilling fight he controlled from the start, Terence “Bud” Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision and made history as the first three-time undisputed champion.
The view was spectacular.
Crawford saw his image, etched in granite, on Mount Rushmore.
Move over, Muhammad, Joe, Rocky, Sugar Ray, Mike, Jack and Floyd, and all the other legends of the sweet science. Make room for Bud.
The kid from Omaha, Nebraska, confirmed his place with the all-time greats of boxing. You can argue the order of the names but there’s no debate about Crawford. Omaha’s Champ belongs.
He did it his way. Of course.
Light welterweight. Welterweight. Super Middleweight. Left hand. Right hand. Power. Crafty strategist.
Crawford had too many weapons and angles to be labeled. He deserves his own place in boxing history.
Unlike many of the sport’s legends, Crawford’s greatness was not defined by a rivalry or a long line of major fights.
In fact, his legacy will be defined by him having to move up two weight classes to challenge Canelo Alvarez in front of 70,000 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Legacy talk comes up when an athlete nears the end of a career. Crawford, 37, is very likely at that point.
Was Saturday his last fight? He wouldn’t say. If so, what a perfect walk-off. Except …
After conquering his biggest fight, Crawford’s star has never seemed larger. And the first bout streamed live on Netflix is bound to bring in historic numbers. Perhaps it’s a new door to a boom era of streaming for boxing.
Wouldn’t Bud want to hang around just a bit and take part?
But who would he fight? A rematch with Alvarez might be there for the making. But why would Crawford do it? He doesn’t need it.
Would there be any other challengers at a lower weight class? Doubtful. The lack of fights is why Bud had to move up.
And what about that one final encore, the fight at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln that NU Athletic Director Troy Dannen would love to land?
While the champ figures out his next move, let’s talk about another legacy that Crawford will leave when the time comes.
The one right here at home.
I’ve never compiled, or seen, a “Mount Rushmore of Nebraska sports greats.” The World-Herald sports staff has compiled the “Nebraska 100,” list of all-time greatest athletes from the state.
In the latest update, in 2015, Crawford was ranked No. 35.
Needless to say, he should be moved up considerably higher.
How about No. 1?
Bob Gibson, the Hall of Fame pitcher and Harlem Globetrotter, is rightfully No. 1 on the list. Gale Sayers is No. 2, followed by Grover Cleveland Alexander, Bob Boozer and Johnny Rodgers.
Yeah, North Omaha and the men from “24th and Glory” could have their own Mount Rushmore.
It’s hard to compare Crawford with the other sports and eras. But I’d say if you are among the top all-time legends in your sport, you belong there in your state’s all-time list.
There’s a generation of Nebraskans who don’t know Gibson, Sayers, Boozer or Rodgers. That’s the beauty of Bud.
He’s a legend for this generation.
Crawford has made boxing mainstream in Nebraska. He’s brought the fights back to Omaha. Packed houses. Bright lights.
A Crawford fight is the main event in town. The bars charge covers and take reservations. There are watch parties like he’s the Super Bowl. He is, in a way.
He’s the superstar next door. Crawford has a quiet life here, with a serious lack of pretension. There’s not a lot of commercials or endorsements. You’ll see him at a Huskers or Jays or Mavs game, maybe a concert, wearing the team colors and jerseys.
Crawford had the head coach of Nebraska football speaking at his send-off party in Omaha and jetting off to Las Vegas after the Husker game for the Alvarez fight. Heck, Matt Rhule and the entire team wore Crawford T-shirts to the game on Saturday.
You have to think he might make another appearance — with his newly acquired belt — at the Michigan game next Saturday.
The fact that he represents his town and his teams at his fights makes him all the more endearing to folks. They’re just like him, if they were the baddest man on the planet.
That’s the cool thing about our community. Gibson and Boozer could show up in public when they chose and blended in. So does Rodgers.
But maybe we need to see a whole lot more of Crawford now.
Like a statue. Wherever people gather. A man of the people.
How about a parade and celebration? Mayor John Ewing, fight fan and Bud man, can make that happen. And couldn’t you sell those Crawford shirts all over town? Yes.
That’s because Crawford has united our town like few things I’ve seen. He’s the champ from “Omaha … Nebraska.” When he takes on the world, a piece of his city is with him.
We’re all witnesses and we can’t wait until the next time. Will there be a next time?
I don’t know when Crawford will hang them up. But I know where he should do it.
Memorial Stadium. That would be the perfect walk-off, through the tunnel, and into pages of history. Boxing history. And Nebraska history.
tom.shatel@owh.com, 402-444-1025, twitter.com/tomshatelOWH
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Tom Shatel
Sports columnist
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