Terence Crawford: the bulletproof GOAT in the era of four belts Premium

Terence Crawford, the first male boxer to be crowned undisputed champion in two weight divisions, savours the hero's welcome in his hometown Omaha. He is an overachiever, having achieved more than his dream of winning one title. He is now ranked the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, and his fight against Errol Spence Jr. was a legacy-defining bout. Crawford's resilience is remarkable, having survived a gunshot to the head 15 years ago. He is a role model, inspiring others from difficult backgrounds to reach for the stars. He is open to a rematch with Spence or a catchweight fight with Saul Alvarez. Crawford is betting on himself to make it 41-0.

Wearing a tan mesh vest, denim shorts and a dark sun hat, Terence Crawford savoured the hero’s welcome in his hometown Omaha. The 35-year-old American had lived up to his reputation of being a generational fighter, becoming the first male boxer to be crowned the undisputed champion in two weight divisions in the four-belt era.

Even as he luxuriated in the afterglow of his welterweight unification bout win over Errol Spence Jr. during the victory parade, Crawford’s thoughts turned to the odds he had overturned in reaching boxing’s pinnacle.

“Little kid from Omaha. Overachiever. I always say I’m an overachiever because my dream was just to win one title. Now I’m on top of Mount Rushmore,” he told the adoring crowd.

“It’s always possible. The hard work, dedication and belief, anything is possible, and I’m a living testimony to that. A lot of people told me I wasn’t going to become nothing. And half of y’all thought I was gonna be dead or in jail. But you know, I’m glad I turned my life around for the best. And like I say, it ain’t how you start the race, it’s always how you finish it.”

Crawford’s race is anything but finished, but he is in a position few have achieved. He is currently ranked the world’s best active boxer, pound for pound, by The Ring magazine, Boxing Writers Association of America, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, ESPN and BoxRec.

The fight against Spence had a lot riding on it — including bragging rights for the boast of being the greatest in history. It was the most anticipated boxing match in several years, compared in many corners to other classic welterweight matchups such as the two between Robert Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, Leonard and Thomas Hearns the following year, Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993 and Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya in 2000.

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson thought the potential of the Crawford-Spence clash transcended the weight division. “I haven’t seen things like this in over 30 years — two of the best fighters in the world to decide who is truly the best,” he said.