Christopher Walker - It may never get better for Terence Crawford after Canelo win

Terence Crawford did not just enhance his reputation amongst modern standards on Saturday night when he outpointed Canelo Alvarez in a tactical engagement that was perhaps missing the promised fireworks that many casuals expected. 

The Nebraska man produced a victory that deserves to be celebrated and applauded as one of the finest in boxing history as he delivered the kind of performance seen perhaps only once or twice during every generation. 

This was Sugar Ray Robinson falling short in the excruciating heat against Joey Maxim, a contest boxing’s greatest-ever fighter lost, but arguably the finest showing he ever produced when only the sun could prevent him from securing light-heavyweight glory inside Yankee Stadium. 

This was Muhammad Ali traveling to Zaire in 1974 with only a handful of backers believing he could do the impossible against the marauding George Foreman.

In a fight where going the distance would have been considered a monumental success, Ali recorded a stoppage over Foreman in what remains boxing’s most iconic showdown. 

This is Sugar Ray Leonard ending nearly three years of inactivity to dethrone Marvin Hagler as middleweight champion. 

Or Evander Holyfield, motivated by God, outlasting Mike Tyson when the entire boxing industry thought he would last three rounds at best. 

Those great names, icons then, and even bigger icons now, that is where Crawford now finds himself after leaping up two weight classes to preserve his unbeaten record by doing what he does best – winning. 

Jeff Bottari/TKO Worldwide LLC via Getty Images

With the result still sending shockwaves around the sporting world, the enormity of the victory has not been allowed to sink in yet with boxing already planning Crawford’s next fight or forcing him towards the exit door.

When all is weighed up afterwards, retirement should be the only call for the five-weight world champion. 

38 later this month, Crawford is well conditioned to carry on despite approaching 40, but can boxing ever be this good for him again?

A significant leap in class, weight, and experience brought him to the front door of Canelo and he barged past the legendary fighter and kicked him out of his own house. It does not get better. 

There will be calls for Crawford to possibly go back down to 160 or return to super-welterweight. Some in the sport will push him to go higher and call out David Benavidez or Dmitry Bivol.

But Canelo should be the peak for Crawford and, after winning four belts in three different weight classes, there is every chance that continuing with his career could signal a downturn if he goes on too long. 

With the Canelo victory, Crawford’s entire career has a different look. He has gone to a place only certain boxers are able to reach. His personal wealth will be boosted significantly.

His profile, if he chooses, could also skyrocket with mainstream audiences now aware of what hardcore boxing fans have known for the best part of ten years. 

If Crawford remains an active fighter, then more wins are likely to come, but on this September night, with the entire world watching, Crawford became immortal.

He can leave boxing the way with the sport’s blessing or he could see what’s next and risk that legacy being dented, just like what happened to Canelo.

Followers of boxing, mesmerised by what occurred this past weekend, should desperately want the former. 

Lewis Crocker – A turnaround from nowhere 

Although all the spotlight this weekend will fall on Crawford, it must be said that Lewis Crocker, thanks to an inspired gameplan by his trainer, Billy Nelson, deserves the utmost credit. 

Back in March, Crocker was basically humiliated by Paddy Donovan as he was outclassed from the outset with only Donovan’s recklessness costing him the fight as he landed a shot after the bell. 

Throughout the build-up to their Windsor Park rematch, Crocker was dismissed by many with some even planning Donovan’s next move with Conor Benn, Brian Norman, and Manny Pacquiao all linked in what is a wide-open welterweight division. 

Instead, Crocker, more patient and willing to time his shots, dropped Donovan twice and was unfortunate not to secure a stoppage when the bell saved Donovan in round five. 

Despite being floored, Donovan remained competitive towards the end and although the end result, a Crocker points win, was not what everybody agreed with, there was enough in his improved performance to find ways that to crown him the new IBF champion. 

Major fights now await Crocker and the same can be said for Donovan once he proves that this setback is just a minor one. 

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