Crawford, 37, hails from Omaha, Nebraska. He's known for his all-action, switch-hitting style in the ring. His list of achievements is impressive. He's won world titles in four weight classes and has been undisputed champion twice in the four-belt era. Right now, he holds a super-welterweight title. Some of his biggest wins came against Errol Spence Jr, Shawn Porter, and Jeff Horn.
When asked about his favorite fighter, Crawford didn't hesitate. He told Froch on Fighting:
"Roy Jones Jr. In and out the ring. Him rapping. His excitement, being an entertainer. Me coming up [I was] watching him, analysing him. Just everything he did in the sport of boxing from the amateurs to the pro. Roy Jones Jr has always been my number one favourite fighter."
Crawford's love for Jones goes beyond just his boxing skills. He admires Jones' whole package - his in-ring performance, his out-of-ring persona, his rapping, his excitement, and his entertainment value. Crawford also respects Jones' journey from amateur to pro.
Jones' career is full of highlights. He won an Olympic silver medal in 1988. Then, he ruled the middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions as a pro. Jones even moved up to heavyweight and grabbed the WBA title. Many consider him one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever.
Jones was known for his speed, athleticism, and tricky style. He rose quickly in the pro ranks and racked up world titles and highlight-reel knockouts in his prime. Later in his career, he slowed down and became less consistent, but kept fighting. He ended with 66 wins from 76 fights, including 47 early finishes. His last fight was in 2023.
Crawford's pick of Jones as his favorite fighter shows the lasting impact Jones had on the sport and on the fighters who came after him.