Terence Crawford is the best fighter in the world right now, according to former multi-weight world champion James Toney.
Toney, nicknamed "Lights Out," had a long and successful career spanning from 1988 to 2017. He fought in over 90 professional bouts and won world titles in multiple weight classes. In 1991, Toney became the IBF world middleweight champion by defeating Michael Nunn. Two years later, he captured the IBF super-middleweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of Iran Barkley at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Toney also claimed the IBF cruiserweight title in 2003 by beating Vassiliy Jirov.
Now observing boxing from the sidelines, Toney has picked Crawford as the current pound-for-pound best. In a recent statement, Toney explained why he rates Crawford so highly:
"He reminds me of me. He fights southpaw, he's a puncher, and he's a slick boxer."
Crawford, known as "Bud," has been on a tear since turning pro in 2008. The 37-year-old from Omaha remains unbeaten after 41 fights and has won world titles in four weight classes. He's achieved undisputed championship status at both super-lightweight and welterweight.
Crawford's next challenge will be his biggest yet. He'll face Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed super-middleweight championship on Saturday, September 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout has got fans and experts excited, with high stakes on the line.
Toney predicts Crawford will come out on top, saying he'll win by knockout. It's a bold claim, but Toney's own experience as a multi-weight champion lends weight to his opinion.
As the boxing world waits for this mega-fight, Crawford's status as the best in the business gets a significant boost from Toney's endorsement. We'll soon see if "Bud" can live up to the high praise and add another chapter to his already impressive career.
