Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins had a long career and took on many challenges in many weight divisions so he is well placed to talk about the best boxers around, and in his mind there is ‘no doubt’ who should get the Fighter of the Year honour from over the last 12 months.
Speaking to FightHub TV when asked for his standout performer of the year, Hopkins picked the two-division undisputed champion in light of his impressive one-sided victory over fellow welterweight great Erol Spence Jr back in July.
“Crawford.”
He was then asked if Crawford really deserved the honours having fought just once.
“Look who he beat. Look who he beat. What he did to Spence, and how he did it, that’s three fights to me, And it took four fights out of Spence, right. Did you see that?”
Hopkins then sounded a note of concern about how much the loss has taken out of Spence.
“I’m a fighter. I can tell you when you get punished like that, it takes years out of you. You don’t see that right now but it takes something out of that person going forward. They still can be in some fights but it really puts a bruise on them. You ain’t see Spence fight again yet? Did you hear him name potential opponents? Did you see the weight he gained? That tells you.”
Spence and Crawford have contacted rematch which it is said has been triggered by Spence, although any details about when and where that might take place are as yet unknown. Once things is for sure though, it will not be four all four belts with Crawford already having been stripped of the IBF. who have promoted Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to champion.