Former two-division champion Carl Frampton has reflected on Terrence Crawford’s impressive win over Errol Spence Jr and called it “flawless” and “the best performance I have ever seen.”
Frampton is not alone in this view. The entire boxing world was stunned by the apparent ease with which Crawford strolled to victory with a 9th-round knockout out of his elite-level foe.
With ice seemingly running through his veins and an expressionless face throughout – even after knocking down his opponent three times – Crawford controlled the fight with his jab despite being the naturally smaller man who has come up through the weights.
The win saw the famously introverted Omaha native climb into the history books and become the first male fighter to claim undisputed titles in two divisions in the four-belt era.
On his own YouTube channel, Frampton, the decorated former boxer turned pundit was full of praise for the now widely acknowledged pound-for-pound king.
“What a performance from Terrence Crawford. I think it was the best performance I have ever seen. Couple of reasons for that. The majority of people were edging towards Terrence Crawford but I don’t think anyone thought it would be as easy as it was.”
Frampton breaks down the bout and picks out the jab as the key to victory.
“He made an elite fighter look very, very ordinary. His jab was outdating. He can box in an orthodox or southpaw stance. He stayed southpaw for the whole fight, so he’s a right-handed southpaw so his jab hand is his strong hand so it was literally a ramrod. Very hard, very accurate. Didn’t waste a lot. I only gave Spence round one. Everything after that went to ‘Bud.’ He’s an incredible fighter.”
After stating that many believe Floyd Mayweather is “the fighter of our generation” he says he disagrees.
“Terrence Crawford is the fighter of our generation. Easily the number one pound-for-pound on the planet, without a shadow of a doubt. That version of Terence Crawford, that beats Floyd Mayweather at welterweight – no doubt about it.”
The boxing world now waits with excitement about what Crawford might do next.