Following his huge win over Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, Floyd Mayweather was the number one pound for pound fighter in boxing for the best part of a decade.
Mayweather is now retired from the professional game, and can be found touring the globe taking part in exhibition bouts against YouTubers, MMA fighters, reality TV stars – and just about anyone else who’s willing to get in the ring with him.
In a recently resurfaced interview with FightHype, Mayweather revealed who he believes has taken on his mantle and is the best pound for pound fighter in the sport.
“The pound for pound number fighter in boxing right now is Terence Crawford. He doesn’t have to be under my company for me to give the guy props, I’m not like that.
If he’s ever a free agent, I would love to work with him! Because I know what I can do to take him to that next level.
He’s a hell of a fighter. He reminds me of a young Floyd Mayweather, he can fight his a** off.”
Much of the fighting fraternity would agree with Mayweather’s assessment, however there are also strong cases to be made for the likes of Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Usyk.
However, if Crawford defeats Errol Spence on July 29th and becomes the undisputed welterweight champion of the world, it will be very difficult to deny him the number one spot
The two Americans will do battle for all four world titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, in one of the best match ups to be made in the entire sport
Bookmakers have Crawford a marginal favourite at the time of writing, though it would be foolish to write off the chances of unified champion Spence.