There has been incessant debate in the boxing world over which of Terence Crawford or Naoya Inoue is the best pound for pound fighter in the sport.
Both men produced near punch perfect performances that culminated in clinical stoppages last month, in fights that were widely expected to be the toughest of their career.
In a recent interview with Fight Hub, hall of famer Roy Jones Jr had no doubts that Crawford was his number one – and controversially stating that he felt Inoue was fortunate to get the victory in his first fight with Nonito Donaire.
“Naoya Inoue when he first moved up, he lost to Donaire – don’t forget that. ‘Bud’ ain’t lost to nobody, he moved up three times and lost to nobody. So don’t tell me Inoue’s better than ‘Bud.'”
“Now ‘Bud’s had the opposition to show us, you can’t put Inoue or anybody else on top. He’s proved what we already thought.”
Crawford dominated proceedings throughout against Errol Spence, knocking ‘The Truth’ to the canvas on multiple occasions en route to becoming undisputed welterweight world champion in an historic win at the T-Mobile Arena.
It remains unclear whether or not Spence will activate a contractual rematch clause, or if Crawford will be free to potentially move up in weight to pursue further world titles.
It would be remiss not to mention Inoue, however, who was crowned unified bantamweight world champion against Stephen Fulton at the Ariake Arena – the fourth weight division he has picked up world honours in.
A match up with IBF and WBA world champion Marlon Tapales looks set to be next, which would give ‘The Monster’ the opportunity to match Crawford’s feat of becoming undisputed at two weight classes.
Regardless of which of the pair you rank higher, boxing fans just just feel grateful to be witnessing both men chase greatness.