For the better part of the past five years, both Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. have not only protruded toward the top of the welterweight division, but they have also established themselves as arguably the two best fighters in the world.
As the years quietly flew by, fans fulminated over who would win if the two settled their promotional differences and met in the ring. Ultimately, with Crawford becoming the first man to stop former two-time welterweight champion, Shawn Porter, in November of 2021, his contractual ties to Bob Arum’s Top Rank immediately expired.
With all roads seemingly cleared, the two engaged in what appeared to be promising conversations. However, while fans began envisioning their all-out war, they were left despondent as Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) recently announced that he’s left the negotiating table and will instead take on fringe contender, David Avanesyan, on December 10th.
Although the boxing world was initially disappointed by the fallout, they were taken aback by Crawford’s choice of opponent. Even with the pound-for-pound star praising Avanesyan as a tough out, fans across the globe have begun to question why the unheralded slugger out of Tabynskoe, Russia, is being afforded this opportunity when undefeated rising contenders in Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr., have begged for a crack at his WBO crown.
In Crawford’s opinion, nevertheless, the answer to those overarching questions is an incredibly simple one.
“Them names never came up,” said Crawford recently on his Instagram Live. “I would’ve fought those names in a heartbeat.”
In the case of Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs), the 25-year-old hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has made it abundantly clear that he would jump at the opportunity to face either Spence or Crawford. Earlier this year, in the co-main slot on May 14th, the switch-hitting young star registered his 19th consecutive stoppage victory, doing so against Custio Clayton.
But while he currently sits in the number two slot in the WBO sanctioning body, Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs) is holding firm to the number one position. The 24-year-old destructive force continued his cataclysmic ways earlier this year, stopping the previously undefeated Michael McKinson.
With Ortiz bellyaching over his need to challenge Crawford for his WBO trinket, the newly turned 35-year-old revealed that, considering his lofty standing, he’ll have no issue placating the wishes of either Ortiz or Ennis.
“Come on man, I’m the best fighter in the world. Who you think I am? Who you think I am? I’m the best fighter in the world. I always fought my mandatories. I ain’t never ducked my mandatories.”
