By Victor Salazar
New York, NY- HBO analyst Max Kellerman has always been high on two division world champion Terence Crawford (28-0, 25KOs). So when he saw Crawford dispatched of Hank Lundy in 5 rounds, it wasn’t any surprise to Kellerman.
“It’s what we’ve come to expect,” Kellerman told BoxingScene.com. “He studies a guy for a few rounds, gets hit little bit, he likes to fight and as he told me in the ring we didn’t feel he was a puncher at 135 because he was struggling to make weight and now at 140 we see the power in both hands.”
Kellerman says he has always seen the angry side on Crawford ever since his first fight on HBO when he took on Breidis Prescott back in March of 2013.
“From day one when he was on our air against Breidis Prescott, he hit Prescott low and Prescott looked towards the ref and Crawford turned to Prescott and cursed him out for complaining to the ref,” explained the HBO analyst. “He reminds me of one of my all-time favorites in Pernell Whitaker because some guys are complete mean little fighters and that’s what they both are.
As to who Kellerman would want Crawford to fight next, the answer is his stablemate at Top Rank, Viktor Postol
“The best matchup south of welterweight for him is Postol,” stated Kellerman.
But who would he measure up against the guy’s one division above him at welterweight?
“I think Crawford should be favored against any Jr. welterweight in the world,” said Kellerman. “You have to see how you adjust in every weight class. Shawn Porter would be a good fight, Keith Thurman’s a good fighter. You see Errol Spence and you see the moldings of an elite fighter. With every fight one day we may have the conversation of Crawford having an argument to being the best pound for pound fighter.”
And how about a showdown that could have took place this April against superstar Manny Pacquiao.
“Pacquiao’s a special fighter but how much of that special fighter is left? Remains to be seen. Even Tim Bradley says that’s a tough fight for Crawford because Crawford gets hit early and Pacquiao can still punch. If forced to pick, many people would probably take Crawford at this point,” Kellerman said.
