Crawford vs Erik Morales 135 / who takes it?

[KTFOKING]

Fair point but Burns and Beltran began at 126. Morales began his career at 122.

I can't say you or anyone else is making bad points. EVen if he doesn't get KTFO, its safe to say this is a terrible matchup for Morales.

Tough match up for sure. But I also don't think it is exactly fair to just pinpoint one fight for Morales and think any boxer would beat him. I mean JLC and Maidana gave Floyd hell, but there are other pressure fighters he did well against. I just think Crawford will be able to move enough and not get lulled in a brawl which will help him. At 135, Crawford was perfectly fine just boxing his way to a win. Probably will need to start doing that against the bigger 147 pounders as well, but he's on a nice groove right now stopping everyone in front of him.

[pasawayako]

morales by ko.

[The Big Dunn]

Tough match up for sure. But I also don't think it is exactly fair to just pinpoint one fight for Morales and think any boxer would beat him. I mean JLC and Maidana gave Floyd hell, but there are other pressure fighters he did well against. I just think Crawford will be able to move enough and not get lulled in a brawl which will help him. At 135, Crawford was perfectly fine just boxing his way to a win. Probably will need to start doing that against the bigger 147 pounders as well, but he's on a nice groove right now stopping everyone in front of him.

I point to that fight because the combination of attributes and size gave Morales tremendous issue even though he is WAY better than Raheem. So i try to envision what happens when he is in with a fighter WAY better than Raheem in the same weight class.

I have made this argument before about Morales. HOF'er below 130 terrible above 130. Some of it was age IMO it was mostly the size.

[Larry the boss]

Crawford puts a beating on him

[Mister Wolf]

Morales couldnt even beat Raheem.

[Vasyl’s dad]

All the Raheem posts, lmao. Raheem in his prime, beat a war torn and battle weary veteran Morales.

And thats the fight to gauge how this fight goes? This is a mythical matchup. Talk about both at their best.

Morales wins by far. His experience against better fighters in high profile fights gives him the edge. Crawfords best opponent? Laughable. And I like Crawford.

[dannnnn]

Morales never belonged at 135lbs. His best weight was 122lbs and afterwards he moved to 126lbs and reigned as a great fighter for a considerable amount of time there too. Those two weights are where he spent his prime years.

It speaks volumes to how great of a fighter he was that he was still able to have success as he further moved up in weight whilst being on the decline, physically. Examples include his win over Pacquiao, beating David Diaz (IMO) for the WBC lightweight title but not getting the decision, and his brilliant one-eyed performance against a prime Maidana in a fight where not only were people not giving Morales any chance to win but there was also genuine concern for his physical safety.

To answer your question, I would favour Crawford to win this match-up at 135lbs - though it's worth pointing out that the 2005 version of Morales was, IMO, better than any opponent Crawford has faced thus far and could pose problems with his experience alone - but that doesn't tell the whole story here.

Morales is an ATG who could have mixed it amongst the top fighters of any era during his prime years at 122lbs and 126lbs, but he never belonged at 135lbs.
It's like asking: Usyk vs Tommy Hearns at cruiserweight, who wins? Well, Usyk more than likely, but that's not doing justice to the greatness of Tommy Hearns.

[boliodogs]

Crawford uses his all around skills size and power to win by KO. He is too big for Morales.

[Curtis Harper]

Erik was at his best when he fought a forward moving guy. I think Bud would be too much of a boxer.

Bud UD.

[Hanma.Yujiro]

Crawford is too savvy for Erik,

Erik is a slugger, Bud will make angles..
if this is prime Erik and Prime Bud.. i give it UD for Bud.. 8Rds to 4