By Adam Baskin: Terence Crawford states that Jermell Charlo is the guy that he wants next after a possible rematch with Errol Spence Jr later this year in December.
In an interview with HOT97, Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) said that he wouldn’t fight above 154 because he’s not someone that thinks he can beat the entire world regardless of what weight class he competes in.
What this means, though, is that Jermell will need to return to the 154-lb division after his September 30th fight against super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at 168 for the possibility of a match against Crawford to occur.
Crawford wants Jermell Charlo
“That could happen because we’re in the same weight class, but at this point in time, I’m looking for bigger & better opportunities, like [Jermell] Charlo,” said Terence Crawford to HOT97, when asked if he’d be interested in fighting Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
“I just thought to let him know that I’m coming for him too,” said Crawford when asked bout what he said to Jermell from ringside moments after his win over Errol Spence Jr last Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I don’t care for the dude. I wouldn’t say that I don’t like him because I don’t have no reason not to like him personally. I just don’t care for him,” Crawford said about Jermell.
Many boxing fans believe Jermell will lose to Canelo, Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) will return to the 154-lb division to resume defending his titles, which will be reduced three [IBF, WBA & WBC] after he’s stripped of his WBO belt after September 30th.
If Jermell does lose to Canelo, that opens up the possibility of him defending his IBF/WBA/WBC 154-lb titles against Crawford. However, Jermell has been adamant in the past, saying that Crawford must prove himself & work himself into position for a title shot the way that he did before he’ll give him a shot.
Jermell is an old-school fighter and believes fighters should earn their shot rather than being lazy & campaigning for the fight based on their past wins.
Terence won’t fight above 154
“Charlo holds all the belts at 154, and I hold all the belts at 147. Me & Errol were the two top welterweights in the division, and that was the biggest fight of this decade. I don’t see anyone else on that level of Terence Crawford – Errol Spence, besides Canelo, and he fights at 168+, and I don’t see me and him fighting,” said Terence when asked if there’s anyone else that he views as a big mega-fight for him.
“I’d say 154,” said Crawford on the highest weight he could fight. “Them boys get big up there. I’m not a person that’s too loud to say that I could beat the world. I understand there are weight classes for a reason, and I respect the weight classes.
“Yeah, I think 154 would be my max, given my age. I’m about to be 36 years old in September, so I’ve got to take that into consideration as well,” Crawford said.
If Jermell defeats Canelo at 168 to become undisputed champion, that could put a damper on any chances of fighting against Crawford at 154.
Jermell would be not only enjoying the many massive money fights available to him at 168, and there would be no reason to put his body through the ordeal of melting down to 154 for a fight against Crawford.
Charlo would be the A-side, the guy that calls the shots, and Crawford would have to agree to come up to 168 if he wanted the payday and the opportunity to cement his legacy.
Jermell obviously saw how weight drained his friend & gym-mate Errol Spence Jr was last Saturday night, and he wouldn’t want the same to happen to him if he were to melt down from 168 to 154 to fight Crawford in a weakened condition that would benefit him.
