Strength coach Rob Acosta wants to know what Terence Crawford will fight now after WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu signed to face Keith Thurman next on March 30th.
According to Crawford’s coach, Bernie Davis, they wanted Tszyu next, but now he’s no longer an option due to his fight with Thurman.
Acosta says the “walls are closing in” on Crawford, as he doesn’t have good options for his next fight. It looks like Terence is going to have to bite the bullet and face the young killer, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, who is viewed as a better version of himself.
Boots is Crawford 2.0, but some believe that he’s an improved version. If Terence were a robot, Boots would be viewed as the next generation with modifications to make him a better model.
The options for Crawford:
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
- Jermell Charlo
- Teofimo Lopez
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) has already said he doesn’t want to fight Jermell Charlo, so he’s not an option unless he changes his mind. Given how badly Jermell looked against Canelo, a fight between him and Crawford would likely result in poor PPV numbers.
Although WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo Lopez has been calling out Crawford recently, fans see that Teo is just feigning interest in fighting him.
In other words, Teofimo is using Terence’s name for clout to get people interested in his lackluster fight against Jamaine Ortiz on February 8th because no one cares about that albatross-level match-up.
Acosta says that Crawford’s best option would be for him to stay at 147 and face IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to try and become a two-time undisputed in that weight division.
Crawford still holds the WBA, WBC & WBO titles at 147. He was stripped of his IBF title, and it was given to Boots.
Vacate or Fight Boots
“I want to hear some stupid opinions from the fans, but not to be comical. The walks are closing in [on Terence Crawford]. What can you do?” said strength and conditioning trainer Rob Acosta to YSM Sports Media on who Crawford should fight next.
“Vacate and go to 154 and fight a different fight, or if you really want to go for legacy, serious legacy,” Acosta continued about what Crawford’s options are now.
It’s very likely Crawford will vacate his three remaining belts at 147 rather than staying and risking his hide fighting Boots, even though that’s by far his biggest money fight in the division.
If Crawford moves up to 154, who is he going to fight? Is he going to wait until Tim Tszyu is free? If so, he won’t be able to fight him until the summer at the earliest, and it won’t be a big money fight.
Crawford will see the low PPV numbers for Tszyu’s match against Thurman on March 30th, and he’ll give up on the idea of fighting him.
“If we’re really going to talk some number stuff, this is what I would say: Either go up to 154 and grab a title of who’s available a the moment or fight Boots for the IBF.
“If you beat Boots, then you become a two-time undisputed in the same weight division, which is a good legacy to have, a good stamp to have on your resume,” said Acosta.
“But if he [Crawford] doesn’t beat Boots, it’s what he’s willing to risk and lose with that reputation, and also, too, it gives him the opportunity to pass the torch down for the new weight class type of stuff.”
A lot of boxing fans think Crawford is scared of fighting Boots because that would be like facing an improved version of himself, and that would be bad for him at his advanced age.
Sink or Swim for Crawford
“But for Crawford, his options are running thin. [Jermall] Charlo is fighting Canelo. Tim Tszyu is fighting [Keith Thurman],” said Acosta.
Crawford doesn’t have any options if his focus is on getting a big money fight because Canelo isn’t going fight him.
“He [Crawford] doesn’t want to fight [Jermell] Charlo, and the [IBF] vacant [154-lb] belt, a match [Jack Culcay vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev] has already been set up, which won’t make any money with either person he fights. The money he’s looking for,” said Acosta.
“Yeah, that’s going to be your [Crawford] best shot. Your best shot is to fight Boots for the IBF [147-lb title], and if you beat Boots, you become a two-time undisputed 147-lb champion, which is hard to do.
“But then, if you don’t beat him, what’s your move? Even if Crawford were to lose this late in his career. With his resume, it’s not bad. It’s a pretty good, lengthy career, and he’s still going down in the Hall of Fame. So, I guess the walls are closing in [on Crawford].
“What are you going to do? Are you going to sink or swim, bro?” said Acosta about Terence.
