Terence Crawford is asking for trouble against WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu at 154 this year. This isn’t a guy who is weight-drained from power-feeding in between fights, involved in two serious car crashes, and returning from a year-long layoff like Errol Spence Jr.
The basic problem is that fans have gotten a warped view of Crawford’s ability after watching him beat a series of fighters who either weren’t at their best due to layoffs or were never that good in the first place.
The 154-lb division isn’t his playground. That’s Tszyu’s territory, and he’s prepared to show that he’s someone that Crawford isn’t remotely ready for.
Crawford’s opposition since 2017:
Errol Spence Jr: Weight drained
David Avanesyan
Shawn Porter: Washed
Kell Brook: Ditto
Egidijus Kavaliauskas
Amir Khan: Shot
José Benavidez Jr.: Post-leg injury from shooting
Jeff Horn: Paper champion
Julius Indongo: Ditto
Felix Diaz
Against those guys, anyone would look like 24K gold, ANYONE! That’s the whole problem. Crawford has been matched against exclusively soft jobs and is essentially a manufactured fighter designed to look better than he is. It’s great that he’s gotten away with it, but so utterly off-putting.
Tszyu: The Real Deal
The unbeaten Tszyu has been fighting steadily, staying active, and not letting his weight get out of control. Unlike Errol, Tszyu is at the top of his game now and punching holes through his opponents one after another.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) could find out the hard way that is taking on an active, powerful killer, Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), who many fans view as the #1 fighter in the 154-lb division is a mistake.
What we’re likely to see with Crawford when he gets in the ring with Tszyu is his age, inactivity and him being underequipped for the 154-lb division to be brought to light.
The Harsh Truth
Crawford is getting on in years, and as this writer has shown, he’s accumulated a whole bunch of stiffs since 2017. Here’s the reality: Tszyu is a true talent who is younger, more powerful, and in the zenith of his career at 29.
Tim is like a machine, running over everyone in his patch, and he won’t be slowed by an aging, inactive fighter with a resume filled with fluff.
Crawford, the so-called King of the welterweights, could be in for a rude awakening when he gets in there with Tszyu and has his rust spots exposed.
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