Terence Crawford surprises boxing world by naming the one fighter he ranks above himself

Few names in boxing carry the weight of Terence Crawford. With world titles in four divisions and undisputed status at both 140 and 147 pounds, the Omaha-born champion has built one of the most decorated résumés in modern boxing.

And with a potential megafight against Canelo Alvarez looming later this year, Crawford is on the brink of making history as the sport’s first-ever three-weight undisputed champion.

But despite his accolades and pound-for-pound dominance, “Bud” recently made a humble admission that’s turned heads across the boxing community. In an interview with The Ring Magazine, Crawford reacted to his No. 3 spot on their current pound-for-pound list, and he didn’t hold back. While he expressed disagreement with the ranking, he acknowledged that one fighter currently deserves to be placed ahead of him: Oleksandr Usyk.

Crawford responds to pound-for-pound debate

“The Ring number three? How y’all rating me number three? Who rating me at number three? I gotta go talk to them,” Crawford said with a mix of humor and frustration. “[Oleksandr] Usyk number one, he better be number one. Over Usyk? I’m not over Usyk, but I’m over Inoue.”

Oleksandr Usyk holds up a ‘Boxing Lesson’ booklet during a press conference ahead of the Undisputed IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO World Heavyweight Titles’ fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois as part of Undisputed: Usyk v Dubois II at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Crawford’s comment sparked debate, especially considering that Naoya Inoue, the Japanese superstar, has also claimed undisputed status in two weight classes—just like Crawford and Usyk.

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A rare class of champions

All three fighters, Crawford, Usyk, and Inoue, have accomplished what most can only dream of: becoming undisputed in two separate weight divisions. It’s an elite club, and Crawford’s acknowledgment of Usyk speaks volumes about the Ukrainian’s incredible run, particularly after defeating Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

Usyk is now targeting a second reign of undisputed glory as he prepares for a rematch with Daniel Dubois this July. Meanwhile, Inoue continues to dominate at 122 pounds, with his latest title defense coming in early May against Ramon Cardenas.

As for Crawford, his focus remains on legacy. With a showdown against Canelo Alvarez inching closer, he may soon have the opportunity to separate himself from this historic trio—not by rankings, but by doing what no man in boxing has done before.