September 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nAlvarez and Spence were both faded when Crawford fought them. Casual fans wouldn\u2019t know this, or the noncurious hardcore boxing fans that don\u2019t bother to scrutinize the physical state of Bud\u2019s opponents. What we want to see now is whether Crawford can beat a fighter in the prime of his career in David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs).<\/p>\n
Turki Alalshikh needs to forget about pouring money into a rematch between Canelo and Crawford. Instead of doing that, he needs to focus on setting up a fight between Crawford and Benavidez.<\/p>\n
The Alalshikh Mandate<\/p>\n
Predictably, Terence will refuse to fight Benavidez if it\u2019s offered to him by Turki. But if that\u2019s the only option given to him in a take-it-or-leave-it manner, he\u2019d have no choice. If Turki tells Crawford that\u2019s all he has for him after his last two less-than-entertaining fights against Alvarez and Israil Madrimov, he\u2019d have to accept the Benavidez or retire.<\/p>\n
We need to prove that Terence can beat an actual young apex fighter. We\u2019ve seen that he can already beat faded fighters. I want to see if Crawford can beat a talent in the zenith of his career to show that he\u2019s not a calculated fighter who carefully selects his opponents at their most vulnerable state in their careers.<\/p>\n
Terence didn\u2019t start showing a huge interest in fighting Spence until after his car crash in 2019. He didn\u2019t start campaigning heavily for a fight against Canelo until his back-to-back unimpressive performances in 2024 against Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga.<\/p>\n
A Run to Victory<\/p>\n
Crawford\u2019s victory over Canelo involved too much running for him to be considered worthy of being placed on the All-Time great list. Beyond the reality that Canelo is no longer in his prime and appears like a shell of his former self, Crawford\u2019s movement was the opposite of how all-time great fighters fight.<\/p>\n
A Manufactured Career?<\/p>\n
Placing Terence prematurely on the All Time great list would tarnish it because his resume is too weak, and there\u2019s the perception from many fans that his career is just a scam. In other words, they believe Crawford has been artificially manufactured to look better than he is by a combination of cunning, calculated matchmaking, and his weight manipulation of fighting well below his actual 170+ lb size.<\/p>\n
All Time Greats<\/p>\n
Muhammad Ali
\nSugar Ray Robinson
\nJoe Louis
\nSugar Ray Leonard
\nHenry Armstrong
\nJack Johnson
\nSalvador Sanchez
\nWillie Pep
\nRoberto Duran
\nJack Dempsey<\/p>\n
Nation Vegas has been writing on the fight game since 2012 and is now a featured writer with Boxing News 24. Over the years, he has built a reputation for strong coverage of both major events and rising prospects, delivering news, fight reports, and features that connect with fans worldwide.<\/p>\n
With more than a decade of experience, Nation combines sharp analysis with an accessible style, making his work a reliable source for readers who want to follow the sport from every angle. His consistency and passion for boxing have established him as a respected voice on the site.<\/p>\n
Boxing News 24<\/a> \u00bb The Benavidez Mandate: The Only Fight That Can Legitimize Crawford\u2019s Claim to All-Time Status<\/p>\nLast Updated on 09\/14\/2025 \t<\/p>\n