Terence Crawford is a modern day Leonard, Hagler, Hearns

By Alan Dawson in Los Angeles

Terence Crawford is a modern day version of boxing’s ‘Four Kings.’

That’s according to the fighter’s coach Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre, and Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn, who compared Crawford to ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, amongst others.

In Crawford’s last fight, he put an all-time great beating on his long-time rival Errol Spence Jr., knocking him to the ground en route to finishing him in the ninth round of a one-sided drubbing.

With the victory, Crawford became the undisputed welterweight world champion, and one of the sport’s top three pound-for-pound stars, alongside Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Uysk.

He returns to the ring Saturday against Matchroom boxer Israil Madrimov in a WBA super welterweight world title fight that takes place at the 22,000 capacity BMO Stadium.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 29: Terence Crawford speaks to Errol Spence Jr. following the World Welterweight Championship bout at T-Mobile Arena on July 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Reflecting on the Spence win to Boxing News, ‘Bomac’ proclaimed Crawford’s victory over Spence as “one of the top” wins in the division’s history.

“That’s Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, and Ray Leonard,” he told us. “That’s one of those wins.”

The Madrimov fight as part of the Riyadh Season initiative is Crawford’s first bout since dominating Spence in July, last year.

Though Turki Alalshikh has rolled out the red carpet, and seemingly spared no expense for a fight week that has seen events on Santa Monica’s pier, at the Chinese Theater, and, tomorrow, the home venue of MLS side Los Angeles FC, Hearn suggests he deserves the Hollywood treatment — and more.

“I feel like he should be an American superstar,” Hearn told Boxing News and other reporters this week. 

“He’s everything that is great about sports and competition, mindset and preparation, and living life like a true great. We should appreciate him while he is here.”

Hearn, like ‘Bomac’ then compared him to the ‘Four Kings,’ saying: “He’s like Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s at that level.”

But, though he holds Crawford in such high regard, he does not seem to view him as the winner in Saturday’s showdown, as he lauds Madrimov.

“[Madrimov] is a 154-pound wrecking machine,” said Hearn. “Not just with power and chin but with great movement, and ring IQ. 

“On Saturday, this will be the toughest fight of Terence Crawford’s career, no doubt. You’re going to see a wonderful fight between two modern day greats.”