Terence Crawford and Floyd Mayweather are both hailed as two of boxing’s best since the turn of the millennium, but reigning WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia believes that there is one former 147lber who would have been able to end each of their undefeated streaks.
Mayweather retired with a 50-0 record and was named as the Boxing Writers Association of America ‘Fighter of the Decade’ for the 2010s, although ‘TBE’ is set to risk that unbeaten streak in the near future, with a rematch against Manny Pacquiao now being touted for early 2027.
Meanwhile, like Mayweather, Crawford retired as an undefeated five-division world champion when he announced his decision to hang up the gloves in December, retiring after a historic victory over Canelo Alvarez that saw him claim the undisputed crown at a third weight.
Despite the astonishing careers and lack of frailties shown by both Mayweather and Crawford, Garcia told Daily Mail Boxing that he would favour boxing’s first five-division world champion Thomas Hearns to defeat both men if they fought in their primes.
‘The Hitman’ won his first world honours at welterweight, defeating José Cuevas in 1980. He made three successful defences of the belt before losing to Sugar Ray Leonard in ’81 – his first bout as part of The Four Kings quartet. Given Hearns would win a world title at light-heavyweight and finish his career as a cruiserweight, Garcia’s pick is not a major surprise.
Back to the present day, and Garcia remains hopeful that he could be the one to hand Crawford a first career defeat, recently revealing his intentions to tempt the 38-year-old out of retirement, if he comes through his maiden world title defence against Conor Benn in September unscathed.
Although, at present, Crawford seems unwilling to reconsider his decision to walk away from the sport, refusing to return to boxing despite having a lucrative offer on the table.
