Teofimo Lopez backs one of many 4 Kings to defeat Terence Crawford in a prime-for-prime welterweight battle.
‘Bud’ known as time on his Corridor of Fame-worthy profession in December, just some months faraway from his unanimous choice victory over Canelo Alvarez.
Regardless of being made a pre-fight underdog, Crawford was capable of dethrone the extra pure super-middleweight to change into a three-division undisputed champion.
His finest performances arguably got here at 147lbs, although, because the American scored seven straight stoppages earlier than orchestrating a ninth-round end over Errol Spence Jr in July 2023.
This victory alone has impressed many to match Crawford with different welterweight greats, together with the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard.
A very intriguing fantasy matchup, nevertheless, can be between the masterful switch-hitter and Thomas Hearns, who challenged Leonard for the WBC welterweight title in 1981.
Regardless of struggling a 14th-round stoppage defeat, ‘The Hitman’ was main on all three judges’ scorecards and would finally rematch Leonard in 1989, just for their super-middleweight contest to finish in a controversial draw.
Standing at 6ft 1in, there are few that would have gotten the higher of Hearns between 147 and 168lbs, the place his solely different defeats got here towards Marvin Hagler and Iran Barkley.
It’s maybe this measurement benefit that has impressed Lopez to favour Hearns over Crawford whereas talking with Day by day Mail Sport.
However it was additionally the jab of Hearns – a shot refined beneath the tutelage of Emanuel Steward – that would have posed issues for Crawford, whose 75in attain in any other case represented a key benefit all through his illustrious profession.
