OMAHA, Neb. — Leaders of Omaha gathered to talk about and give thanks to the one and only Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford after thousands of people watched/took place in a parade that honored the hometown hero.
Crawford is the undisputed welterweight champion, after defeating Errol Spence Jr. with a technical knockout in the 9th round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in late July.
A video of Crawford’s journey to where he is now was played just before numerous high-profile celebrities including Shaq and Rick Ross sent their congratulations to Crawford via video.
LL Cool J gave a special shoutout to Omaha on top of sending his love and support to Crawford.
“I appreciate you man, thank you,” said Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre, co-founder of B&B Sports Academy. “I told you, man. I told you we was going to do it.”
Mayor Jean Stothert passed out awards to some of the coaches and staff of B&B Sports Academy which Crawford also co-founded.
Crawford thanked multiple people as he took the mic at the rally. He started off by thanking God because “without him, none of this would be possible.”
“It’s not just me winning. We all winning, together,” he said.
Crawford continued with an important message.
“It’s always possible,” he said. “With hard work, dedication and belief, anything is possible, and I’m a living testimony to that.”
A message many local parents said show why he’s a key role model for their children.
“Terence is very grounded,” Jessica King, Omaha resident and a mother, said. “He definitely represents for our community, so I just want my son to understand that no matter how much you make you just still represent for your hometown and just stay humble.”
Another adding.
“It’s great to have somebody that shows us a way that will give us a good opportunity to know that you can you can go anywhere even if you’re from a little town like Omaha,” Sean Taylor, Omaha resident and a father, said.
Mayor Jean Stothert had a special surprise for Crawford.
With the approval of Omaha City Council, which she believes she’ll get, she’s going to sell him the land just north of his gym for $1 since it is owned by the city.
This way he can serve more kids with more room for growth.
