As a two-division lineal world champion and former fighter of the year, Terence ?Bud? Crawford finds himself on a path toward induction in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
No Nebraska fighter has been enshrined among the all-time greats in Canastota, New York. But, as he has proven the past few years, Crawford is unlike any other boxer the state has produced.
The unbeaten Omahan (30-0, 21 knockouts) is recognized as one of the top fighters in his sport, though he claims he isn?t overly concerned about where he ranks among his elite-level peers.
?I pay a little attention to it. But, at the same time, I look at it as status playing a big part in ratings,? the 29-year-old Crawford said Thursday. ?I just worry about winning, and everything else will fall into place.?
An argument could be made that Crawford, who has won all 30 of his pro bouts decisively, is the top fighter in the world right now. Though it may take winning a true megafight to prove it.
Until he gets that opportunity, the unified junior welterweight champion puts his lofty status on the line every time he steps into the ring. That?ll be the case again Saturday in New York City.
Crawford is set to defend his WBC and WBO 140-pound titles against 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (19-1, 9 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in a 12-round championship bout on HBO.
It will be the first time he has headlined in the main arena at the world?s most famous boxing venue.
?I am very excited about this fight and (am) looking forward to fighting in the big arena where all of the greats have fought,? Crawford said. ?I am looking to put on a great show next week.?
The Omahan defended his WBO title at the Garden?s smaller theater in February 2016, stopping brash challenger Hank Lundy in the fifth round in front of a sellout crowd of 5,092 in his East Coast debut.
It was the first of Crawford?s three impressive victories during a 2016 campaign that again had him in the running for fighter of the year honors. He?ll try to build upon that Saturday in his first bout of 2017.
In Diaz, he?ll face a rugged southpaw whose lone defeat came by majority decision in a 2015 fight with current WBA welterweight champion Lamont Peterson, one the 33-year-old Dominican thinks he won.
?I did everything possible to win that fight,? Diaz, who earned a draw from one judge, said on a conference call. ?The judges were not on my side. Maybe it was because of the style of the fight, but I feel I did enough to beat Lamont Peterson. I regret that I didn?t knock him out.?
The two-time Olympian bounced back with wins over welterweight prospect Sammy Vasquez and Levis Morales in 2016 to earn his first shot at a world title. He?s been clamoring to meet Crawford for months.
?I called out Terence because Terence is the best in the division,? Diaz said. ?It is a big opportunity for me to fight at Madison Square Garden against Terence Crawford.?
