Terence Crawford Archives

BOXING

How Terence Crawford makes his feelings clear on Dana White’s

By Admin March 18, 2026

Terence Crawford makes his feelings clear on Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing

Terence Crawford has offered his verdict on the emergence of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

After spending over two decades turning mixed martial arts giant UFC into a global powerhouse, White has entered the boxing world to more mixed reviews, as he attempts to take the formula he’s created in MMA and bring it into another combat sport.

Some of the established promoters in boxing don’t appear to have taken too kindly to his arrival, with Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn one of the more critical voices, hitting out at the level of shows that Zuffa have put on so far.

JUST IN: ‘Behind-The-Scenes’: Everything we Know About Anthony Joshua & Tyson Fury’s Agreement

White has made some notable moves so far though, signing former long-term Matchroom fighter Conor Benn in a reported $15 million deal, with the promise of more big names in the future.

One big name that White did work with back in September was Crawford, as the UFC CEO acted as the promoter for the fight between ‘Bud’ and Canelo Alvarez at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Crawford won that fight to become undisputed super-middleweight champion before then retiring in December, but the 38-year-old remains an avid watcher of the sport.

With that in mind, he revealed on a live stream with Adin Ross that he thinks the arrival of Zuffa can have a positive impact.

“It’s good for boxing. Anything that draws more eyes to the sport is good for it. They’re putting on great competitive fights.”

Zuffa have staged four events so far this year, all of them at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, with their next show set for early April.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Terence Crawford Breaks Silence on the Fight Boxing Never Got

By Admin March 8, 2026

Did Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez Avoid David Benavidez? Terence Crawford Reveals Why the Fight Never Happened

For years, boxing fans demanded a showdown between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and David Benavidez.

The matchup seemed inevitable when the Mexican star ruled as the undisputed super-middleweight champion while the Mexican-American fighter held the WBC interim title at 168 pounds.

Yet the fight never materialized, fueling criticism toward Canelo Alvarez, with some accusing the Mexican champion of avoiding one of the most dangerous contenders in the division.

Terence Crawford, Canelo, Benavidez

READ: First Time Gervonta Davis had his world title taken before fighting R

Now, the man who decided to weigh in on the debate is Terence Crawford.

Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, Crawford offered a straightforward explanation for why the fight never moved beyond speculation. According to the American fighter, the key factor has always been Benavidez’s physical size.

Benavidez’s size may have been the decisive factor

According to Terence Crawford, David Benavidez presents a very different physical challenge compared to most opponents Canelo has faced throughout his career. The American explained that even if both fighters make the same weight on the scale, the real difference appears once fight night arrives.

“Canelo knows how big Benavidez is going to be when he steps into the ring,” Crawford said in comments shared during his conversation with Joe Rogan.

He also described Benavidez as a tall, naturally big fighter with an imposing physical presence, something that could create a serious advantage at the elite level.

From Crawford’s perspective, the reasoning could be simple: why step into the ring with a fighter who will likely be much bigger when the fight actually begins?

Crawford also praises Canelo’s legacy

Despite pointing to the size difference, Crawford also made it clear that he respects Canelo Alvarez’s career and everything the Mexican champion has achieved in the sport.

The American highlighted that Canelo has built an impressive legacy by fighting larger opponents for most of his career. Standing at around 5’7” (1.70 m), Alvarez has competed successfully in higher divisions, even moving up to 175 pounds, where many rivals had a clear size advantage.

“Canelo is not a big guy, but he’s been fighting bigger guys his whole career and beating them with skill,” Crawford explained.

A fight that now seems more unlikely than ever

While the debate among fans continues, everything suggests that a fight between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez may never happen.

In search of new challenges, Benavidez decided to move up in weight and establish himself in higher divisions. After his run at super-middleweight, the American moved to the 175-pound division, where he eventually captured the WBC title and continued building his reputation as one of boxing’s most dangerous fighters.

Now, the man known as the “Mexican Monster” is even aiming to become a champion in a third division when he faces Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for cruiserweight titles in Las Vegas.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Why Terence Crawford Rejects ‘Disloyalty’ Claims Over Co

By Admin March 4, 2026

Terence Crawford Rejects ‘Disloyalty’ Claims Over Conor Benn’s $15M Zuffa Switch

Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport has pushed the Conor Benn–Eddie Hearn fallout back to the only part that ultimately governs these situations: the contract.

This week, Terence Crawford addressed the backlash during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, questioning why fighters are expected to show loyalty to promoters who are not legally bound to return.

READ: Gervonta Davis: WBA lightweight title fight set after Gervonta Davis

Crawford Questions The Loyalty Standard
“He just signed with Zuffa. And a lot of people were saying he’s disloyal, and Eddie Hearn and them were loyal to him, and this and that. He’s getting $15 million for his next. Like, man, what are people talking about?

“I said, it’s just business. It ain’t personal with them. I said Conor Benn did what was best for him and his family. I said, just like the promotional companies going to do what’s best for them and their business.”

Crawford’s point was simple. Promotional companies protect their financial interests first, and fighters are entitled to do the same.

He has lived it himself. Crawford ended his long association with Bob Arum to reposition his own career, a move that showed how quickly “loyalty” talk can disappear once leverage and options change.

Hearn has since suggested that Crawford did not always enjoy the smoothest relationship with his promoter, Bob Arum, during his rise.

In boxing, stability often lasts only as long as both sides see equal value.

Zuffa’s presence now exposes the structure behind that value. If a fighter can leave, it is because the agreement allows it. If a promoter feels blindsided, the weak point is in the clauses, not the sentiment.

Prograis Grounds The Debate In Reality
Regis Prograis, who faces Benn on April 11 at Tottenham Stadium, offered a similarly measured tone in his recent exclusive interview with World Boxing News.

He questioned the widely reported $15 million figure and cautioned against assuming the public understands the full picture.

“I don’t think the number is true,” he laughed. “But the fight came pretty fast. I got the call, and the fight was made in about two days.

“With him and Eddie, I think it’s always three sides to a story.”

Prograis did not frame it as betrayal. He framed it as boxing moving quickly with details the public rarely sees.

In a market where new money is available, relationships hold only as firmly as the contract language behind them.

Benn now enters the ring under a new promotional banner with reported financial backing attached to his name.

Against Prograis, the performance will not only decide the result. It will shape whether the $15 million debate becomes justification or ammunition.

Keep Reading

BOXING

‘They can’t cut the check without us’: Terence Crawford says fighter

By Admin March 2, 2026

Terence Crawford says fighters need to come together: ‘They can’t cut the check without us’

Terence Crawford thinks fighters need to be more assertive in combat sports.

The first man to capture undisputed titles in three weight-classes in the four-belt era of boxing, Crawford is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Last year, Crawford retired after beating Canelo Alvarez, saying he had nothing left to accomplish in the sport. But while “Bud” may be done, combat sports roll on, and he’d like to see some changes from his peers. Specifically, Crawford wants his fellow fighters to understand how much power they have.

JUST IN: WBC complete U-turn on Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven cross

“These combat sports, it’s got to come from the fighters,” Crawford told Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast when talking about weight-cutting being a problem in the UFC. “Just like boxing. I think if the fighters come together, they can make anything happen. The fighters don’t understand the level of power that they carry, because they think, ‘Oh, since they’re cutting the check, they’ve got the power.’ But they can’t cut the check without us.”

The idea of MMA fighters banding together has been around for years but never come even close to happening. Various attempts at organizing fighters have started and stopped, faltering early on as fighters seem broadly disinterested in the idea. Or, as Crawford says, because the financial realities of opposing the promoters are not viable for many fighters.

“But it’s the fighters that need the money that makes it hard, because the fighters already got the money, they can make a stand for something,” Crawford said. “But the fighters that doesn’t, they’re like, ‘You can do that. I’ve got to provide for my family. You can take a chance of going at the organization for a year or however long it’s going to last, but who’s going to pay my bills? Who is going to put food on my family’s table while we’re doing this, while we’re making a stand? So it’s a little tougher for them to make that stand than a person that’s already established. I think that’s where the seesaw effect happens with boxing and UFC.”

Keep Reading

BOXING

Joe Rogan corrects Terence Crawford’s theory on viral UFC Ke

By Admin March 1, 2026

Joe Rogan corrects Terence Crawford’s theory on viral UFC Kendrick Lamar error

Joe Rogan wants Terence Crawford to know the UFC would never intentionally disrespect him.

The 42-0 boxing superstar was the victim of mistaken identity at UFC 306 in September 2024.

Terence Crawford was beamed onto the big screen while sitting in the front row at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, someone in production mistook him for Kendrick Lamar, and the rapper’s name appeared alongside Crawford’s image on the live UFC 306 broadcast.

JUST IN: Floyd Mayweather’s WBC Champion Emeritus Status Explained

Joe Rogan shuts down Terence Crawford’s theory

Terence Crawford thought the UFC 306 Kendrick Lamar gaffe was ‘intentionally done’ at the time.

17 months later, ‘Bud’ touted the same theory during a recent appearance on Joe Rogan‘s podcast.

“I think they did that on purpose. They had to,” Crawford said.

“I was sitting next to everybody like, ‘Did they really just do that?’”

The long-time UFC commentator emphatically shut down Crawford’s theory about the viral error.

“No. No way. No way. No, no, no, it was just some moron in the truck,” Rogan insisted.

“No. 100 percent, they did not do that on purpose. No one in the UFC would ever disrespect you like that. No one would disrespect you like that. No chance.

“No, they did not do that on purpose. That was just some dumba– that thought that you were Kendrick Lamar for some reason.

“It was so stupid. And then I think they corrected it later in the broadcast.

“I don’t know who it was. I didn’t want to know. I’d yell at them.”

Terence Crawford talks retirement

Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez to become undisputed at a third weight class last September.

Three months later, the 38-year-old boxing legend announced his shock retirement from the sport.

Crawford has now reaffirmed his retirement decision and explained why he chose to walk away on top.

“It’s over with,” he said when Joe Rogan asked if his retirement is permanent.

“Since 2014, I’ve been fighting for something. I won my first world title in March 2014. Ever since then, I’ve been fighting for titles and undisputed. Now, if I come back, what’s the motivation? Just money? Okay, what is on top of that?

“I wanted to be remembered as one of the greatest champions of all time. I think I did that. This last fight I had, the height of it, there is no better finish than that, to me… You did everything right. So, what can top that?”

Keep Reading

BOXING

It’s Not for Fear! Terence Crawford Reveals Why He Won’t Fight

By Admin February 28, 2026

It’s Not for Fear! Terence Crawford Reveals Why He Won’t Fight David Benavidez

Terence Crawford shocks the boxing world: he reveals why he won’t face David Benavidez, and it’s not fear—it’s a strategic matter of size and strength.

Crawford explains why Benavidez is not on his radar

Terence Crawford made it clear that a fight with David Benavidez won’t be his next move. After his historic victory over Canelo Álvarez, Crawford became the undisputed super middleweight champion, cementing his status as one of the most complete fighters in the world. However, speculation about his future opponents has been intense, especially regarding a potential clash with Benavidez, an imposing rival due to his size and power.

Terence Crawford, David Benavidez

JUST IN: Ryan Garcia offered chance to win another world title in new weight

According to Crawford in a Pound4Pound podcast, the physical difference between him and Benavidez would be too significant to ensure a competitive fight. “It’s not a matter of fear, it’s a matter of sporting logic,” the American champion stated.

The physics of the ring: size and strength as decisive factors

Benavidez stands around six feet tall and could weigh between 190 and 200 pounds, giving him a natural size advantage over Crawford, who has already shown he can compete even after moving up divisions. Crawford emphasized that while he has faced large opponents before, the gap in strength and reach in this case could tilt the fight against him before the bell even rings.

“Size matters too much,” Crawford said. His focus isn’t avoiding the challenge but carefully evaluating the risks such a fight would pose to his career and physical safety.

Terence Crawford says Canelo won’t take the Benavidez fight due to the size difference 🗣️

“I just think Canelo knows, ‘why would I get in the ring with this guy that’s gonna be massive come fight time.”

🎥 @joerogan pic.twitter.com/mXu3gtQS2u

— Source of Boxing (@Sourceofboxing) February 25, 2026

After Canelo: Crawford’s path in search of challenges

The fight against Canelo was a statement of authority: Crawford moved up two divisions and proved he could succeed against a bigger weight. That victory, besides being historic, immediately sparked debate about who should be his next opponent. The option of Benavidez seemed appealing to fans and media, but Crawford considers every strategic detail before accepting a fight.

Benavidez and his future vision: new paths

While Crawford evaluates risks, Benavidez has shown interest in moving to higher divisions like light heavyweight and cruiserweight, making it clear that his focus is on new challenges and not returning to 168 pounds. This further reduces the likelihood of a clash with Crawford in the near future.

The debate in the boxing community continues: some argue that fights with size differences always generate excitement and spectacle, while others point out the real risk of injury. Even legends like Mike Tyson have warned that strength and size can be decisive factors, even when a boxer’s talent is undeniable.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Why Floyd Mayweather-Terence Crawford is Boxing’s biggest possi

By Admin February 27, 2026

Unexpected 2026 boxing twist No. 1: As Floyd Mayweather celebrates his 49th birthday on Tuesday, February 24 – he is an active professional boxer.

Unexpected 2026 boxing twist No. 2: Mayweather’s successor as the dominant pound-for-pound force in American boxing for the decade or so that Floyd had been retired, Terence Crawford, is currently retired from professional boxing while Mayweather is not.

Unexpected 2026 boxing twist No. 3: There is no bigger, more lucrative fight that can be made in all of boxing right now than Mayweather vs. Crawford. And, yes, that includes the fight newly announced for September 19 in Las Vegas that will also star Mayweather.

JUST IN: Why Terence Crawford and Joe Rogan Laugh at Dana White Over

Forgive me for sounding like Panama Lewis as he sized up Luis Resto’s gloves, but: There’s a lot to unpack here.

(It’s been 43 years; I think it’s OK to make tasteless Panama Lewis jokes at this point.)

Let’s start with the unretirement of Mayweather – and the presumably related ongoing reports and rumors that it is no longer fitting to call him “Money.”

Many of those details can be found in a Business Insider article published this past December 28. If Business Insider’s reporting is accurate, Mayweather, the only boxer ever to have made more than $1 billion in gross fight earnings (estimates range from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion), appears to be out of money.

Or worse.

The article offers numerous instances of debts owed and payments defaulted. And if anyone was left unconvinced by that article, we now have the circumstantial evidence presented by the headlines Mayweather has made in 2026: He sued Showtime and Stephen Espinoza for at least $340 million nearly a decade after he stopped working with them, and he has decided to fight 59-year-old Mike Tyson in an exhibition and then resume his pro boxing career after what will have been about nine years between sanctioned fights.

Whatever the exact extent of his financial troubles, Mayweather, who made more money than most of us could imagine spending in 10 lifetimes, now finds himself in pursuit of more cash and turning to the one line of work he’s always been able to rely on to generate it.

And while this is clearly a problem of his own making, I do find myself feeling a degree of empathy over his situation. He grinded his way from the bottom to the very top of the world and now must begin the grind all over again, whether his body is still up to the grind or not.

You don’t have to feel bad for him. But it’s hard not to feel sad for him.

Mayweather’s career featured its share of short-lived, unserious retirements, the first coming after he TKO’d Ricky Hatton in 2007 at age 30, but he was serious about it when he walked away after decisioning Andre Berto in 2015 at 38. Then the lure of the easiest of easy money pulled him out of retirement in 2017, when he was 40, to play around with Conor McGregor.

And that was it.

There were lots of exhibitions, where the 50-0 record was not on the line, where Mayweather could again enjoy the spotlight, where he could make some more of that easy money – whether he needed it or not.

Now, following the planned April freak show/creak show against Tyson, Mayweather apparently will be putting that 50-0 record at risk.

His first official fight back will be a rematch against Manny Pacquiao, who, like Mayweather, was retired long enough to get inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, but has since returned to the prize ring. Because in boxing, no one is ever really, truly, all-the-way retired.

Which brings us to Crawford, and the second unexpected twist referenced above.

“Bud” Crawford was born 10 years and seven months after Mayweather. He was a month shy of turning 30 and was newly the undisputed junior welterweight champion of the world when Floyd fought McGregor. He was in the conversation for best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet at the time and remained in that conversation – often the central figure in it – over the next eight years, as he claimed titles at 147, 154 and 168lbs and just kept winning and winning and getting bigger and bigger and better and better.

When he scored a unanimous decision over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez last September on Netflix to become a five-division champ and a more recognizable mainstream star than ever before, to secure his standing not just as one of the best of his era but as one of the greatest ever, somewhere in the same rarefied air as Mayweather, the 38-year-old Crawford looked around and saw no worlds left to conquer.

I believe his retirement announcement was sincere.

It remains anyone’s guess whether it will stick.

Occasionally, a fighter retires before he’s undergone significant decline and stays retired, but even then, there is usually a flirtation with the idea of returning. Wladimir Klitschko was speaking publicly about the possibility last year. Joe Calzaghe went in and out of considering a comeback. Andre Ward still brings it up from time to time.

The point is, Crawford may legitimately believe he’s retired, and he may in fact stay retired, but boxing history says the odds are against that, and boxing history at the very least says he isn’t done thinking about fighting and will listen to offers.

And that brings us to the third unexpected twist. Because if there is one singular fight that will force Crawford to at least pick up the phone, it’s an intergenerational clash with Mayweather.

Mayweather’s 2015 fight against Pacquiao sold a record 4.6 million U.S. pay-per-views. Mayweather-McGregor did about 4.3 million.

If promoted properly, Mayweather-Crawford could generate similar numbers – numbers that would be at least double what I believe any other fight in 2026 could produce.

Mayweather-Pacquiao II this September will be on Netflix, not pay-per-view. But if it were to be a pay-per-view, I expect it would struggle to hit one-quarter as many buys as it did in 2015. It’s purely a big-name nostalgia play, not a serious sporting event with anything of value on the line, other than Mayweather’s zero.

Maybe Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua will happen this year or next, but with six defeats now between them, the window for that to qualify as a global superfight has closed.

Canelo vs. Jake Paul? A major mainstream event, but not as major as it would have been had Paul not already lost to Joshua.

Mayweather vs. Paul, a “revenge” fight for Jake since his brother Logan faced Floyd in an exhibition in 2021? Another marketable curiosity that would have been a bigger deal if Joshua-Paul hadn’t already happened, and another fight that would attract customers on pay-per-view but probably not multiple millions of them.

Mayweather vs. Crawford exists on a different plane. It firmly plants one foot on each side of the line between real fight and circus sideshow. It appeals to the boxing hardcores, to the mainstream casuals and to the freak-fest fly-ins.

Could a 49-year-old Mayweather possibly compete against a 38- or 39-year-old Crawford? Logically and chronologically, the instinct is to say no. But until we’ve seen the man who calls himself “TBE” (The Best Ever) look washed up in the ring, there will be grounds to convince ourselves he’s not washed up.

What we’d have here is a 50-0 former pound-for-pound king against a 42-0 former pound-for-pound king, perhaps the two finest fighters of the 21st century squaring off for supremacy, putting those perfect records on the line.

If it’s framed as an exhibition, the needle might quiver moderately. If it’s positioned as an actual fight that counts on their BoxRec pages, Mayweather vs. Crawford makes the needle breakdance.

Sure, as an athletic contest, it would have been more telling and compelling when Crawford was 30 and Mayweather was 40. Mayweather’s age introduces eye-rolling to the proceedings, no doubt.

But his age also serves as a rallying cry for fellow middle-aged men and women. George Foreman insisted 40 was not a death sentence. Bernard Hopkins stunned viewers by remaining championship-caliber at 50. A 49-year-old Mayweather could be an avatar and an inspiration while he simultaneously contends with becoming a cautionary tale.

And think of all the people who helped make Mayweather rich by paying hard-earned money fight after fight in the hopes of seeing boxing’s egomaniacal supervillain surrender his perfect record. They won’t just accept that as a sunk cost and move on.

If Floyd is going to get in the ring with Crawford and potentially get stomped and slip to 50-1 – and therefore never again be able to concoct some sort of argument that he’s better than Sugar Ray Robinson because only one of them ever lost fights – what Mayweather hater alive would allow himself to miss that?

The businesspeople who could put forth a fight like this would make Crawford an offer he can’t refuse. Bud is retired today, but for this money and this opportunity, I am all but certain he would put himself through one more training camp.

It’s the Mayweather side of the equation I’m far less confident about. The zero on his record is an enormous part of his identity.

But a singular zero in his bank account – rather than the string of zeroes he got used to – can shift a man’s priorities.

I have no doubt that the overall game plan behind this return to actual, sanctioned bouts for Mayweather involves a very careful risk-reward calculation and a desire to make as much money as he can without putting himself at serious risk of defeat or injury.

The Pacquiao rematch fits that description. Pacquiao’s seemingly impressive draw against Mario Barrios last year got a lot less impressive when Ryan Garcia dominated Barrios this past Saturday night. Mayweather will be a solid favorite over Manny.

So maybe he can make something like $50 million or $75 million, improve to 51-0, get in, get out and learn to live a lot less large and make the money last.

But if he’s desperate enough, perhaps $250 million or so for one night’s work – in the same vicinity as what he made for the first Pacquiao fight and the McGregor fight – covers the emotional cost of seeing the number “1” on the right-hand side of his record.

I’m not saying I expect Mayweather vs. Crawford to happen.

I am saying it’s plausible in a way it never was before.

For the last eight-plus years, one of these men was an active professional boxer and the other was not, and the two of them squaring off wasn’t really a consideration. But now the performers have swapped roles. The older man is the active fighter, and the younger man is the retired fighter. The entire equation has changed.

And it’s suddenly the biggest, richest fight anyone can envision, and nothing else – not even May-Pac II – comes close.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Why Terence Crawford and Joe Rogan Laugh at Dana White Over

By Admin February 27, 2026

Joe Rogan and Terence Crawford Laugh at Dana White Over “Stupid” UFC Rule

Heavyweight has always been the UFC’s wild frontier. Big knockouts. Bigger personalities. But now, the division appears thin, almost fragile—especially with constant discussions about champions moving up or down. In the midst of all of this, an old rule arose in conversation and somehow became the punchline.

Joe Rogan was chatting with the former undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford when the topic came up. Not about rankings or contenders. Just about the bizarre-sounding fact that Dana White has set a weight limit for heavyweights. In boxing, there isn’t one. But in MMA’s biggest promotion, there is. And when ‘Bud’ heard it, he just couldn’t stop laughing.

JUST IN: The dramas inside the Mayweather-Pacquiao II: Debts, redemption

Joe Rogan and Terence Crawford poke fun at UFC’s 265 lbs limit

“The UFC has a heavyweight limit,” Joe Rogan said. “Do you know how crazy that is? Isn’t that stupid? That’s stupid, right?”

And well, Terence Crawford was simply taken by surprise before bursting into laughter. Being as blunt as he can, ‘Bud’ admitted that it definitely is a bizarre rule, something about which he just learned today.

“You didn’t know?” Rogan asked. “265. You have to weigh 265.”

Crawford suggested Rogan take it up with Dana White and try to get it changed. But the longtime UFC commentator wasn’t convinced anyone would entertain his ideas.

“Nobody listens to me, bro. They don’t. They think I’m crazy,” Rogan said. “I have a bunch of wacky rules that I want to institute, so I understand why they don’t want to listen to me. I would throw the whole sport up in the air.”

From the sound of it, the UFC commentator seems to have presented numerous outlandish ideas in the past. And, while seeing each rejection of those ideas was painful, it did not deter him from publicly challenging why the biggest men in the promotion are limited to 265 pounds.

View this post on Instagram

Well, the rule goes back to the Unified Rules era. Prior to that, UFC 28 featured a superheavyweight fight. Josh Barnett weighed 257 pounds. His opponent, Gan McGee, weighed in at 296 lbs. That was the last time the promotion allowed for such a massive size gap.

So, now on fight night, no one over the limit of 265 lbs enters the Octagon. For Rogan, that’s strange. For Crawford, it’s hilarious. For the UFC, however, that is just policy, and it is unlikely to change anytime soon. But it shouldn’t hurt them to take it into consideration, though, especially seeing how the heavyweight division has been faring in recent times.

Rogan sees the current heavyweight scene as shallow

That 265-pound limit may be tradition, but Joe Rogan’s main concern isn’t the number. It’s what’s happening underneath it. For him, the problem is more than just size limits; it’s also about depth. Or the lack thereof.

“Man, the heavyweight division is so shallow,” the JRE host said during a recent live stream. “If they don’t make Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, what is compelling?

“Unless they bring Francis Ngannou back. Unless the PFL collapses and he gets released.”

That is the fear. If you take away one super bout, the division begins to look thin. Injuries have stalled momentum. Champions have remained inactive. Even Rogan admitted he was thinking about it the other day: how quickly interest diminishes if the big fight does not materialize. When the most intriguing options are dependent on a single negotiation, it reveals how little margin exists beneath the surface.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Canelo: There is only one way Terence Crawford can get the credit

By Admin February 27, 2026

Canelo: There is only one way Terence Crawford can get the credit he deserves

Canelo Alvarez has held back a degree of credit for Terence Crawford, which he will only give the American under one condition.

The pair squared off in a super-middleweight encounter last September, with Crawford moving up from 154lbs to claim a monumental unanimous decision victory.

READ: Why Terence Crawford Risks Jake Paul Lawsuit as He Calls Mike T

In doing so, ‘Bud’ became a three-division undisputed champion against Canelo, who had unified all four major titles at 168lbs earlier that year.

The Mexican therefore entered their showdown as a slight favourite, having established himself at the weight with previous victories over the likes of Caleb Plant and Callum Smith.

A truly masterful performance, however, ultimately saw Crawford become a five-weight world champion, only to then announce his retirement in December.

Prior to confirming his exit from the sport, the unbeaten technician had reportedly been exploring a potential rematch with Canelo, whose next outing has since been slated for September of this year.

Not only that, but while extending his partnership with boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, the 35-year-old is set to secure a world title shot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But despite looking forward to enhancing his legacy, Canelo has told Ring Magazine that, without being given the opportunity to exact his revenge, he cannot quite bring himself to give Crawford all the credit he deserves.

“I always give [Crawford] credit, but we need to run it back.

“After the fight I said, ‘We need to run back this fight’, because I don’t feel I really won and I need to make this fight happen again. [If the rematch happens], it’s going to be different.

“For him to deserve all the credit, he needs to give me the rematch. But he decided to retire, and we need to accept that and move forward.”

While an opponent is yet to be confirmed, it appears likely that Canelo will face a world champion at 168lbs later this year.

Potential options include Christian Mbilli and Jose Armando Resendiz, who respectively hold the WBC and WBA titles, while Crawford’s old IBF and WBO belts remain up for grabs.

Keep Reading

BOXING

Why Terence Crawford Risks Jake Paul Lawsuit as He Calls Mike T

By Admin February 26, 2026

Terence Crawford Risks Jake Paul Lawsuit as He Calls Mike Tyson Fight Scripted on Joe Rogan Experience

Terence Crawford is retired. He’s already enjoying life as a boxing elder, making appearances at events and mentoring proteges like Shakur Stevenson.

So why step back into the spotlight now with comments that could invite legal action? In the latest episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Crawford raised fresh questions about Jake Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson, suggesting it may have been a “scripted” affair. That’s not a small accusation. Paul and the team at Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) have already issued a warning – anyone making false allegations about his fights could be taken to court. Yet, that didn’t seem to have stopped the former undisputed super middleweight champion from saying what he thought of the bout.

JUST IN: How Mayweather’s 2026 Return Revives Long-Running Money De

“I don’t know. I think it was scripted,” Crawford told Joe Rogan. “I’ve never seen Tyson biting his gloves like that. It was taking all he could to, like not hit him. It’s heartbreaking seeing an icon go out like that.

“He shouldn’t have been in there at all. I think there’s other ways. I think, with all his connections and things like that, I think people could have put him in the right position to make some money.”

Terence Crawford made the remark after Joe Rogan brought up the now-confirmed rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The bout, reportedly scheduled for September on Netflix, will follow exhibition appearances from both men in the months prior. Mayweather against Mike Tyson and Pacquiao against former champion turned politician Ruslan Provodnikov. That context reopened the discussion about Tyson’s recent outing.

Rogan noted that Tyson would be much bigger than Mayweather. Crawford responded that even so, Tyson would still struggle to land a punch on the 50-0 icon. He added that Tyson likely wouldn’t be able to land cleanly on Mayweather, especially considering how his last fight against Jake Paul unfolded.

And that fight remains the source of the controversy. To Rogan and perhaps many others, Tyson-Paul resembled a sparring session. The former heavyweight champion was seen biting his gloves during the eight-round special rules bout that headlined the Netflix boxing event at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024, in front of millions worldwide.

Even before the opening bell, the matchup was under scrutiny. Originally scheduled for July, it was postponed after Tyson experienced a mid-flight health scare in late May. He stepped into the ring at age 58, 19 years after his last professional appearance. Facing an opponent 30 years younger had already sparked widespread concerns about his safety and health.

Then things got more complicated. Jake Paul later said he took it easy on Tyson. The remark intensified criticism and fueled speculation about the legitimacy of the contest.

That growing scrutiny prompted Paul and his team to release a formal statement. While criticism is part of the sport, they said, baseless allegations would be met with stern legal action.

Jake Paul goes to war over rigging allegations

“Following the wide circulation of incorrect and baseless claims that undermine the integrity of the Paul vs. Tyson event, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) would like to set the record straight regarding the contractual agreements and the nature of the fight,” the official statement read. “Trash talk and speculation are common in sports, and athletes and promoters need to tolerate nonsensical commentary, jokes, and opinions. But suggesting anything other than full effort from these fighters is not only naïve but also an insult to the work they put into their craft and to the sport itself.”

That warning wasn’t issued lightly.

With the controversy still lingering and Mike Tyson preparing for an exhibition against Floyd Mayweather, Crawford may have felt comfortable sharing his unfiltered opinion. Still, Paul’s camp has shown it is willing to escalate matters. Reports indicate that legal pressure previously prompted a few high-profile figures to walk back earlier claims questioning his fights.

It’s unlikely Paul would pursue legal action against a stalwart like Terence Crawford. But the threat is real.

After his latest fight against Anthony Joshua, the YouTuber-turned-boxer appears to have shifted his image. The phase of facing retired or semi-retired MMA fighters and boxers seems to be behind him. Even so, reports suggest he may have filed a lawsuit against former champion Deontay Wilder, who publicly questioned whether the AJ fight had been “scripted.”

Keep Reading