Is Terence Crawford the GOAT of Boxing? Comparing Him to the Greats

Terence Crawford shocked the world on September 13, 2025, when he defeated Canelo Alvarez via unanimous decision. The win didn’t just hand him the undisputed super middleweight championship, it made him the first male boxer in history to become undisputed in three different divisions during the four-belt era. With that feat, Crawford has entered rarefied air, prompting a serious question: is he the greatest of all time?

Crawford’s Legacy-Defining Achievement

Crawford’s victory over Canelo cemented his status as more than just one of the best of his generation. He has now collected undisputed titles at lightweight, welterweight, and super middleweight. He has beaten some of the biggest names of the modern era, including Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, and now Canelo Alvarez. He has also achieved a perfect professional record with dominance in every weight class he has entered.

No other male fighter in the four-belt era has managed to unify three divisions, putting Crawford in a unique position historically.

Comparing Crawford to the All-Time Greats

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather retired undefeated at 50-0, known for his defensive brilliance and his ability to control fights. While Mayweather has the edge in career longevity and star power, he never achieved undisputed status in multiple divisions the way Crawford has.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Leonard’s résumé includes iconic wins over Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, and Roberto Durán. He fought in the golden era of welterweights and is remembered for his charisma and high-profile bouts. Crawford’s consistency across eras and weight classes makes him comparable, though Leonard’s level of competition remains legendary.

Muhammad Ali

Ali’s impact went beyond the ring. He was the heavyweight king, a global cultural icon, and a man who fought against adversity in and out of boxing. While Crawford doesn’t match Ali’s global influence, his in-ring dominance across weight divisions puts him in a different kind of conversation about greatness.

Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao is the only boxer to win titles in eight weight divisions, a record unlikely to be matched. Crawford, however, has the distinction of unifying divisions, something Pacquiao never accomplished. Their legacies are different, but both represent unprecedented achievements in boxing history.

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Where Does the Canelo Win Place Him?

Defeating Canelo Alvarez, one of the most accomplished fighters of this generation and a four-division champion himself, was the crowning jewel in Crawford’s career. Canelo had long been regarded as the face of boxing, and for Crawford to beat him convincingly adds significant weight to his GOAT case.

Is Crawford the GOAT?

While debates about the greatest of all time are always subjective, Crawford has a compelling argument. He is the first ever three-division undisputed male champion. He has a perfect professional record. He owns wins over elite fighters across three weight classes.

What may ultimately define his GOAT candidacy is how his career concludes. If he retires undefeated with these historic achievements, it will be difficult to deny him a place alongside, if not above, the legends of the sport.