Terence Crawford has a lot to say—about his career, how it’s perceived, his upcoming clash with Errol Spence Jr. and the most coveted qualifier in his sport. Boxing, of course, needs some sort of title company for all the belts and designations that can be won. But start with this: As far as undisputed goes, Crawford says, “I feel as if I started that trend; a massive feat.”
He’s right. But there’s context. The first sentence in this paragraph followed by the second is very #boxing, meaning the context matters, because narratives are shaped, shifted and sold in every possible way except in relation to each other. Because what’s said in March of one year is altered the next January. Because what’s peddled matters most as it relates to profits.
He’s right, in that seizing an undisputed championship—or holding all four major belts at the same time—ranks among boxing’s most difficult aspirations. It involves managers and promoters, previous bouts and desired ones, not to mention skill, timing, work, egos, support staff, negotiations, networks, health, recovery, money, performance, follower counts, reputations and the alignment of stars in boxing and more cosmic senses.
