We started last week with four elite boxers undefeated records at stake, two mouthwatering world title fights ahead of us and, the mythical ‘pound-for-pound (P4P)’ crown arguably up for grabs.
Today, after two dominant performances, the dust has cleared. The only thing still outstanding is the argument about P4P.
As emphatically impressive as Japanese Naoya Inoue was dispatching American Stephen Fulton inside eight brutal rounds, and in so doing winning his fourth divisional ‘world’ championship Tuesday in Tokyo, it is likely the P4P goes to American welterweight supremo Terence Crawford by dominating and dispatching Errol Spence in the ninth round in Las Vegas, Saturday.
The undisputed welterweight championship was at stake and, the match-up of the year being years in the making. It further showcased ‘Bud’ Crawford, who was sublime in victory. By exhibiting a boxing masterclass out of his southpaw stance, he totally dominated a man who was widely considered the legitimate welterweight champion by virtue of holding three of the world sanctioning body belts. The baubles are almost irrelevant and it was funny seeing the ‘head honchos’ again jostling for position post-fight to load their respective belt on the victor. The fighter exceeds the bauble on offer.
Crawford rose his exemplary record to 40-0 (31 KO’s) and looks forward to joining boxing legends in the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHoF) having now gained ‘world’ titles in three weight classes from lightweight to welterweight and ‘undisputed’ status in two of those.
Spence dropped to 28-1 (22 KO’s) in defeat.
Regarding the P4P argument, ‘The Monster’ Inoue, in totally destroying Fulton, raised his record to 25-0 (22 KO’s) and in the words of former ‘world’ champion and The Ring 2016 fighter of the year Carl Frampton, had “held the P4P title for 5 days” before Crawford’s victory. Multi-heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk holds that distinction by that publication as I write, but that is likely to be redressed imminently.
Inoue was spectacular throughout his latest fight and every shot he landed seemed to pre-eminate an inevitable knock out conclusion. The question is how far can the Japanese’ continue to move through the weight divisions , retaining his power to capture further titles ? His ledger stands at winning ‘world’ titles from light-flyweight to junior-featherweight and is expected to continue upwards. Fulton dropped his record to 21-1 (8 KO’s).
Both Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue are fighters of this generation and will be revered in the trade when they have long hang up their gloves years from now. Enjoy them displaying their phenomenal skills whilst you can.
The Undisputed 