Terence “Bud” Crawford is a 25-year-old Lightweight on the cusp of stardom in the world of boxing. Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford is a former amateur standout who had impressive wins against WBC-WBA super lightweight world champion Danny Garcia, WBO featherweight world champion Mikey Garcia, and rising 130-pound contender Diego Magdaleno before they became professionals.
The undefeated Crawford will face Mexico’s Alejandro Sanabria (34-1-1, 25KOs) on HBO at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT Sat., June 15 at the American Airline Center in Dallas, TX. Many experts are calling this matchup a fight for the ages.
Crawford sat down with BlackSportsOnline to talk, boxing, his upbringing, his future in boxing, and what’s next for one of Bob Arum’s young bright stars.
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BSO: You are from Omaha, Nebraska, and for most they usually correlate that with the College World Series, or Omaha steaks. Can you tell us a bit about Omaha, and your upbringing?
TC: Growing up in Omaha was kind of rough. Hanging out with the wrong, getting in trouble and things like that. Most important thing is that I was able to turn my life around, and it was pretty good.
BSO: What’s it like being promoted by “Top Ranked” and a boxing legend like Bob Arum?
TC: It feels really good. I’m with the #1 prmoter, manager in the game. They believe in me, and now people will take some consideration, and recognize that I’m a good fighter.
BSO: When did you interested in the sport of boxing?
TC: I was seven years old when I started boxing – it was just something to do. I didn’t like just being at home, not doing nothing. I liked it – I just liked to fight. When I was a kid, my dad used to have me punch his hands and wrestle with me and throw the football and basketball, but he basically made me pick my own sport. He never pushed anything on me.
BSO: You got a late start in the game of boxing. You had a pretty good ameteur career. How do you feel when people try to hold your quote on quote, late start against you.
TC: I had about 70 amateur fights – it was probably like, 60 wins, 10 losses, somewhere around there. I remember all of those fights against Danny Garcia, Mikey Garcia, Diego Magdaleno. I still watch them from time to time. It wasn’t no hard fight with Mikey – Danny Garcia was a harder fight for me. I still feel like I had just as good a ameteur career as anybody out their, accept for an Olympic gold medal. For people to say things like that, they don’t know nothing about boxing or me. As for a slow start professionally, I just never got the shot to fight anybody, or to get my name out there.
BSO: You are currently in a division that includes, Adrien Broner, Antonio Demarco, Ricky Burns, Miguel Vazquez, Omar Figueroa and a host of others. Where do you see yourself in the Lightweight division, and do you see yourself matching up with any of those guys in the near future?
TC: I don’t see myself being like anybody but myself. I can see myself fighting whoever they put in front of me. Right now “Top Rank” and “Golden Boy” are feuding, and not even doing business with each other at this point. Right now I’m focused on what’s good for Terence Crawford, and what my next move may be.
BSO: You recently took a fight against the hard-hitting Breidis Prescott on ten days notice, and won impressively. A lot of people may not have taken that fight on such short notice, without proper preparation. Can you tell us what made you jump at the opportunity, and what was that feeling like?
TC: Well I still haven’t had that one fight that puts my career on the next level, so I felt that jumping at Breidis Prescott would help my career. I was already prepared, in good shape, and jumped at the opportunity to make a name for myself on HBO.
BSO: What can a boxing fan that may not be familiar with Terence “Bud” Crawford, look forward to seeing in the future?
TC: They can look forward to seeing me get better. Only way for me to head is up. I’m ready for my shot.
BSO: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
TC: Pound for pound best in the world. That’s all I can strive for, pound for pound.
