Both of these things are true.
Bud Crawford is a top Pound for Pound guy and Crawford’s resume is light on signature legacy-defining wins. If Jeff Horn is your crowning achievement at welterweight that is a problem.
He gets full credit for becoming undisputed at Junior Welterweight, but you would be hard press to find even hardcore boxing fans that can tell you the four fighters he beat for those belts.
Keith Thurman would be by far the best opponent he ever faced, but Arum shot it down immediately instead of negotiating.
“Thurman’s people got in touch with me, but they’re out to lunch,” Arum told BoxingScene.com. “They have such crazy expectations that just don’t exist anymore. Their money demands are crazy. They said they were free agents, which I’m sure they are. But again, who’s gonna pay what they’re looking for?”
Arum didn’t divulge the dollar amount Thurman’s representative requested, nor would he identify who contacted him on Thurman’s behalf. BoxingScene.com has otherwise learned that Thurman likely will headline a FOX broadcast December 26, thought his opponent hasn’t been chosen.
Crawford is not a spring chicken, he can continue to feast off C and B level opponents or he can instruct Arum to get him some real fights.
Thurman was on Brian Custer’s Last Stand Podcast and had this to say when it came to Crawford.
“Send the contract, let me post it on my IG and sign it live, baby! Sign it live! Let me get my first contract live, my first signing live baby! They don’t know me. Crawford called me out, saying that about me? They don’t know me, man. They don’t know what kind of contracts I’ve had in my face. I’ve never been presented with a contract for a real fight, man.”
Crawford may fight Kell Brook next, but don’t be surprised if it ends up being another nobody when it is all said and done.
I think people are willing to give Crawford a pass in 2020, but in 2021 he has to fight at least a top 5 welterweight.
Flip the page for the full Keith Thurman interview with Brian Custer.