Oleksandr Usyk backs Terence Crawford over Floyd Mayweather in fantasy fight pick

Oleksandr Usyk has thrown his weight behind Terence Crawford in a fantasy showdown with Floyd Mayweather, calling the 147lb kingpin the clear winner.

What did Usyk say?

In a quick-fire exchange with Daily Mail Boxing, Usyk was asked to call the result of a Mayweather vs. Crawford dream fight. He didn’t pause. “Crawford.” Usyk’s pick reflects the respect he holds for Crawford’s welterweight reign, where the American has ruled since taking the division by storm.

Why Crawford over Mayweather?

Mayweather’s 147lb run-unified titles against Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Márquez-cemented his legacy in the 2000s and 2010s. But Crawford, who retired last year after beating Canelo Álvarez to become undisputed super-middleweight champion, has since seized the pound-for-pound mantle. His 2023 knockout of Errol Spence in Las Vegas made him the undisputed welterweight king, a reign that still shapes today’s rankings.

Where does Usyk fit in?

Usyk and Crawford spent years trading blows at the top of the pound-for-pound lists. The Ukrainian’s nod to Crawford underscores how the welterweight’s recent surge has reshaped the debate over who now sits above the rest. It’s a rivalry that once defined the sport’s hierarchy-and now, in hindsight, frames Crawford’s late-career dominance.

What’s next for the welterweight king?

Crawford’s retirement leaves a vacuum at 147lbs. The division’s next contenders will now chase a legacy shaped by his eight straight stoppage wins. For Usyk, the fantasy pick is more than a throwaway line-it’s a nod to the era Crawford closed out on his own terms.