Former world heavyweight champion and boxing legend Mike Tyson believes WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford is the best fighter in the world today.
However, the 56-year-old was quick to point out that his pick is struggling to attract big crowds.
Speaking in an interview with Joe Budden TV, Tyson was reflecting on the careers of Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran in 1980s and claimed that both men set a precedent which allowed fighters to become huge stars.
Tyson also discussed how boxing has changed since the 1980s with fighters not only needing exceptional talent to fill an arena, but also a strong social media presence.
“Sugar Ray Leonard made it possible for us to get that big money, because they were little guys making big money. Making fifteen, eighteen million? Pfft, they were little guys, 147lbs, nobody did that, until him and Duran," Tyson said.
"People that are small don’t make money like that anymore, it just doesn’t happen.
"Terence Crawford is the best fighter in the world, he can’t sell five-thousand tickets, then you got Ryan Garcia, a video guy, who brings a whole arena.”
Crawford's next fight could be his breakout moment when he finally takes on Errol Spence Jr for the undisputed welterweight title on July 29 in Las Vegas.