For a long time in Terence Crawford's career, he defeated his opponents handily but the attention on him stayed relatively under the radar.
But all that changed last summer when Crawford fought Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight crown. "Bud" entered the perceived 50-50 fight and proceeded to completely dismantle Spence, knocking him down three times toward a stunning ninth-round TKO in a lopsided affair.
Ever since the fight, which was held in a raucous Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena and had Eminem walk Crawford out, the Omaha, Nebraska native's star power has been soaring as the recognized consensus pound-for-pound best in boxing today.
Ahead of him challenging WBA junior middleweight world champion Israil Madrimov this weekend, live on DAZN, Crawford is relishing his star power.
“Like I always say everything happens for a reason and for that reason God didn’t bless me then, but he blessed me now when I’m more mature and can handle everything that comes my way," Crawford told the media during the Grand Arrivals at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California on Tuesday.
"Who knows where I would have been had I got everything that I wanted when I was younger and immature.”
His growing profile has also taught the 36-year-old to simply "enjoy the moment."
“I feel good, I’m feeling great," Crawford said. "I’m ready to fight but all my people always try to remind me to enjoy the moment because one day it’s all going to be gone, so embrace it while you can."
A win over Madrimov would make Crawford a four-division world champion.
Live on DAZN : Check your region for PFL and PFL Europe on DAZN . Click here for details.