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.