Despite not being consistently active in boxing commentary, Jim Lampley praised undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford’s impressive performance and considered him as the best fighter currently, comparing him to ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson, with the potential to surpass his rank only if Canelo Alvarez could beat Crawford in the future.
Jim Lampley may not have been steadily present in the boxing commentary arena, but he’s kept a keen eye on the actions of undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the ring. He co-hosted PPV.com’s live chat for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo bout that took place in Las Vegas last Saturday. Lampley, revered as one of the quintessential voices of boxing, voiced his admiration for Crawford’s stellar performance and considered him the best in the world, comparing him to a renowned boxing legend.
Lampley in an interview remarked, ”We have a new reigning king in the pound-for-pound category who, in many respects, reminds me of ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson”. He further added that although Crawford isn’t as rhythmically in-sync as Robinson, he nevertheless is the first he’s noticed since Robinson to always position himself optimally for a counter-punch, thereby unleashing a lethal power attack. Lampley also pointed out that very few counter-punchers have the capacity to generate the kind of raw power that Crawford manifests, hence greatly endorsing his talent and significance in the boxing ring.
An esteemed member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Lampley’s contribution to the sport has been immense. He has provided commentary for some of the most unforgettable moments in boxing history, such as Buster Douglas’s unexpected victory over Mike Tyson, and George Foreman’s astonishing championship victory against Michael Moorer in 1994, when Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history at 45. With regard to Alvarez’s current pound-for-pound status leading into the high-profile face-off with Charlo, Lampley voiced that the only undisputed super middleweight champion in history could rise to the top of the rankings — granted he defeats Crawford in the future.
Lampley noted, “Would you give Canelo a chance to beat him? I think most people would have to admit, ‘Oh, yeah.’ Canelo clearly possesses the size advantage and boasts significantly more experience in big matches. It’s plausible that Canelo could conquer over Terence Crawford, [and if that were to happen], it would uplift him to the No. 1 spot.”