Terence Crawford is preparing for the biggest fight of his career against Canelo Alvarez, and spoke recently of the hardest puncher he ever faced, years before the pound-for-pound clash was signed.
Terence Crawford boasts a perfect 41-0 record, capturing world titles in four weight classes, and becoming undisputed in two of them.
Crawford has faced a host of opponents, from Amir Khan to Shawn Porter, but said recently none hit as hard as a man he fought over 11 years ago.
Terence Crawford names Yuriorkis Gamboa as the hardest hitter he’s faced
In 2014, Crawford faced 23-0 Yuriorkis Gamboa in defense of his lightweight title.
Crawford, who lost to Yordenis Ugas as an amateur, proved himself to be on another level to Gamboa, outclassing him and dropping him in round five, eight, and nine, before securing a stoppage victory.
In an interview with Ak and Barak of Ring Champs, Crawford said of Gamboa: “Gamboa, he caught me with the hardest, caught me with the hardest punch.”
Crawford agreed Kavaliauskas, who dropped him, was one of his strongest opponents, but that Gamboa was the hardest hitting.
Gamboa has since lost to Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, and Isaac Cruz.
Terence Crawford continued Joe Frazier’s legacy with his win over Gamboa
Crawford, an Omaha, Nebraska native, faced Gamboa in his hometown at the CenturyLink Center.
It marked the second world title contest in Omaha’s history, with the first being over 15 years earlier when Joe Frazier defended his title against Ron Stander in 1972.
Stander was the hometown fighter, so whilst two world title contests have now taken place in Omaha, Crawford’s title defense was the only successful one.