There’s no denying—Terence Crawford is a class act. Otherwise, in an age where trash talk and online beefing have become the norm, why would he rate Gervonta Davis, with whom he hasn’t always seen eye to eye, as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world? Aiming to achieve boxing immortality, the Nebraskan is preparing himself for the big fight in September.

Having overcome hurdles, the historic showdown with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez now appears to be nearing the finish line. The super middleweight king and boxing’s first two-division undisputed champion among men are now slated for a face-off in Las Vegas. The news has taken the sporting world by storm. Spilling the beans on their upcoming fight, both Alvarez and Crawford have been attending interviews and discussions. Recently, Crawford joined UFC legends Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on their podcast ‘Pound for Pound.‘ Things took an interesting turn when the hosts asked Crawford, himself a P4P great, to name his current and all-time greatest pound-for-pound boxers.

The question arose after Terence Crawford shared his views on a potential matchup with Gervonta Davis at 147 pounds and fellow 154-pounder Vergil Ortiz Jr. Crawford revealed that he won’t be going back to the welterweight. While he acknowledged Ortiz as a powerful fighter, he felt that the fight with Serhii Bohachuk exposed the Texan champion.

Over to the pound-for-pound discussion. Kamaru Usman had barely uttered, “I got to get your pound-for-pound list, your top five,” when Henry Cejudo barged in, “pound-for-pound list and then pound-for-pound greatest boxers ever.”

Interestingly, Cejudo already had a name marked: Manny Pacquiao. So he checked for Terence Crawford’s opinion. But this time, Usman interjected to allow Crawford to list out his preferences. “Give me your pound-for-pound right now,” insisted ‘The Nigerian Nightmare.’

Terence Crawford: ‘Tank,’ a standout among the best

“I got, we got me, we got Inoue, we got Canelo, we got Usyk,” Crawford began. But it seems he got stuck on the fifth name. Sensing a struggle, Cejudo suggested ‘Tank’ Davis’s name. “You put Davis in there?” he asked. Crawford took a moment to think but finally conceded. “We can put Tank in there,” he acknowledged. Usman asked why the former undisputed champion hesitated at first. “I was just thinking about you, you know, I mean other fighters, but you can put Tank in there,” Crawford replied. The matter was now settled.

For the top five all-time greatest pound-for-pound boxers Terence Crawford picked, ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and Roberto Duran.

Many will find it surprising that Crawford considers a bête noire a pound-for-pound great. Not long ago, the two traded barbs on social media. Later, things took an ugly turn when some unsavory remarks from Tank, seemingly involving Crawford’s family, sparked outrage. He could have even named his close friend, Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson and Davis are already at odds over a potential future matchup. But Crawford’s sharp mind and experience allow him to recognize where true talent lies.

But this revelation sheds light on the kind of man Terence Crawford is. He has never hesitated to call a spade a spade. While he acknowledges ‘Tank’s prowess in the ring, he didn’t hold back in criticizing the Baltimorean for how the fight with Lamont Roach Jr. unfolded. Perhaps there’s something for everyone to learn here.

What about you? Do you agree with Terence Crawford? Does ‘Tank’ Davis deserve a spot on the pound-for-pound list?