In the realm of modern boxing, Terence Crawford has etched his name among the sport’s all-time greats. His recent victory over Errol Spence Jr. on July 29th solidified his status as a dominant force, holding all four belts in the Welterweight division. The anticipation surrounding Crawford’s clash with Errol Spence Jr. was undeniable, with the two pugilists representing a meeting of formidable talents.

The bout, billed as a pick ’em contest, garnered respect from pundits and fans alike, as both sides presented compelling arguments for victory. However, when the dust settled, Crawford’s dominance was undeniable, and the outcome left no room for doubt. Moreover, the fight broke records with over $21 million in ticket sales becoming the second-highest gate purse in the history of the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas. Despite this, ‘Bud’ feels that Spence was never the toughest challenge in his storied career.

Terence Crawford reveals his toughest foe

In a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Crawford’s choice for his most formidable adversary took an unexpected turn. He harks back to a showdown that predates his conquest over Spence Jr. – a face-off with Cuba’s Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2014. For ‘Bud’ this was the toughest fight in his career due to the changes he was going through at the time in terms of the level of competition he would face.

“I would say Gamboa, because of the experience at the time. You gotta understand, I came from fighting six-round fights to a ten-round fight on HBO when I got the Breidis Prescott fight. So then I fight him, another guy for the Interim NABO, and then I fight for a title eliminator Klimov. Then I fight Ricky Burns, and come back and fight Gamboa when I become champion” he said.

Crawford’s recollections of the bout paint a vivid picture. Gamboa, an undefeated Cuban fighter with a formidable record, posed a unique set of challenges. The fight was a back-and-forth struggle, with Cuba putting Crawford’s defense to the test with his powerful shots and formidable tactics. However, ‘Bud’ would secure his victory in the ninth round after knocking down Gamboa twice on 28th June, 2014. Despite this, what made the Gamboa battle particularly arduous for Crawford was the aura surrounding him as well as Gamboa’s tenacity. It even inspired ‘Bud’ tremendously.

Terence Crawford’s unforgettable lesson from facing Gamboa

Crawford added that at the time Gamboa was hailed as the next Floyd Mayweather, occupying a prominent spot on the pound-for-pound list. Moreover, he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist widely regarded as one of the best. This narrative intensified the pressure on Crawford, propelling him into a realm of experience he had never encountered before.

“Gamoba was labeled as the next Floyd Mayweather. He was on the pound-for-pound list. Everybody had Gamboa at a high rating. Olympic Gold Medal. He had the experience over me, and I learned a lot in that fight. That’s what made it hard because it was something I’d never experienced in a fighter before.” he added