Crawford: Pacquiao Not A Real Champion

WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford refuses to acknowledge the WBA’s “regular” welterweight title as a real world championship and refuses to view Manny Pacquiao as a current world champion.

Pacquiao would take the title in July, retiring Lucas Matthysse with a stoppage victory in Malaysia, and while he took the “regular” crown, Thurman views the “super” version of the WBA belt to be the real world title and Thurman as a “world” champion.

“(Pacquiao) not a champion in my eyes. He don’t have the ‘super’ belt. That’s [Thurman] the champion in my eyes,” Crawford said.

“I look at the number one champion in the division. I don’t look at the WBC Silver and the Interim belts and all that. I look at the ‘super’ and the actual champion of the division. [Spence, Thurman and Porter] are the only champions. So, there are no other champions but them.”

Crawford will defend his WBO title against undefeated challenger Jose Benavidez but continues to eye unification heading into next year.

“My main focus is on Benavidez. As you can see, he’s been doing a lot of talking, but while he’s talking, I’m working. So, I’m not worried about nothing that he’s saying or that he’s trying to hype up. I’m focused and I’m ready to go.”

Quotes Via: Boxing Scene