Pundit Andre Ward recently argued that Terence Crawford should be considered in the mix to be the Face of Boxing, alongside Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. However, this inclusion doesn’t make sense when considering Crawford’s lack of popularity in terms of pay-per-view (PPV) buys and ticket sales. While Crawford has shown his skill in the ring in certain fights, he has not been able to draw in the same numbers as Canelo and Tank in terms of PPV buys.
Canelo Alvarez is still reigning as the king of PPV in the U.S., with impressive numbers in his recent fights. Gervonta Davis, while trailing behind Canelo, has also brought in substantial PPV buys. On the other hand, Crawford’s numbers have been lackluster in comparison. His fight against Israil Madrimov reportedly only garnered between 75K to 100K PPV buys, which pales in comparison to Canelo and Tank’s numbers.
At 36 years old, Crawford has been fighting only once a year since 2020. His style in the ring, while effective, is not necessarily fan-friendly. Unlike Canelo and Tank, who often go for knockouts, Crawford is more of a technical boxer. This difference in style and approach to fights has led to Crawford not being as entertaining to watch for fans, which is crucial in today’s boxing landscape.
In the post-Mayweather era, fans have become accustomed to quicker, more explosive fights, often seen in UFC events. This shift in fan preferences has made it challenging for fighters like Crawford, who rely on their technical skill rather than brute force. While Crawford has had some memorable fights in his career, they have been few and far between compared to the consistent entertainment provided by Canelo and Tank.
While Terence Crawford is undoubtedly a talented boxer, his lack of appeal to modern fans and his struggles with PPV numbers and ticket sales mean that he should not be considered the Face of Boxing alongside fighters like Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis. To truly hold that title, a fighter must not only have skill in the ring but also be able to capture the attention and admiration of fans, something that Crawford has yet to fully achieve.