Teofimo Lopez Rejects Terence Crawford’s Mount Rushmore Claim—Beating a Faded Canelo Doesn’t Make You a GOAT

Teofimo Lopez states that he doesn’t include Terence Crawford on the “Mount Rushmore of boxing” after his win over Canelo Alvarez on September 13th in Las Vegas.

Crawford’s fans have installed him as the #1 GOAT [greatest of all time] after beating Canelo. Before the fight, Terence shamelessly campaigned for a spot on the Mount Rushmore of Boxing, saying, “A win against Canelo Álvarez would put me on Mount Rushmore. I’d be one of the greatest fighters ever.”

Why Rushmore Has Rules

Well, Teofimo disagrees with Crawford that he deserves to be among the top four on the Rushmore of boxing. I agree with Teo. I don’t see a victory over the flat-footed, faded 35-year-old Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs) as being nearly good enough to earn the honor to be in that exclusive, prestigious country club. Crawford doesn’t have the credentials.

Benavidez: The Test He Dodged

There is a way for Terence to earn a spot, but he’s already refused by rejecting a fight against ‘The Mexican Monster’ David Benavidez. What’s the old saying, ‘The body is willing but the mind is weak.’ The courage is lacking for Bud to get to Rushmore. The guys on that mountain now, they wouldn’t have turned down a risky fight like Benavidez.

“It depends on which Mount Rushmore. On mine? Nah,” said Teofimo Lopez to Fight Hub TV when asked if Terence Crawford deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of boxing after his win over Canelo Alvarez.

The Mount Rushmore of Boxing

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Louis
4. Henry Armstrong

Only the Brave Get Carved in Stone

These are the widely considered GOAT on Rushmore. They took risks with their careers, accomplished big things, and demonstrated the qualities needed to be the best. We can’t lower the standards to let just anybody in this exclusive club, can we? What would people say if any stray was allowed in after building a fluff record?

At this point, Crawford doesn’t make even the top 20 greatest of all time (GOATS), because his resume is too mediocre. The fighters that Terence beat to become a three-time undisputed champion were either marginal, old, or car-crash-ravaged.

The Immortals of the Ring

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Louis
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
6. Willie Pep
7. Roberto Durán
8. Sugar Ray Leonard
9. Marvelous Marvin Hagler
10. Julio César Chávez
11. Rocky Marciano
12. Manny Pacquiao
13. Sam Langford
14. Benny Leonard
15. Ezzard Charles
16. Archie Moore
17. George Foreman
18. Jack Dempsey
19. Mike Tyson
20. Roy Jones Jr.

Written by Nation Vegas, Boxing Analyst covering world title fights since 2013.