FULL SEND PODCAST | Terence Crawford (Ep. 166)

Release Date: September 4, 2025
Location: Omaha, Nebraska – BNB Gym
Hosts: Felipe Esparza (Shots Podcast Network)
Guest: Terence “Bud” Crawford

Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Terence “Bud” Crawford, regarded as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best. The discussion centers on Crawford’s upcoming super fight with Canelo Alvarez, the evolving business of boxing (particularly the move to streaming on Netflix), loyalty to his home and team, the sacrifices and politics of the sport, legacy, discipline, and personal life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Canelo Fight & Making History

• Motivation for Fighting Canelo
  • Crawford views Canelo as the final great challenge available, with potential to become the first three-division undisputed world champion.
    • “Canelo's at 168. It's a big task, but I'm always up for big risk, big reward.” [01:40 – Terence Crawford]
• Business Side & Netflix
  • Streaming on Netflix is a huge shift, promising unprecedented exposure and possibly signaling the end of traditional pay-per-view.
    • “Netflix is, is a huge platform and I, I'm looking forward to it... this can be your most watched live fight.” [07:30 – Terence Crawford]
    • Crawford believes increased streaming and more mainstream access will help boxing grow.
      • “The more viewers you can have on the sport of boxing, the more, you know, boxing rises.” [06:27 – Terence Crawford]

2. The Influence of Promoters & The Business of Boxing

• Impact of New Promoters
  • "Turkey" (likely Turki Alalshikh) is credited with making big fights possible:
    • “He's making all the fights that the fans want to see... Usyk versus Fury, that wouldn’t happen... So yeah, he come in and he got the check to pay the fighters to actually get in the ring.” [03:36 – Terence Crawford]
• Changing Distribution
  • High expectations for streaming to replace PPV, due to piracy and the limitations of cable:
    • "I think it's... about to be over with... so many people is still in the fights. It's kind of like back in the days when people started burning CDs." [05:59 – Terence Crawford]

3. Loyalty to Hometown and Team

• Staying in Omaha
  • Unlike most boxers who move to Las Vegas or LA, Crawford has always stayed in Omaha to train with his original team, prioritizing loyalty over reputation.
    • “Why should I have to leave?...It's not where you go, it's the work you put in.” [08:52 – Terence Crawford]
• Relationship with Coach
  • Over 30 years with his coach, emphasizing open-mindedness and constant learning:
    • “Learn all you can learn... any exercises that you learn out there, bring it back and we can use it.” [10:46 – Terence Crawford]

4. Legacy & Defining Moments

• Legacy-Defining Fights
  • Canelo bout characterized as career-defining, but not the only proud moment. Cites Ricky Burns, Dan Godango, Errol Spence Jr., and Viktor Postol as important wins.
    • “This is a fight where... people will be looking at me as one of the all-time greats to ever do it.” [12:25 – Terence Crawford]
    • "I got a lot... Ricky Burns... Daryl Spence... Victor Postol...” [14:22 – Terence Crawford]
• Defining His Own Narrative
  • On legacy: “One thing they can’t say is that I ducked anyone. You know, I fought everyone that was available to fight, and, you know, I’m a family man. I love my kids. I love, you know, being an active father. That’s my passion.” [26:31 – Terence Crawford]

5. Mindset, Discipline & Lifestyle

• Family & Simplicity
  • Deeply family-oriented, avoids drinking and partying.
    • “I don’t do none of that... Your body is your temple.” [20:38, 20:45 – Terence Crawford]
• Staying Disciplined
  • Credits inspiration to Floyd Mayweather’s work ethic and restraint from destructive habits.
    • “You’ll see Floyd, he’ll go out to the clubs... but then he’ll run from the club, you know, eight miles home... not smoking, not drinking, not nothing.” [37:32 – Terence Crawford]
• Own Temptations
  • Admits to a sweet tooth, especially gummy worms and apple pie.
    • “I like gummies... apple pie.” [40:43, 41:57 – Terence Crawford]

6. Crossover, UFC Talking Points

• Crossover Interest
  • Sees more cross-promotion between boxing and UFC as beneficial for combat sports.
    • “If we all can collectively support one another... we can make combat sports bigger than it ever been.” [05:13 – Terence Crawford]
• UFC Fighters with Best Boxing
  • Names Cody Garbrandt as the best boxer in UFC, but says he’s “too little” to be a threat in the boxing ring.
    • “We talkin’ about straight boxing skills. I just think Cody got the best boxing skills, you know, in UFC. That’s just my opinion.” [15:39 – Terence Crawford]

7. Boxing Politics, Challenges, and Solutions

• Politics & Greed
  • Describes challenges of climbing the boxing ranks, with promoters blocking opportunities for financial reasons or self-preservation.
    • “You can be the number one contender... and see these fighters keep jumping you... politics.” [29:45 – Terence Crawford]
• Solution
  • Advocates for more collaboration and fair splitting of money, as exemplified by “Turkey”.
    • “He making all these promoters work together. And I think that would have been the best solution...” [32:52 – Terence Crawford]

8. Reflections: Sacrifice, Children, and The Grind

• Against Children Boxing
  • Trains his kids but doesn't let them box, wishing them to avoid the sport’s risks and sacrifices.
    • “I’m doing it so they don’t have to do it... I couldn’t see myself watching my kids get hurt and I couldn’t do nothing about it.” [28:30 – Terence Crawford]
• Nature of Sacrifice
  • Details the sacrifices required to succeed in boxing, suggesting his children shouldn’t need to endure the same struggles.
    • “You can’t have a childhood, a life until after boxing. Your whole world is surrounded about... around boxing.” [35:58 – Terence Crawford]

9. The Big Stadium, Pressure & Excitement

• Allegiant Stadium
  • The fight with Canelo will be staged in Allegiant Stadium—possibly up to 70,000 fans.
    • “They're gonna do seven—70 could be possible.” [18:08 – Terence Crawford]
  • Despite the massive stage, the focus remains the same inside the ring.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Choosing to Move Up Again:
  “I want to be the first ever boxer to be a three way undisputed world champion.” [01:40, Terence Crawford]

• On the End of PPV and Shift to Streaming:
  "It’s kind of like back in the days when people started burning CDs...it all went to streaming."[06:13, Terence Crawford]

• On Staying in Omaha:
  "Why should I have to leave?...It's not where you go. It's the work you put in." [08:52, Terence Crawford]

• On Team Loyalty:
  "If you believe in your team, if you got a great team around you, you don't have to change nothing up." [09:30, Terence Crawford]

• On His Parade After Beating Errol Spence Jr.:
  “It made me feel appreciated, you know, for sure, you know, and let me know that my city is riding behind me.” [11:55, Terence Crawford]

• On His Legacy:
  "One thing they can’t say is that I ducked anyone. You know, I fought everyone that was available to fight, and, you know, I’m a family man. I love my kids. I love, you know, being an active father. That’s my passion." [26:31, Terence Crawford]

• On Living Clean:
  “Your body is your temple... I never understood, like, why to be messed up to where they don't know what's going on around them.” [20:45, Terence Crawford]

• On Discipline & Avoidance of Temptation:
  "I never... never. You've just been... Yeah. Dialed in. Dialed in because I already, I already know. Distractions are always gonna jump at you, you know, but it's up to you to decide if you want to let it distract you." [39:19 – 39:29, Terence Crawford]

• On Promoter Greed:
  “When you have greed and, and play and nobody want to share with other promoters... a lot of promoters was doing that.” [32:52, Terence Crawford]

• On Crossover Fights:
  “There will be another UFC megastar, there will be another boxing megastar... it’s going to happen when the right time is right.” [16:07, Terence Crawford]

• On What Keeps Him Going:
  "I enjoy it because I know what I'm doing it for. I know my purpose, I know my why."[36:31, Terence Crawford]

Other Notable Segments

• Most Difficult Opponent: Gamboa — caught Crawford off-guard, "my whole one side of my body got stiff." [13:57]
• Favorite Indulgence: Gummy worms and apple pie—“nobody perfect.” [40:43, 41:57]
• On Who Would Win, Prime Crawford vs. Prime Mayweather: “Me.” [21:50]
• Advice for Achievers: “Stay locked in, stay focused... it’s easy to, you know, slip. It feels good when temptation is in front of you... but you find yourself like, damn…” [39:52 – 40:16]
• First Major Payday: $125,000 for beating Breidis Prescott at age 24. [34:28]
• Reasons Kids Don't Box: “They don’t have the traumas and the things that [I had] to fight for like I did.” [36:31]

Episode Flow & Timestamps

• [01:40] – Crawford on seeking the Canelo fight, history on line
• [03:32] – The business of boxing, Turkey’s influence
• [05:45] – Streaming, end of pay-per-view
• [07:51] – How Crawford successfully moves up in weight
• [08:39] – The concept of home, why he never left Omaha
• [10:28] – Relationship with his coach and team loyalty
• [11:36] – Errol Spence Jr. victory parade in Omaha
• [12:17] – Legacy and defining fights
• [13:52] – Toughest opponent shots and favorite performance(s)
• [14:49] – On UFC, best boxers in MMA
• [16:07] – Will there be more boxing/UFC crossovers?
• [17:09] – Predictions and mindset for Canelo fight
• [18:04] – Allegiant Stadium, fighting in front of massive crowds
• [20:16] – Crawford’s family life and clean living
• [21:50] – Crawford vs. Prime Floyd Mayweather?
• [22:08] – Fantasy matchups with past greats
• [23:03] – Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis exhibition reactions
• [26:26] – Legacy, family, and being a father
• [29:45] – Unpacking the politics of boxing and frustrations
• [34:28] – Crawford’s first big payday
• [36:31] – The grind of boxing, why his kids don’t box
• [37:32] – On learning from the mistakes of others, staying disciplined
• [39:52] – Advice: Staying disciplined to achieve your goals
• [40:43] – Indulgence: Gummy worms & sweet tooth
• [41:57] – Favorite dessert: Apple pie

Conclusion

This episode offers a rare, candid portrait of Terence Crawford—not just as a legendary fighter prepping for a historic matchup with Canelo Alvarez, but also as a fiercely loyal hometown hero, devoted family man, and advocate for boxing’s evolution. His insights on business, discipline, and the unique grind of boxing provide valuable perspective both for fans and for anyone striving for greatness.