The latest welterweight champion to challenge current WBA champion Manny Pacquiao is WBO champion Terence “Bud” Crawford.
Looking at other champions like WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr., who last fought in September winning a split decision over his now WBC No. 1 contender Shawn “Showtime” Porter, 30-3-1 (17), who also hasn’t fought since.
Spence’s chances of coming back and being anything like he was after a near death car accident is highly unlikely. Former WBC & WBA champion Keith “One Time” Thurman, 29-1 (22), is a good example coming back after an injury of lesser results than Spence.
Thurman lost in his last fight last July to now current WBA champion Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, 62-7-2 (39), which was also his last fight. Thurman never gave former champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, 36-2 (21) a rematch from their split decision fight. Garcia lost to Porter after this. His last fight was this January defeating Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach, 23-5-1.
Current WBO champion Crawford, 36-0 (27), last fought in December defeating Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas, 21-1-1 (17). The former super lightweight champion is highly regarded among the other division fighters. His current No. 1 contender is Garcia.
Pacquiao’s current No. 1 contender is Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas, 25-4 (12), who after losing to Porter has won two in a row including in February over Mike Dallas, Jr., 23-3-2.
Spence’s No. 1 IBF contender is Kudratillo “The Punisher” Abdugaxorov, 17-0 (9), who is scheduled May 16th fighting for the interim IBF title against Sergey “Samurai” Lipinets, 16-1 (12).
WBC Diamond champion and former four division world champion Mikey Garcia, 40-1 (30), stepped into the welterweight division a year ago and was shut out by Spence. Seems Garcia was going up one weight too many. In February he defeated former WBO champion Jesse Vargas, 29-3-2.
So, to all those welterweight champions who seem to want to fight Pacquiao who still draws big revenue “watch what you ask for” and how about unification with the other champions?