Terence Crawford is bidding to become a four-weight world champion this weekend.
The American superstar has previously held world titles at lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight, including undisputed status in the latter two categories.
Now, he is chasing super welterweight gold in his divisional debut against WBA champion Israil Madrimov at Los Angeles’s BMO Stadium.
Madrimov won the belt by knocking out Magomed Kurbanov on the Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou undercard in March and is now set to make his first defence of the black and gold strap against Crawford.
If ‘Bud’ wins on Saturday night then he will join an elite club of quadruple world champions.
There are at least 16 male boxers to have held world titles in four or more divisions.
Manny Pacquiao (eight), Oscar De La Hoya (six), Thomas Hearns (five) and Sugar Ray Leonard (five) are among the select few to have held titles in more than four categories.
But when it comes to four-weight world champions there is just as much talent.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at five of the best to ever achieve the impressive feat.
Pernell Whitaker
Record: 40-4-1
World titles: IBF, WBC and WBA lightweight; IBF super lightweight; WBC welterweight; WBA super welterweight
Whittaker is one of the greatest defensive boxers to ever step between the ropes. The masterful technician was virtually unhittable in his prime and wasn’t convincingly beaten until he fell to defeat at the hands of Felix Trinidad in 1999 in his second-to-last pro fight.
Virtually everyone felt he beat the great Julio Cesar Chavez Sr in 1993, yet the judges scored it a draw. Meanwhile, he won world titles from lightweight up to super welterweight including undisputed status in the former. His best wins include Alfredo Layne, Roger Mayweather, Azumah Nelson, and Buddy McGirt (twice).
Roberto Duran
Record: 103-16
World titles: WBA and WBC lightweight; WBC welterweight; WBA super welterweight; WBC middleweight
You would be hard-pressed to find a list of the greatest boxers of all time that doesn’t include Duran. ‘Hands of Stone’ made a remarkable 12 consecutive lightweight world title defences before jumping up to welterweight to dethrone WBC champion Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980.
Three years later, he knocked out Davey Moore for the WBA super welterweight crown and then, in an unbelievable career resurgence, Duran outpointed Iran Barkley for the WBC middleweight strap in 1989 at the age of 37.
Roy Jones Jr
Record: 66-10
World titles: IBF middleweight; IBF super middleweight; WBC, WBA and IBF light heavyweight; WBA heavyweight
At his peak, Jones was an unstoppable force. The American superstar remained inside the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound top three for a remarkable ten years between 1994 and 2004.
He won world titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight – and defeated several outstanding operators including James Toney, Bernard Hopkins and Mike McCallum.
Canelo Alvarez
Record: 61-2-2
World titles: WBC, WBA and WBO super welterweight; WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight; WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO super middleweight; WBO light heavyweight
Canelo is still at the peak of his powers at 34 years old and so could add further achievements to his already unbelievable resume.
The Mexican icon has won world titles from super-welterweight to light-heavyweight and holds notable victories over Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Gennady Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, Callum Smith, and Jermell Charlo.
Erik Morales
Record: 52-9
World titles: WBC and WBO super bantamweight; WBC and IBF featherweight; WBC and IBF super featherweight; WBC super lightweight
Morales defeated 15 world champions during the course of an iconic career and was the first Mexican-born boxer to win world titles in four different weight classes.
He is most famous for his trilogies with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao, whom he defeated in their respective inaugural encounters with him.
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News Summary:
- Terence Crawford could join elite club that includes Canelo Alvarez and Roy Jones Jr if he beats Israil Madrimov
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