During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, unified welterweight champion Terrence Crawford addressed a question that has long troubled him about the boxing industry: black boxers are expected to adopt certain personas to sell matches.
The conversation emerged when Rogan and Crawford were discussing various boxing personalities and promotional tactics. Crawford brought up a pattern he’d observed throughout his career that extended beyond just his own experiences.
“I always I said this. I said, ‘Why is it only the black guys that got to talk [trash] to sell,” Crawford said.
When Rogan pointed out that Conor McGregor, who is white, also employs trash talk to sell matches, Crawford had a nuanced response.
“No, no, no. Conor McGregor, you know, I say he one of us, you know, because they was treated like black people over there where he from,” Crawford explained. “You know, a lot of people don’t know that. They was treated just like us. So, you know, I consider him one of us.”
Crawford then returned to his central point about the double standard he sees in boxing promotion. “At the same time, you know, in boxing, it’s always the black boxers got to be the ones that step out and play this circus role and, you know, be the one to talk [trash] and have everybody ha te them. But the ones that don’t, like Andre Ward, Terence Crawford, Tim Bradley, you know, they boring or they can’t sell, things like that.”
He questioned the fundamental criteria by which boxers are judged. “Is you judging me for what I say or what I do in the ring? Because I knock people out.”
Rogan acknowledged that casual fans often want to see trash-talking and emotional buildup, not just excellent boxing. He said: “Well, this is the difference with casuals versus people that really appreciate excellent boxing.”
Crawford agreed but pressed his point further. “They pick and choose,” he said.
When Rogan mentioned that Tyson Fury talks considerable trash and sells tickets, Crawford noted a key distinction.
“But he from a different country,” Crawford said. “You know what I mean? So you got to understand like he bringing those people over here and they going to support him win, lose or draw.”
Crawford contrasted this with American boxing culture. “America, they like ‘Man, you got your a** whoop. On to the next. You’re bum, you’re washed you ain’t as good as you said you was or we thought you was,’ and it’s just like they chew you up and spit you out.”
Crawford’s victory over Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight (168 pounds), coming up from welterweight (147 pounds), ultimately silenced many critics.
