Even with Crawford’s accomplishments, De La Hoya said he still rates Mayweather higher because of the way he handled Canelo during their 2013 fight.
“Floyd Mayweather toyed with Canelo. He literally toyed with him,” De La Hoya told FightHype.
“He didn’t get hit at all, not one time.
“And Crawford, yeah, he’s more of a fighter-boxer. Mayweather’s more of a boxer, but I have to disagree.”
De La Hoya said Mayweather’s technical ability separated him from Crawford, even though Crawford is widely viewed as one of the best fighters of his era.
“I think Mayweather is much more superior than Crawford,” De La Hoya said.
“Not just because he beat me and it was a close fight, or that I stepped in the ring with Mayweather, but I really feel that, technically, Mayweather’s a better fighter.”
Mayweather defeated De La Hoya in 2007 before later beating fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez during his undefeated career.
Crawford’s supporters often point to his willingness to pursue stoppages and move through multiple divisions, while Mayweather built much of his reputation around defensive control and minimizing punishment throughout fights.
Many Mayweather supporters also point to the difference in defensive consistency between the two fighters. Crawford often relied on making adjustments after giving opponents opportunities early, while Mayweather usually controlled fights from the opening rounds with positioning, timing, and defense.
Fans also continue comparing how both men performed against Canelo, with Mayweather largely avoiding clean shots during their 2013 fight while Crawford absorbed more punishment despite winning convincingly years later.
