Terence Crawford has questioned why one of his former opponents, who he defeated in emphatic fashion, allowed their potential rematch to fall by the wayside.

‘Bud’ ultimately retired as an unbeaten world champion in December, having become a three-division undisputed king and surefire Hall of Famer.

And while some fights were closer than others, there was never a demand for him to rematch any opponent, despite talks of a second encounter with Canelo Alvarez.

Even then, many felt Crawford had dethroned the Mexican so convincingly last September that there was no reason for him to run it back with the super-middleweight.

As for his undisputed welterweight triumph over Errol Spence Jr in 2023, there were similar feelings expressed about a possible rematch which, based on Crawford’s ninth-round stoppage, seemed entirely unnecessary at the time.

Yet despite this general perception, Spence nonetheless activated his rematch clause in their contract, only to eventually undergo cataract surgery and remain out the ring for three years.

Since then, though, ‘The Truth’ has partly blamed his last performance on nightmare training camp, while Crawford tells ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT that he wonders why Spence was never particularly bullish about an immediate rematch.

“That fight was in 2023. Why come out with [the excuses] now? He fought the same way with me that he fights in every single fight.

“If I knew I wasn’t at my best, and was hindered by something in camp, I wouldn’t have fought. I just can’t grasp myself going into a fight unprepared.

“[There was also] a rematch clause. So it’s like, ‘All right, I wasn’t at my best but sign me up [for the rematch]. We’ve gotta do that again’.”

Spence returns to action at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena, Australia, this weekend, taking on fellow former world champion Tim Tszyu at 160lbs.