Ryan Garcia Calls Terence Crawford Part of the Goofy Avengers
Ryan Garcia called Terence Crawford, Claressa Shields, and Shakur Stevenson the “goofy Avengers,” and Shannon Sharpe could not believe he said it on camera. The shot landed in fight week, after Garcia accused Crawford of visiting Conor Benn’s camp and handing the challenger tips before Saturday’s WBC welterweight title fight.
Garcia was sitting with Sharpe when he went after Crawford for going to the other side. He did not treat it as a courtesy visit from a retired champion.
“He’s goofy! The goofy Avengers. Claressa, Shakur, Terence, they’re the goofy Avengers.”
Sharpe’s reaction was immediate. “Oh Lord Jesus… You know Bud’s gonna see this right?”
Garcia did not pull it back. He said there are no friends in boxing, that people competing against you secretly want your spot, and that Crawford was a hater for showing up at Benn’s gym.
He also said he would beat Crawford too. That is Garcia talking, not a signed fight. Crawford has said he is retired and staying retired.
The timing is the point. Garcia defends the WBC welterweight belt against Benn on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It is his first title defense since a unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in February. He is 25-2 with 20 knockouts. Benn is 25-1 with 14 knockouts and fighting for a world title for the first time.
Crawford is the standard at 147 pounds in this era, a former undisputed champion who later beat Canelo Alvarez and walked away. Helping Benn in camp is not unusual for a retired great. Garcia framed it as betrayal.
That is why Sharpe winced. “Bud” is Crawford’s nickname, and Garcia just grouped a Hall of Fame résumé with Shields and Stevenson under a cartoon label. Shields is one of the most decorated champions in women’s boxing. Stevenson is an elite world champion in his own right.
Garcia has been picking this fight for months. He has said Crawford did not face enough young, hungry names, that Canelo was past his prime, and that he wants to pull Crawford out of retirement and beat him. He has also said Pacquiao, not Crawford, is the dream fight.
Crawford has not answered this latest clip in public. He does not have to. He is out of the ring. Garcia is the one who has to make 147 pounds on Friday and share a ring with Benn on Saturday.
Calling Crawford goofy does not change the cards. It does put another name on fight week besides the man Garcia is actually booked to fight. Benn already spent Tuesday standing at a face-off Garcia skipped. Now the champion is talking about a retired pound-for-pound king instead of the Briton in front of him.
Sharpe’s warning was the simplest read in the room. Crawford will see it. Whether he cares is a different question. Garcia has a title to defend first, and Benn is the only opponent on the contract.