Terence Crawford comments on Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay statements

Feb

Terence Crawford gloves up for the first time this year Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater, against smack talker extraordinaire Hank Lundy, a WBO 140-pound title defense to run on HBO.

Crawford did some press today (Tuesday) at the famed and fabled Gleason’s Gym, in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn and offered some critiques to some area military vets, to convey his appreciation of their service.

He told me his family has military ties so he’s well aware of the importance of doing such service. Dad was a Navy man, 20 years, a grandma was in the Army, and two uncles served as well. “Vets are great,” he said. “Without them, this country would be a mess. I appreciate they protect and serve.”

The turnout was fine and I dare say the Nebraska 140-pound ace, regarded by many folks as a top five pond for pounder, was happy he didn’t get the same sort of media attention as Top Rank stablemate Manny Pacquiao got last week.

Pacquiao stepped in it, with both feet, when he unfavorably compared gays to animals. He protested that he was referring to gay unions, specifically, but his original quote spoke of their mating habits, not marital ones. And he subsequently posted on Instagram a Leviticus passage which recommended execution for gays, and that didn’t specify that seeking marriage was a criteria for being put to death.

Crawford was asked if he had any takeaway from this furor, which saw the fighting Congressman offer an apology but stick to his anti-gay guns. “That’s how he feels,” the 29-0 (19 knockouts) ambidextrous pugilist said. “He’s entitled to his opinion of what he thinks. At the end of the day everyone’s human.”

That Pacquiao is so revered, and holds public office, representing all beings in his sector, no matter their sexual orientation, does that not mean that his pronouncements carry more weight, however. Yes?

“We’re all human,” the 28 year old told me. “Do I agree with him? No. Do I agree with same sex marriage, no, but I don’t go out there and publicly state that. That’s his opinion, sometimes you need to keep things to yourself.

“Everybody has someone gay in their family,” Crawford noted, cementing his “stay in your own lane when tempted to play morality police” mindset.

He’d still happily accept a fight with Pacquiao, in case his April 9 tangle with Tim Bradley is not his farewell ring war, he told me.

Some vets got some pointers from the boxer and some HBO merch and all seemed to be pleased with the opp. The fighter made his rounds of the gym, greeting proprietor Bruce Silverglade and trainer Eric Kelly and the like, and then was off, having successfully navigated an interaction with press which will not attract crossover coverage from mainstream press. Sometimes, that is A-OK.