Building a legacy of a boxer is now always associated with the business. In fairness though, big networks and promoters are the only ones capable of organizing a big fight. Their influence can make a boxing fight generates a big revenue. The market strategy is a critical part of promoting a certain that's why they are doing everything and using all their resources to sell a fight.
As per Crawford, I don't blame him for being frustrated during his tenure at the Top Rank that's why he decided to part ways with Bob Arum but remaining a free agent is not really a good idea. He should at least consider finding another promoter.
Boxing Promotional Company / Networks > Boxing Sanctioning Bodies
I cannot blame a lot of people saying boxing is dying probably because there are big fights that are not happening. But the truth is boxing is still very much alive with purses getting bigger than ever. Before, there was only HBO and Showtime as the giant networks. Today we have DAZN, ESPN, and Showtime. The big difference before was the promoters can present big fights to either HBO or Showtime without much of a problem unlike nowadays.
I honestly think that Crawford did well under Top Rank. All his achievements during his days with Top Rank should be enough to enter the Hall of Fame soon. With or without Bob Arum, the Spence fight is not materializing and it even made him more inactive. I am not sure who's to blame that they went separate ways but I did do not like this very old version of Arum. Arum is in his 90s already and he seems too frank in public even hurting the image of his own fighters like when he mentioned before that he kept losing in some of Crawford's fights, and that Teofimo Lopez can go if someone overpays him. Or it could be Arum being old school is being conservative when it comes to money.
By the way @Kemarit, your wish seems granted. Tank is now #10 ranked by the Ring. Crazy!