On Saturday, November 20 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Terence “Bud” Crawford (37-0, 28 KO’s) will make the fifth defence of his WBO welterweight title against “Showtime” Shawn Porter (31-3-1, 17 KO’s) in a highly anticipated match-up.
Following his knockout of Kell Brook in November 2020, it was unclear what the future held for Crawford. With the clock ticking, time was running out for the 34 year old to seal defining fights.
Crawford has been widely regarded amongst the upper echelons of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings for numerous years, but has faced constant criticism for not facing a world class opponent in their prime who can really test him.
For such an elite-level talent, Crawford should be a much bigger star, with the low pay-per-view numbers generated over the years no reflection of the Nebraskan’s in-ring talent whatsoever.
The various belts and sanctioning bodies have somewhat diminished the worth of being a ‘world champion’ over the years. That status does not hold the same weight any more. However, on the very rare occasion, these sanctioning bodies can prove to be a saviour, which they have been for nobody more-so than Bud.
Crawford had been calling out the welterweight’s elite for years, with no success. The call was finally answered with the finalising of this showdown against Porter after the WBO formally ordered a fight against the mandatory challenger.
The three-weight division and former super-lightweight undisputed champion is a great fighter, a future Hall of Famer, who is looking for the opponents that will cement his standing as an all-time great and transform him into a transcendent star in the way that his talent deserves.
The supremely gifted switch hitter from Ohama, Nebraska is as complete a fighter as you will have seen in recent years. Crawford is a very versatile fighter, a switch hitter who can box as well as being a come forward aggressor. He has experience, skills, fights on the outside and inside with ease, speed, power, a killer instinct, mental toughness, timing, the ability to eliminate an opponent’s game plan, and is at the peak of his powers, stopping 10 of his last 11 opponents. However, irrespective of five championship level wins at welterweight, three of them against undefeated fighters and all via stoppage, Crawford’s failure to face the division’s elite has resulted in a real sense of stagnancy to Bud’s career.
Porter is the solution. The former two-time welterweight champion has a stellar resume, having faced virtually all of the elite welterweights of his era. His second title reign consisted of a win against Danny Garcia and victory against current WBA (Super) champion Yordenis Ugas, before narrowly losing to Errol Spence Jr in their all-action WBC and IBF unification showdown in September 2019.
‘Showtime’ has never been stopped, with his only defeats being narrow losses on points to Brook, Keith Thurman and Spence.
Crawford is the considerable odds on favourite heading into the final fight of his Top Rank deal, but Porter can be written off at one’s peril. Until now, Porter has faced better competition than Crawford throughout the course of their careers. Crawford undoubtedly deserves immense credit for the manner in which he breaks down and dispatches his opponents, but none will have been operating at the same level as Porter.
Porter is a real throwback fighter, willing to fight anybody, incredibly tough and can fight at a relentless pace for the full 12 rounds, mauling his opponents on the inside, making it a very rough night with pure physicality. Crawford has the mindset and skill-set of a special fighter, but Porter’s aggression, activity and intelligence could provide a real stylistic problem for Crawford.
Speaking on the virtual press conference, Porter said: “You gotta understand that this is more than a test for Terence Crawford. His livelihood is on the line and everything he’s about is on the line.”
Porter’s brimming with confidence, feeling that he deserves respect beyond being considered just a ‘test’. Showtime believes this is a dangerous fight for Crawford’s legacy. Crawford, of course, is not lacking confidence himself.
“This fight is really going to show the calibre of fighter that I am and the skill set that I have," Crawford said on the Jamel Herring vs Shakur Stevenson broadcast. "They’re going to look at me and say, ‘Oh, this is the reason why certain fights haven’t manifested or come to fruition, because he’s that good.’”
Porter has not shown any slowing or decline thus far, and if Crawford was to beat Porter in a clear, decisive manner, which is no ‘gimme’ by any stretch, Crawford instantly makes his case as someone who has belonged at the top of the welterweight heap and pound for pound rankings all along, dispelling many criticisms.
For those who will still proceed to criticise Crawford if this turns out to be the case, then as the proverb goes.. “You never miss the water till the well runs dry.” Perhaps once Crawford retires, the naysayers will give Bud his flowers.
Those flowers would be much deserved against Porter, as any opponent who turns up to a fight against Porter, not being in the best shape of their life, will be found out. Sometimes, intangibles out-weigh talent, and Porter has all the will and heart in the world.
Fireworks are definitely due, Crawford is out to make a statement, particularly to the naysayers who have always questioned his credentials, and Porter always brings action and excitement, making his opponents work like never before.
Sina Latif of SimBoxx
Twitter; @_sina93
