Terrence Crawford is the best of boxers. The combination of his speed, strength and skill was on display on Saturday, as he finished off Kel Brook with a thump that led TKO to the fourth round. But the lingering question about Crawford remains: when will he put a bow on his career by megafighting with Errol Spence Jr. or Manny Pacquiao?
It’s time. It’s 2021 or bust. No more excuses. No promises. No. 33 Ford, now 33, is at the crossroads of his career, while his deal with the top ranks is nearing completion. The future between them seems to depend on one of the promises that will be made next year.
“The pressure is on everyone,” Crawford told ESPN this week. “It’s not just about one person. It takes more than one person to fight.”
Crawford should meet one night to enjoy a resounding victory over the revered former champion, one man needed 11 rounds to get his rival Spence out of there, while Crawford did it in four.
“Never in my career, no one has ever done this to me,” Brooke said after the fight.
But that’s not the reality of boxing. Even Ford Ford – the most feared man in the division – will be judged by whether he fights Spence and / or Pacquiao.
Top-ranked CEO Bob Arum said Ford’s next length is to fight Spence or Pacquiao in the first half of 2021. Their choice is Pac Pacquao, although they are still a big fight from a heritage and financial point of view. Arum said he is looking forward to April or May 2021 for fighting the Pacquiao in Qatar, for which he says they agreed to shake hands before the country’s health ministry made him close due to the Kovid-19 epidemic. Crawford says he understands the plan is about to happen, but he’s willing to see it in action. Considering that these fights have been talked about for a long time, the mass boxing Xing community takes these comments by the eye roll. That’s all until one turn comes.
Plus, Crawford-Spence has the requirements of fight boxing.
From a public perspective, more efforts are being made to fight Spence from Crossford and the top ranks, the other side is willing to wait. You can hear the frustration from Crawford when he talks about taking snaps from people who claim he ducks Spence. He laughs that the boxing world demands Welterweight’s best fighter to chase his challengers, and he’s the only culprit for the lack of a show down.
Crawford’s trainer and manager Brian “Bummac” McKinter told ESPN that he stays on top of Arum and top-ranking president Todd Dubois for fights with Pacquiao and Spence. They believe they will only do so when the promoters and networks risk taking the big fight they want.
“After a while, you get bored talking about these s. You just say you’re doing your job, and we’re doing our job. Just fight,” McIntyre said. “I’m ready for what I get from them, but after every fight he can kick on the road. I don’t think he can kick on the road at the moment. What else is there to do on 147 but fight with two champions or there Is out? “
The elephant in the room is the one that holds the PBC cards, with a ga on top welterweights, including space. Arum insists PBC’s Al Hamon isn’t firing him or Crawford from the fight, but he looks like him.
Athletic reported this week that Cra Ford has expressed frustration at the lack of a top-ranked premier fight and noted that his deal with the promotion company is set to expire in October 2021. Is PBC waiting for the clock? If so, he leaves the top rank and Crawford in a difficult place next year, trying to be that.
“Terrence has always been a businessman. Whatever is left on his contract, I’m sure he will respect it.” “When the time comes, we will sit down as a team and make that decision, whether we go to PBC or stay with the top rank or go to Eddie Horn or go with the network.”
That decision is based on whether the top-ranked contract gives Ford a bout with Spence or Pacquiao before his contract expires.
Spence is Crawford’s White Whale – a fight that will secure him a place as one of the best fighters of his generation. But Crawford seems ready for that not to happen.
“I think my legacy is already safe,” he said. “When you see something I’ve done in the game of boxing, I’m ready. I’m fine. I’m satisfied. I’m happy.”
But Crawford doesn’t need a Spence Fight. That would put him in the elite class of boxing history. He wants it – and the rest of the boxing community wants it too. For once, can everyone get what they deserve? – Cameron Wolfe
Instant replay worked … sort
Sure, it will take about 30 minutes. But at the end of the day, no contest in Joshua Franco-Andrew Moloney II was a true call. Nevada’s new replay process was put to the test, and it proved what we know in football: if an official doesn’t have enough evidence to overturn a preliminary verdict, a call should be made. It has happened, even if it is a complete mess.
Let’s go back and look at the accounts of the two most skilled referees in the fight game, the official Robert Byrd and ring referee Russell Mora. First, Byrd told ESPN Ringside reporter Bernardo Osuna that he had seen a lot of significant head buttons, marking Byrd on his sheet. Second, near the 1:06 mark of the first round, Mora clearly talks about using the head from the inside with Molly.
The replay review got it right. If, after about 30 minutes, the Nevada Athletic State Commission was unable to overturn the initial judgment, the most logical consequence would be to rule the fight over a contest and act as if the bet had never come.
And to keep in mind the current era of boxing, Franco has retained the cheaper version of the WBA junior bantamweight belt, as the Roman “chocolate” Gonzalez holds the top title of the sanctioned body in the weight category.
There are two main issues with this frustration. One, the Nevada Commission must find a quick way to get through this replay process. Second, Franco was able to maintain his version of the 115-pound belt despite fighting a top-ranked fighter on a top-ranked network. Franco’s trainer, the legendary Robert Garcia, said he was the best during the ringside interview during the review.
“It’s clear they’re trying to make us feel bad,” Garcia said.
That did not happen. And if Molly wants revenge on Franco, she has to stay in a less controversial fashion. – Ben Baby
Places and sounds from bubbles
Saturday proved to be an aggressive night in boxing xing, and in combat games it was notable that this was the first incident in Las Vegas with spectators since the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in March.
Yes, the top rank allowed some family members and sponsors to take part in last month’s lightweight title fight between Vasily Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez, and the UFC allowed Anderson Silva’s family into the building for his final fight on Halloween. But Saturday’s event was the first in which the top ranks welcomed “guests” including family, friends, MGM executives and dignitaries in honor of Veterans Day.
Guests needed to take a quick result COVID-19 test on the spot. The top-ranked presence was expected to be around 100, though it looked really low for the fighting night. The result, of course, was nothing like the regular atmosphere, but it was something (and could lead to more). And I have to say, it felt really nice to hear Crawford’s family scream, “His stupid jab,” and “He’ll run as fast as he thinks!” Everyone in the small crowd was delighted to start shooting with their phones, while top-ranked President Bob Arum met with Bob Bennett, executive director of the Nevada Commission, to discuss the controversial outcome. Felt A little Closer to normal.
What happens next, in the eyes of viewers at the world’s fighting capital, is uncertain, and it will clearly depend on the Covid case numbers within the state (Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak tested positive for the virus this week). But the hope is, at least for the top ranks, to continue its work with the NSAC (assuming Arum didn’t mean it when it announced it would “get F — from Vegas” after the co-main event), MGM in the distant future Potential graduates in the Grand or T-Mobile Arena. It could also really have an impact on potential matchmaking, as events begin to produce gates in Nevada for the first time since March. – Brett Okamoto
Cal Brook’s time is up
Saturday’s performance confirms what many people think of Brooke. Its roof is clear as a prize fighter. When Crawford turned on the heat and began to connect, Brooke couldn’t even cope with the first signs of punishment against the select champion.
That being said, it’s probably time for Brooke to hang up the gloves. And that is no disrespect to the fighting pride of Sheffield, England. Brooke’s loss feels much better than the victory of many champions. So far, he has been stopped by the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the game – Gennady Golovkin, Spence and Crawford, who beat Brooke in the fourth round and got a stoppage.
After an eye injury to one of the game’s most bruised men, Golokkin’s hand, Brooke was never the same fighter. It was handled by Spence and again by Crawford, who was expected to enter by the weekend by most observers. Brooke’s career has been spectacular. But in recent years, he has now suffered many punishments for making paganism a profession. – Ben Baby
Where do Katie Taylor and Terry Harper go after an impressive title defense on Saturday?
After such a marvelous performance – one of her best – who will face Katie Taylor?
Amanda Sereno has the option that Taylor, this undisputed world lightweight champion, will probably pick, and how it will be fought. However, Taylor has questioned whether Serrano is really for her.
The seven-weight world champion is born in New York-based Sereno, Puerto Rico, after two fight dates to face Taylor were canceled. If it’s not Serra, there are other big fights to move Taylor forward.
Chicago’s Jessica McCasil lost to Taylor on points three years ago, but became the undisputed world welterweight champion in August, beating Norwegian Cecilia Breakhus. McAsil and Brechus are expected to meet again in the first half of 2021, and that is another option for fight winner Taylor.
Taylor (17-0, 6 KOs), 34, of Ireland’s Breno, was in a different league than his opponent from Saturday’s lightweight title defense, Miriam Gutierrez. Taylor wants lengthy battles with her two struggling dolphin persons, and if the other suggestions above don’t work she should expect to see England’s Chantelle Cameron, the WBC junior welterweight titleist.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Harney has also mentioned Terry Harper as a potential opponent of Taylor, but it’s definitely a fight that will happen after 2021, if not at all.
Meow TerriHarper96 I want a little further #MayerHarper 🔥
– Mikela Meyer (@ Mikelameyer 1) November 14, 2020
Harper, 24, has his own agenda and fights until 2021.
For Harper, South Korean Hyun Mi Choi (17-0-1, 4 KOs), the WBA titleholder who signed the matchroom last week, looks like an easy fight to do in the first half of 2021. American Mikella Meyer (14-0, OKO from Colorado, who won the WBO title last month) has repeatedly vowed to fight unity with Harper, but she may have to go to the line.
If Harper doesn’t face Choi then, there’s another easy and popular fight in the UK with Natasha Jonas, who caught Harper for a fun draw in the summer, before Memor gets shot. Jonas is also an option for Taylor if Irishwam has to wait for a fight against the likes of Serrano, McCaskill or Brex. – Nick Parkinson
.
