Terence Crawford Stops Shawn Porter.
Crawford Stops Porter
@lukieboxing’s weekly boxing column. new-and-imrpoved.
To top a PPV for the third time, Terence Crawford finally found what he was looking for, iconic words he once also uttered to “Hammerin'” Hank Lundy in their fight as well, as Crawford got a technical knockout win over Shawn Porter in the tenth round, as Shawn’s father, Ken Porter, stopped the bout.
The bout was the hardest of Crawford’s career, as Porter’s will, atheltism, and skill set proved a worthy foe, as Porter was up on my scorecard until Crawford knocked him down, twice in the tenth round.
Porter’s biggest weakness has been to get hit coming in with hooks, and the right hook was the fateful punch that ended the bout, as Crawford seperated himself from fellow welterweights, doing what no one else could do.
Crawford, a generational great, is a three-division world champion, the first 140 lbs undisputed world champion, and a certified hall-of-famer, that being said – he has been a victim of his success and era, not unlike Larry Holmes, as critics have picked apart his resume more than applauded at times. Not unlike Demetrius Andrade, the talent is obviously there, and not every athlete needs to fit one mold to be great.
Crawford is the Rodney Dangerfield of boxing, as no matter what he does, a subsection of fans will pick apart every move he makes. Crawford is a fighter’s fighter, and that should be fine – but in an era of technology, social media apps, and viral marketing – boxing has become just as much politics as republicans versus democrats, as no longer is it fact-based, it is now faith-based, or friend-based. Media has been weaponized by loyalty, and I think Crawford is a fighter that has been hurt the most in this era by that, as his run over the last decade is pretty remarkable.
Crawford, a good amateur rose from the ranks, beating Breidis Prescott as a late-replacement on HBO Boxing After Dark card, but no one outside of his team probably viewed his ceiling as an all-time great. Crawford was being brought along and developed, but his stoppage win over Yuriorkis Gamboa, along with a PPV win over Viktor Postol turned heads, but not unlike Demetrius Andrade, as Crawford struggled to get big fights, many laughed and found it amusing rather than campaigning for a generational great, to get a chance.
Crawford is middle America toughness, unforgiving, unrelenting. Crawford’s domiance across the decade makes him one of the best fighters of not just this era, but from the heartland of America, ever.
Crawford tonight didn’t become a legend, he added to his legacy.
Undercard
In the co-main event, 2016 Olympian Esquiva Falcao is now the mandatory for the IBF middleweight world title after defeating Patrice Volny, after the bout was stopped in the sixth-round due to an accidental clash of heads leaving Falcao worse for wear in terms of damage, but winning the fight on the cards. Falcao is a great fighter, technical, and will be a tough out for all, nothing stood out from this fight, beyond he won clearly, and he handled business. The current IBF middleweight world champion is Gennady Golovkin, who will put his title up against Ryota Murata on December 29th in Japan, Falcao now is position to be mandated to fight the winner. Falcao seemed legitmately injured from the damage suffered in this bout.
Middleweight Janibek Alimkhanuly stopped three-time world champion Hassan N’Dam in a fight that got very morbid towards the stoppage. Alimkhanuly, an Egis Klimas managed fighter, started slow, but finished strong, and made a case that one day he might be the guy to beat at a middleweight. Alimkhanuly stopped N’Dam standing in the eighth round. N’Dam told the referee he was ready to die during the stoppage, hopefully this is the last fight of N’Dam’s career as 37-year-old has given a lot to the sport of boxing.
Lightweight Raymond “Danger” Murtalla stopped late-replacement Elias Araujo in five rounds. Murtalla showed off good angles, and hand speed, looking the part of a fighter who could headline a major fight card in the future. Muratalla was winning every round when referee Allen Huggins the contest off, as Araujo was very upset about the stoppage. When Robert Garcia says you’re good, you should probably listen.
Former super bantamweight world champion now competing at featherweight, Isaac Dogboe defeated Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz in a tactical battle that was dead even. Once again, the coaching of Barry Hunter in back-to-back weeks might have been the difference, as neither fighter seemed to seperate as a draw felt fair, but two judges edged it for Dogboe. Dogboe now has two big wins over Diaz, and Adam Lopez in back-to-back fights.
An exciting rematch ended too quickly, as a headclash that opened a big cut over the eye of Adan Ochoa halted his bout with Adam Lopez as they fought for two rounds, before the ringside doctor called the bout off. It was ruled a no-decision.
2016 U.S. Men’s Olympian Karlos Balderas picked up a third-round KO of Juan Cortez in the second bout of the evening. Balderas got used to Cortez’s pressure,
Delante “Tiger” Johnson, the recent signee to Top Rank Inc, and 2020 U.S. Men’s Olympian at the welterweight debut had a great pro debut. After two rounds of getting used to the pros, a cut opened on Johnson via a calsh of heads. This cut was the sparked the fused Johnson, who dropped his oppponent in the fourth round, and prompted the referee to step-in and stop the contest.
Boo Boo With The Statement Victory
WBO middleweight world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade made the fifth defense of his world title stopping Jason Quigley in two rounds, from SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, live worldwide on DAZN.
The beatdown, which it was, proved once again, Andrade might just be the best middleweight in the world, yet, politics, favoritism, as well Andrade’s awkward personality at times have put him in rough spots in the sport. Jaime Munguia has been Andrade’s mandatory for two years, yet hasn’t faced Andrade. Gennady Golovkin has never mentioned Andrade as well.
The sad part is, that Andrade’s world title defense against Artur Akavov, Maciej Sulecki, Luke Keeler, and Liam Williams, reflect Andrade’s standing in the sport, as the best in his division have been unwilling to face him.
At 33-years-old, Andrade needs a big fight now, with an undefeated record, and one of the longest active world title reigns, hopefully, he can get a worthy foe, soon.
Stories like Andrade prove boxing is as much a business as a sport, as no other sport, would allow one of the best in their respective craft with achievements to boot, to not get a big chance at something in the future.
If a performance like this doesn’t merit excitement for Andrade I am not sure what will. I think a good summary of this performance can be put simply, Andrade has always been effective, but not always efficient, on this night – he was both.
No Contest For Martinez
WBC flyweight world champion Julio Cesar Martinez was dropped in the first round only to drop his foe McWilliams Arroyo a minute later. The bout was stopped in round three as Arroyo had a cut over his eye caused from a head butt, and claimed he couldn’t see out of it, a veteran move, causing the bout to be a no contest.
Martinez is a defensively-flawed offensive fighter with as much firepower as anyone in the division. Martinez’s ceiling will be his toughness, and his chin, and despite getting dropped, he got up, and outwilled Arroyo, who he dropped twice in the fight as well.
A somber end to a good fight.
MJ Looks Mortal
IBF and WBA super bantamweight world champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev known better as “MJ”, defeated Jose Velasquez via a 12-round decision. Velasquez used toughness as his world-class trait that allowed him to put late pressure on Akhmadaliev, who despite winning most of the rounds looked noticeably uncomfortable with Velasquez’s disregard for his power. Akhmadaliev is looking a lot like Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov at the highest level. This was a cautionary fight, but not a defining fight.
Reis Gets By Camara
Super lightweight Kali Reis now holds the IBF and WBO women’s titles after a split decision win over Jessica Camara. The bout was close, and Camara was very effective in this fight as Reis absorbed a lot of damage throughout the bout especially the middle rounds. A dramatic tenth round saw Reis open up a cut on Camara, and nearly stop her in the last round. Former world champion and veteran broadcast Sergio Mora scored the bout for Camara, the crowd was unhappy, but the result was fine. The bout was very close, in my opinion, but scores slightly too wide for Reis.
Reis dug deep to get the narrow margin.
Now Reis has her hands full as Chantelle Cameron will await her in a battle to crown an undisputed champion of the division.
Undercard
In a dreadful opening bout, Khalil Coe, a top American prospect, who defeated Olympic Gold Medalist Julio Cesar La Cruz in amateur international competition fought regional fighter Aaron Casper to a draw in a four-round fight. Something had to have been wrong with Coe, as we expect more from him given his pedigree.
Tim Tszyu Wins
Son of all-time great Kosta Tszyu, Tim, took the ring in his journey towards a world title in the 154 lbs division, as he beat Takeshi Inoue via a 12-round decision. The fight was a solid performance against a tough veteran, who took former world champion Jaime Munguia 12-rounds as well. This was Tszyu’s first time going 12-rounds and served as yet another to check off his list, before fighting for a world title.
Tszyu is ranked #3 by the WBC, #3 by the IBF, and is the mandatory challenger for Brian Castano, who is the WBO junior middleweight world champion.
I think we have a good chance of seeing Tszyu fighting for a world title in his next bout, and more than likely winning a world title. Tszyu is the goods, in my opinion – as he is an above-average talent, with a good story.
Top Rank Has All Male 2020 Olympians Around Roster!
Top Rank Inc has made a healthy investment into the future of the sport of boxing as over the last two weeks they have made it official announcing the signings of Richard Torrez Jr., and Keyshawn Daivs, both of whom are 2020 Olympic silver medalists.
Keyshawn Davis, lightweight, who was announced would train out of Terence Crawford’s camp with Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, is viewed as the highest ceiling professional of the current Olympic class, and a true blue-chip prospect. Davis reminds me of Lamont Peterson, a pressure fighter with good use of distance, and his peers regard him as being a level above the rest, as only the best in the nation and the world can be competitive with him.
Richard Torrez Jr., super heavyweight, is a spitting image of Tommy Morrison, hailing from Tulare, California, not far from the famed Indian casino, Tachi Place Casino & Resort, that Top Rank used to frequent in its “Solo Boxeo” days. Torrez is an undersized heavyweight, who will be a fan-favorite who fights with an action style as he seeks inspiration from Jack Dempsey, and has aspects of aggression like Evander Holyfield. When Torrez starts fighting, he will be a massive star, if he fights how he did in the amateurs.
Last week, it was announced that welterweight Delante “Tiger” Johnson had signed with Top Rank Inc., and that Johnson, who turns pro in the first bout of the evening on Terence Crawford vs. Shawn Porter. Johnson is often overlooked by the naive, but with a great professional boxer in his corner in, Prenice Brewer, as well a wealth of amateur experience – Johnson might turn out to be the best fighter of this class if everything goes well. Johnson is the most well-rounded and versatile fighter of the lot.
In addition to this, Top Rank had already signed Duke Ragan, who went on to win a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics, as well as Troy Isley, who is a promising blue-chip boxer.
In short, Top Rank now has every single member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic class under contract, which is a healthy investment as given the track record of Olympians in the pros, at least two-to-three Olympians become marquee fighters. It is strange that no other promoters, looked to lay claim to any of the young fighters, as maybe promoters are already looking towards the 2024 Olympics, or maybe their downsizing as companies?
Regardless, the rich got richer, as Top Rank now has a lot of the most coveted young fighters in the country under contract.
Announced Fights.
Club Show Results
