Terence Crawford vs Egidijus Kavaliauskas Preview & Prediction
When: December 14, 2019
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City
Network: ESPN & ESPN Deportes
Time: 10PM EST
Terence “Bud” Crawford (35-0, 26 KOs) makes the second defense of the WBO Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KOs) on December 14 at MSG live on ESPN. Admittedly, Crawford is the heavy favorite, but this is boxing and stunning surprises happen all the time at a moment’s notice. Can Kavaliauskas pull off what would be one of the biggest upsets of 2019?
Terence Crawford
Right now, the fighter known as “Bud” is at the top of his game. Viewed by many as the top Pound-4-Pound fighter in the sport, Crawford can do it all. Whether it’s boxing on the outside, standing in the pocket, or pressuring his opponent, the 32-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska can apply any tactic he wants to win.
And what makes him such a special fighter is not just the diversity and variety in his game, he does this showing power and a mean streak that boxing fans love. Put that together and it makes Terence Crawford a perfect blend of old-school and new-school fighter.
Keys to Victory: Crawford
Because he’s more skilled with the faster hands and feet, the champ should stay discipline and box. Keep turning his opponent on the outside, don’t give him a straight target. While it would be beneficial to go to the body, there is no need for him to get dragged into a sloppy affair.
Egidijus Kavaliauskas
The 31-year-old Lithuanian who now fights out of Oxnard, California is a pressure fighter. Confident and strong, he loves to fight on the front foot and attack. Kavaliauskas has good power in both hands and is physically very strong, a bit of a brute in the ring. Called “Mean Machine”, the challenger has carries a similar mean streak as the champion.
Keys to Victory: Kavaliauskas
Rough this up and make this a physical fight, a war. He has to find a way to cut off the ring on the elusive Crawford and if he can get inside, stay inside and work, work, work. Kavaliauskas has to be a pit bull and go all out to win. The more physical and ugly the fight is, the more advantageous it is for him because he will not win if it’s a battle of skills.
Prediction
Kavaliauskas is a good fighter, but he is facing an elite fighter in Terence Crawford. Things could get shaky if the champ gets lazy and sloppy, but that’s highly unlikely.
The champion is in his prime, too experienced and too smart for the likes of Kavliauskus who, if we’re being honest, is not on the level of “Bud”. Because of his toughness, the challenger will go the distance, but in the end, Crawford will win by decision.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
