Terence Crawford locked in on Shawn Porter
On November 20, WBO world welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (37-0, 28 KO’s) will go to war with the human buzz-saw Shawn “Showtime” Porter (31-3-1, 17 KO’s). Outside the ring, the two pugilists share an earnest friendship, yet it was politics and stubbornness that held up this bout. Between the two though, whenever previously speaking about the potential dustup, it was always Porter who sounded like the more committed party. Luckily, the WBO stepped in and mandated the fight and here we are.
Countless boxing fans will release a collective sigh of relief now that Crawford is facing a legitimately ferocious opponent. This is a talking point that blatantly irks the WBO champion but it’s far from a lie. During his tenure at welterweight, Showtime will, by leaps and bounds, represent Crawford’s most impressive adversary. With the most skilled boxer in Nebraska being who he is however, Bud is approaching this bout with the same sleepy nonchalance that he always does.
ONE DOPE MAIN EVENT
It would be a travesty for him if Crawford was to allow himself to overlook Porter, but it’s highly doubtful he’d be that foolhardy. Thankfully, Bud has removed all doubt on the matter while fielding questions at a media day workout session. During the impromptu roundtable, the two-division champion and former undisputed super lightweight champion openly voiced his expectations of Porter.
“I’m expecting him to come do everything he can possible do to get the job done, like anybody else would. You know, I don’t view Shawn no different than I view anybody else. Nobody wants to lose when they step foot in the ring. So I believe he is going to come 120% prepared, ready to take my title and that’s going to make for a great fight because I’m going to be 150% ready for whatever he bring to the table.”
“…Porter, he is going to put pressure, he can box, he can get rugged in there. You know it’s no one style [with] Porter that I see, that everybody else sees. He has fast feet, he have good hand speed, he’s very athletic, he’s durable. So I really can’t say which Shawn Porter I’m going to see come fight night. But like I said once, I am going to say it again, we going to be prepared for whichever style he brings to the table!”
WHO DID IT BETTER?!
Whether it’s on his mind or not, the fans will no doubt be holding the Nebraskan’s performance up against IBF and WBC world welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr’s. The unified champion fought it out like Robert Griffin and that tall chicken for twelve with Porter back on September 28, 2019. In fact, minus a very clutch and very technical eleventh round knockdown, there is a common feeling that the bout would’ve been up for grabs on the scorecards.
If Terence Crawford can establish and maintain a firm control on Showtime, it would do wonders for renewing interest in the Truth vs Bud unification bout. It’d be even better if Crawford could be the first person to stop the Cleveland native within the distance. Yet, no matter how it comes, Bud just wants his hand raised.
“I’m always looking to win in spectacular fashion, but a win is a win in my eyes. No matter how it come, in any shape, form or fashion, just win at the end of the day. But for me personally, I am always looking to close the show and make sure that I look good doing it.”
By: Bakari Simpson
