Terence Crawford Knocks Out Shawn Porter Via Kenny Porter Stoppage?
A lot was at stake when WBO world welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) stepped into the ring to face mandatory challenger “Showtime” Shawn Porter (31-4-1, 17 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In many aspects, the fight was a proving ground for both men.
Crawford has proven himself to be one of the top pound for pound fighters in the sport. A three-weight world champion, the 34-year-old stormed through the 135 and 140 pound divisions. But as a welterweight champion, he’s faced growing criticism for not facing top-flight competition. Fans were calling for defending champ to risk his title against one of the elite fighters in the division.
He got that opportunity against a Porter who has been a mainstay at 147 pounds. Himself a two-time world champion, the 34-year-old is not afraid to fight anyone. “Showtime” Shawn Porte has looked down the barrel of all the prominent fighters the division has had to offer since 2013.
But when he’s had the opportunity to reach elite/superstar status, Porter has come up short. So, not only does he want to defeat Terence Crawford and become a three-time world champion. He wants to elevate his status from a very good to great fighter and one of the best of his era.
COOL AND CALCULATED
Porter started the fight with controlled aggression, using the double jab to cut the distance. When on the inside, he let the combinations go. Crawford usually likes to feel his opponent out. That was the case here as he spent the early portion of the fight being patient, analyzing Porter’s method of attack.
After fighting as a righty in round one, Crawford fought as a southpaw in the second. It was at this point where the action started to heat up. Both men began to trade, which had the Vegas crowd on their feet. In round three, a clash of heads resulted in a cut over Porter’s right eye.
A VIOLENT CHESS MATCH
The action intensified into the middle rounds. Shawn Porter was doing an excellent job of mixing things up. One moment he was on the front foot, landing to the head and body. Then he would take a step back and make Crawford come to him. The defending champ was smiling and landing with his share of shots. But the challenger was taking the play away and was outworking the defending champ. Another clash of heads produced a cut on the inside of Crawford’s right eye in round six.
KENNY PORTER DID WHAT?
As the fight headed into the championship rounds, it was an excellent and close contest. Then early in the tenth, a Crawford counter left uppercut put Porter on the seat of his pants. While he got up, a follow-up combination put Porter down for a second time. Then inexplicably, Porter’s father/trainer, Kenny Porter, stepped to the ring post. Feeling his son had taken enough, he said that’s it, and waved the fight over!
While Crawford was slowly but surely beginning to figure Porter out and take control, the ending will leave many fans and pundits scratching their heads. It will be interesting what will be the narrative afterward. Will it be that of Terence Crawford TKO’ing Shawn Porter or Kenny Porter’s decision to step in and stop a fight in which his son was still more than competitive?
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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