Terence Crawford will face the biggest challenge of her makeover career facing Shawn Porter on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Crawford (37-0.28 KOs) will defend his welterweight title for the fifth time he’s won by stopping Jeff Horn for nine rounds in 2018. Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) ) is a two-time 147-pound champion.
Match – available on ESPN+ Pay Per View – attractive in many levels. Here are five questions – and answers – that will take place on Saturday.
Is Crawford as good as we think?
Correct. Crawford’s resume has been criticized for its lack of an elite competitor, which is fair. Porter has battled major versions of Devon Alexander, Kell Brook, Keith Thurman, Yordenis Ugas, and Errol Spence Jr. Who is Crawford’s toughest opponent? Viktor Postol? You can see the views of his critics. The other side of the story is that he fought 11 ranked boxers and killed them all, that’s why he’s #1 on Boxing Junkie’s weight balance list and near the top of the boxers. is different. And, of course, Crawford will have a chance on Saturday to make life a little more difficult for his detractors, who, if he wins, can no longer say he’s done. do not beat an elite opponent. We can only hope, then, that this fight leads to others against the top 147-pounders, especially Errol Spence Jr. Victories over Porter and Spence will silence his critics.
What makes Crawford so good?
Comprehensive capabilities. It starts with natural talent, agility, reflexes and athleticism. Add a skill set honed over 100 battles, amateur and professional. Enjoy the ultimate punching prowess that has produced eight consecutive kills… all in title fights. And start things off with a bad streak that appears when his prey becomes particularly vulnerable, something we see in most of his battles. Crawford is probably not the best defensive fighter, which one could consider a weak point. I think that has more to do with his aggressive fighting style and willingness to take risks than his significant lack of ability. And, finally, it’s important to mention his age, 34. He’s not showing any signs of slowing down yet but it’s reasonable to wonder if he’s getting past his absolute peak. Porter is also 34.
How big is Porter’s threat?
Big. The bookies place the odds of having Porter around a door under 6-1 or 7-1, which is wide… too wide. Just two years ago, he gave Spence everything he could handle in a decisive loss in a brutal title unification struggle. He’s at his highest, most suffocating age. And while he couldn’t stop second-place rival Sebastian Formella last August, he won by knockout. Porter is probably not a good all-rounder like Crawford. And he certainly cannot compare with the punching power of his opponent. At the same time, Porter is very skillful, experienced and has a motivation that allows him to maintain overwhelming pressure for 12 rounds, as we have seen so many times at the highest level. Porter is, in fact, a reasonable underdog, but he’s a living person. Don’t be shocked if he raises his hand.
Can Porter be distracted by outside activities?
It can. Porter is forging a second successful career as a television analyst while he remains an active fighter, including a weekly podcast. Some fighters can balance a variety of activities, but others say it’s best to train both legs in the gym and in the ring full-time, especially when you’re about to face a good fighter. best of the world. Porter is a professional. I believe he is currently preparing well for Crawford, which is a must if he hopes to win. I wonder about something, though. One reason he’s performed so well against Spence is that he’s been more focused and motivated than ever in his career given the importance of the fight. We’ll see if he brings such an advantage into the ring on Saturday.
Who is win?
Crawford. Biggest reason? He’s the better fighter. Plus, his motivation won’t be off the charts since he’s waited so long for a challenge like this. I don’t think it will be easy; Fighting with Porter never was. I only see Crawford as the ring champion, keeping Porter away from him – at least for most of the game – with powerful hits and using his feet to maintain distance in his favor, from which he will unleash his biggest hits. He will be frustrated and will end up betting Porter for a clear unanimous decision or a late knockout. The latter would have been more likely if Porter hadn’t been as focused as he should have been for the fight.
