Terence Crawford (32-0-0, 23 KO’s) will be aiming to collect a world title in a third weight class when he challenges Australian WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (18-0-1, 12 KO’s) at the famous MGM Grand venue in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Brisbane-born former-schoolteacher Horn claimed the championship last June – in the sweltering outdoor heat of the city’s Suncorp Stadium – over legendary veteran Manny Pacquiao with a somewhat contentious unanimous decision.
The judge’s verdict was something that was hotly disputed by many American observers – including ringside pundit Teddy Atlas – who believed that Pacquiao had done enough to retain his title with a sufficiently convincing, albeit underwhelming, display against a determined, tenacious challenger in the former 2012 Olympian.
However, commentators Steve Bunce and Barry Jones (of British broadcasters Boxnation) felt that Horn was consistently able to out-hustle Pacquiao and was ultimately the deserved victor on the night; despite suffering a significant scare in the ninth round where he appeared to be badly rocked and bloodied by a series of Pacquiao left hands.
Nevertheless, Horn will undoubtedly be hungry to legitimise his status of World champion with a successful defence against the formidable Crawford: a former two-weight world champion who is widely considered to be among the sport’s current pound-for-pound elite. Indeed, some commentators have designated Crawford – a prohibitive favourite against Horn – as number one outright.
Horn – undefeated in 19 fights with 12 knockout wins – is a somewhat stubborn, awkward operator who possesses respectable punching power and physical strength at 147lbs; most recently stopping England’s Gary Corcoran inside ten rounds of his first title defence on home soil.
On the other hand, Omaha’s ‘Bud’ – similarly undefeated in 32 fights with 23 knockout wins – is a fast, spiteful, switch-hitting combination puncher; someone who systematically breaks his opponents down with precision and speed.
Four years ago, Crawford claimed the WBO lightweight championship with a resounding unanimous decision win over Glasgow’s Ricky Burns on away soil and subsequently defended his title against Yuriorkis Gamboa and Raymundo Beltran.
The Nebraskan native then moved up a weight division and dominated his competition with resounding victories over the likes of Thomas Dulorne, Hank Lundy, Dierry Jean, Viktor ‘Iceman’ Postol, John Molina and Felix Diaz.
In his last fight, Crawford claimed historic undisputed champion status after spectacularly knocking out undefeated Namibian WBA and IBF champion Julius Indongo in the third round last August in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Crawford is poised to become one of America’s next pugilistic superstars following the departure of Floyd Mayweather Jr. An emphatic victory over Horn would potentially enable him to set up unification blockbuster bouts with compatriots Errol Spence Jr. (IBF champion), the currently indisposed Keith Thurman (WBA champion), and the winner of Danny Garcia’s proposed clash with Shawn Porter.
Meanwhile, the rough and tough Horn embraces the familiar role of underdog with unbridled confidence, and will no doubt look to produce a sensational upset against the flashy American, handing him his first career loss in the process and silencing the legions of stateside skeptics.
Preview by: Navi Singh
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