Terence Crawford comprehensively beat Errol Spence Jr in Las Vegas, the ninth round stoppage crowning him undisputed welterweight champion of the world.
The fight was tipped as a pick ’em, with plenty of pundits believing Spence’s size and strength would cause ‘Bud’ Crawford problems.
When it came down to it, the Omaha man controlled things from the second round onwards, dropping Spence three times.
Boxing fans worldwide were impressed by the showing, and eight-weight world champion, Manny Pacquiao, joined them in praising Crawford.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, ‘PacMan’ said that he was surprised by how the action unfolded. He believes the performance sets Crawford as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world.
“I didn’t expect the fight to be like that. I thought it would finish twelve rounds, but Crawford is good.
He did a good job. I think so [he is pound-for-pound number one.] I don’t know if there is a rematch – it was kind of a one-sided fight.”
Following a tentative open round, Crawford shows incredible judgement of range and timing to start countering Spence, who was moving forward constantly with his jab.
He touched the canvas in the second round and then again twice in the seventh, and the referee waved it off in the ninth following some unanswered shots.
He does indeed have a rematch clause to activate, and said in the post fight press conference that he would like it at the super welterweight limit of 154lbs.
Crawford said he was open to the idea, and knows he must contractually follow through with it. Given how the fight played out, and how little the winner seemed to struggle, fans will question whether or not it’s the right move for Spence.