As was previously stated last week, it wasn't just enough for Terence Crawford to retain his WBO welterweight belt by scoring a decision over Shawn Porter. He needed to leave no doubt, and clearly make the statement that he is the best welterweight in the game.
Mission accomplished.
Crawford emphatically ended things with two knockdowns in round 10, of what was up to that point a competitive and hard-fought affair.
He stopped a fighter that was previously thought to be unbreakable. Crawford cracked the anvil.
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Per usual, Porter was game, tough and unyielding in his approach. There isn't much style or elegance to what he does, but there's a reason why nobody has ever had an easy time with him. He attacked in explosive bursts and was surprisingly elusive for Crawford, who had some issues finding him early on.
But eventually, Crawford -- who has a well-earned reputation as the most adaptable fighter in the sport -- began to settle in and it was he that was landing the more meaningful, sharper punches. But that isn't to say that Porter didn't have his moments as he crowded the defending champion, and landed a few overhand rights.
There were rounds when 'Bud' was made to be uncomfortable, but as they say, there are levels to this game. While Porter was passionate, the precision punching belonged to Crawford, who's lean frame belies just how tough and physically strong he is.
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams and Top Rank
Fighting from the southpaw stance almost exclusively from the second round on, Crawford picked his spots and landed a few hard lefts, and some well-placed body shots. There were some heated exchanges in this fight, but the more accurate shots belonged to the native of Omaha, who proved on this night that he was as tough as he was talented.
You got the sense that the fight was very much up in the air going into the championship rounds (and indeed, the scores read 87-84, and 86-85 twice, all in favor of Crawford) going into the 10th. Porter was still very much in the fight, but soon, he would be out of it.
A counter left uppercut sent Porter on the seat of his pants in the opening stages. And then a barrage of punches from Crawford sent him down again. As Porter pounded his fists in frustration over his plight, his father leapt from the corner with a towel in hand, demanding the bout be halted.
There are some who will try to downplay this performance and end result. But you can't go for months and tout just how tough and durable Porter was, and point out he had never been knocked out in a fight, and then take credit away from Crawford for stopping the unstoppable.
No, he didn't necessarily dominant throughout the fight, but that's a testament to the doggedness of Porter (who came into this bout rated the fourth best 147 pounder by Ring Magazine), who has a proven track record of making life difficult for anyone that has been in the ring with him. There are those who actually had Porter up going into the 10th, but at the end there was no doubt.
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
While some may vehemently disagree with Kenny Porter throwing in the towel, it says here that Crawford is the most vicious, violent finisher in the sport. Things were only going to get much worse for Porter in a round that still had plenty of time left in it. Regardless of Mr. Porter's actions, that fight for all intents and purposes was over.
Crawford was tested, but eventually he showed his class. (And ask yourself this question, right now, who would you pick in a fight between he and Errol Spence?)
Other elite welterweights have defeated Porter.
But the most complete and special one stopped him.
UNDERCARD
- Raymond Muratalla, who scored a fifth round stoppage of Elias Araujo, is a sound, solid technician in the ring who has a great presence about him. Muratalla, who is trained by Robert Garcia, is the type of fighter who will start relatively slowly in most fights, figure things out, and then get to work. There are those who believe that referee, Allen Huggins, stopped this fight prematurely, but in all reality this was becoming an increasingly one-sided affair.
- Janibek Alimkanuly remained undefeated by pounding on veteran Hassan N'Dam for eight lopsided rounds. After getting knocked down near the near the end of the third, you knew it was only a matter of time before 'Qazaq Style' would score the knockout. But as the rounds kept going, and Alimkanuly wasn't able to finish off N'Dam, you wondered if referee, Kenny Bayless should just wave it off and save the 37 year old the beating.
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Alimkanuly is a fighter who's future is ahead of him. N'Dam is one who's best days are in the rear view mirror. Unfortunately, his biggest blessing -- his toughness and survival ability -- is also his biggest curse at this stage.
FINAL FLURRIES
Lance Pugmire of USA Today reported/tweeted that Alimkanuly and his manager, Egis Klimas, are going to petition the WBO to get a shot at their middleweight champion, Demetrius Andrade....Speaking of 'Boo Boo', he did what he needed to do in making quick work of Jason Quigley on Friday night....I thought Christopher Diaz should've got the nod over Isaac Dogboe....I met fans from Colorado, New York and Cleveland at the Crawford-Porter fight this weekend at the Mandalay Bay, along with the usual throng from Omaha...Right now, Ohio St. is the clear number two behind Georgia....So who will be Miami's new athletic director? Hearing some interesting names....I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com.....
