Bud Crawford boxing news and latest headlines
Much disputed, debated and demeaned too, boxing’s pound-for-pound list remains the definitive way to single out the best boxers in the world.
Making the selection for 2016 requires serious deliberation, as changes must be made. 2016 is only the second year in approximately 11 years of boxing that Floyd Mayweather is not at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list.
It’s that time again, and the various publications and boxing websites are listing their respective picks for Fighter of The Year. Far from an easy choice to make this year, there are a few great fighters who enjoyed a stellar 12 months and are arguably deserving of the honour.
Let’s break it down:
TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD ended 2016 as he began it — undefeated. But that was the only thing that remained the same in another breakout year for one of boxing’s top pound for pound stars and Fighter of the Year candidate. Crawford (30-0, 21 KOs), of Omaha, Neb., began the year making his debut at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden on February 27, where he stopped Top-10 contender Hank Lundy in the fifth round, successfully defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight title for the second time in four months. It was only the second time Lundy had ever been knocked out in his 10-year, 33-bout career. Coincidentally, it was John Molina Jr. who scored the other knockout of Lundy back in 2010.
We don’t know how serious he was being, but Terence Crawford’s trainer Brian McIntyre told Ringtv.com yesterday that his fighter would work hard enough to make 137 pounds so as to fight Vasyl Lomachenko – if the staggering sum of $10 million gets put on the table. McIntyre, with a laugh, said Crawford, the reigning WBC and WBO super-lightweight champ, would drop down three pounds to fight the current WBO super-featherweight king.
“If they put $10 million to make 137 we’re going to make 137,” the trainer said. “We’re going to make 137. But I know it’s not going to happen. Terence would beat the (****) out of Lomachenko. He too damn small.”
There is no shortage of boxing action this weekend, with a number of big and important fights going down in various locations. The three fights that have attracted a good deal of the attention are the Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina fight (Yes, the under-card fight of Dereck Chisora Vs. Dillian Whyte has also attracted plenty of press and fan interest, but the word now is that the fight might not even happen. As a result of Chisora’s desk-throwing wobbler, the BBB of C must decide whether or not to allow the fight to go ahead), the Andy Ruiz Jnr-Joseph Parker clash and the Terence Crawford-John Molina Jnr showdown.
Pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford has vowed to make a statement against John Molina as he looks to be crowned the 2016 ‘Fighter of the Year’.
29-year-old Crawford clashes with the teak tough Molina this Saturday night, exclusively live on BoxNation, at the CenturyLink Center in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says his fighter WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford (29-0, 20 KOs) will have a “major fight” on December 10 on HBO from Omaha, Nebraska. Arum plans on announcing the fight soon. The opponent is said to be John Molina Jr. (29-6, 23 KOs), who has lost 3 out of his last 5 fights since 2014.
According to the man with all the news, Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Terence Crawford will likely face John Molina Jnr on December 10 in the unbeaten WBC/WBO 140-pound king’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Crawford, 29-0(20) dominated Viktor Postol in his last ring outing, back in July, taking the WBC belt he now holds along with his WBO.
Molina Jnr, 29-6(23) scored a big win in his last outing, back in June, when he out-pointed Ruslan Provodnikov over 12-rounds. Crawford will enter the ring on Dec 10 as a considerable favourite, but Molina Jnr is never a warrior who can be totally written off. The big news surrounding this match-up, though, is the fact that it will pit a Top Rank fighter against an Al Haymon fighter, without the need for a purse bid.
Top-rated junior welterweight Felix Diaz wants a fight against Terence Crawford, and the Olympic gold medalist wants it bad. Earlier this week, Diaz called out the undefeated two-division world champion Crawford, and it doesn’t seem as though he is planning on quieting down anytime soon.
“I said it earlier and I am going to keep saying it, Crawford is the fight I want,” said Diaz. “There was a ton of positive responses throughout the industry after I called him out the other day, and rightfully so. Stylistically, this is a can’t-miss fight. Everyone knows it, including him. I have no problem going to Omaha for it either. He is the champion. I have no issues going into his backyard and taking his belt from him. We can fight in his mother’s kitchen if that’s where he is most comfortable. My bags are packed for Omaha. I’m ready. Terence, are you?”
Top Rank boss Bob Arum is set to fly out to Manila on August 9, to meet up with the soon to return to the ring Manny Pacquiao and discuss his planned November 5 return to action. According to The Manila Times, Arum says Pac-Man’s opponent will likely be either unbeaten, recently unified WBO/WBC 140-pound champion Terence Crawford or once-beaten reigning WBO welterweight ruler Jessie Vargas.
“I have already booked my flight to Manila, I’m looking forward to that meeting” Arum said. “So far, they [Crawford and Vargas] are the candidates. It’s going to be an absolute blockbuster of a fight, either of the two. Everybody is excited to see Manny return. His last fight against Timothy Bradley was great.”