Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion and the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Fighter of the Year TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD (25-0, 17 KOs), from Omaha, NE, Puerto Rican buzz saw THOMAS “Thunder” DULORME (22-1, 14 KOs), the No. 2 world-rated contender and Hall of Fame promoter BOB Arum hosted a media conference call on Monday to discuss their upcoming rumble for the vacant WBO junior welterweight title. The Crawford-Dulorme world title fight will take place This Saturday! April 18, at College Park Center, located on the campus of the University of Texas Arlington in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The world championship fight will be televised as part of a split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Promoted By Top Rank®, in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Tecate, remaining tickets to the Crawford-Dulorme world championship event priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable fees, tickets can be purchased at College Park Center box office, online at www.utatickets.com/ or www.utacollegepark.com/ or by phone at (817) 272-9595.
Thomas, Would it be a surprise for you to win the fight over Crawford?
THOMAS DULORME: It would not be a surprise for me. I know the way the boxing analysts feel but I am very comfortable with this fight and I will come out the winner of this fight.
What would winning this fight mean for your career?
THOMAS DULORME: This is another step forward in my career. It is a very important fight for me as I move along.
How do you feel about fighting the Fighter of the Year?
THOMAS DULORME: Those who make the decisions to choose who will be the fighter of the year are those involved in analyzing the fights. I am only concentrating on my career as a boxer in the gym and not outside of the ring.
The odds seem to be steeply in Crawford’s favor…
THOMAS DULORME: I am not surprised by the odds because everyone thinks this is a very comfortable fight for Crawford. I will say this – those who bet with me as the winner of the fight are going to take home a nice chunk of money.
There are some rumors making the rounds in social media – how do respond to them?
THOMAS DULORME: I have been concentrating for the past month and a half on my training and I have been away from the social media so I don’t really know what that has to do with. Everything in social media is being handled by my advisors’ office.
This is the biggest fight of your career and you have changed trainers…
THOMAS DULORME: Robert Garcia and I are great friends. I wanted to train in Puerto Rico where my boxing career began and Robert didn’t have the time to train me here in Puerto Rico.
Who is the head trainer for this fight?
THOMAS DULORME: I do not have a head trainer as such. What I have done is put together a great training team that brings to the table many years of training experience of old school in boxing. Jose “Kike” Rosa and Felix Pagan Pintor and Don Khan and Anthony Otero who have trained and been in title fights with other great boxers.
Who will be the person in charge that Thomas listens to between rounds?
THOMAS DULORME: It will be Kike Rosa
It seems that Terence is more of a boxer in this fight moving up in weight and since Thomas is coming down in weigh he will be the stronger fighter against the more slick Crawford. How do you feel about that?
THOMAS DULORME: As you know, I can switch from the guy who is a boxer in the ring and what I am going to do in this fight is switch from one side to the other but I am going to be constantly hurting Crawford with my power punches throughout the fight.
Did you know going into the fight with Lundy that your next fight would be for the title or did you think you just had to make a statement in that fight?
THOMAS DULORME: I never knew going into the Lundy fight, which was going to be my next fight. I never concentrate on, when I am going into a fight, who my next fight will be with. I concentrate on each fight individually.
How do you feel coming off two big wins against Karim Mayfield and Lundy?
THOMAS DULORME: My professional boxing career has been on a comfortable rise and I am very happy and very positive on this next step with a win over Crawford on the 18th.
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Camp Notes: Thomas Dulorme Looking Phenomenal In Preparation For Crawford Fight
Photos: David Infante @787Films / Team Dulorme — Top junior welterweight contender Thomas Dulorme (22-1, 14 KO’s) from Puerto Rico, along with his team led by Puerto Rican trainers, Anthony ‘Gallero’ Otero and Félix Pagan Pintor, are feeling highly confident about their world title bout against Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs), who was the 2014 ‘Boxer of the Year’ and former WBO Lightweight world champion. The Crawford vs Dulorme bout will be for the vacant WBO junior welterweight world title on Saturday, April 18th, at the College Park Center located at the University of Texas, Arlington. The bout will be televised live as part of a split-site doubleheader on HBO beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Dulorme on fighting for the people of Puerto Rico…
“There is no better feeling than to train in my country. It gives me so much confidence and being at home motivates me even more because I get to see the people which I represent with pride and honor. We want to show the world that Puerto Rico will continue to produce more world champions”.
Dulorme on working with his new team of trainers…
“I have complete trust in my team’s game plan to defeat Crawford. I like the mix of dynamics between my trainers which combine the new and old school styles of boxing. Pintor is old school and Otero brings a fresh mind in to game. They are both contributing to what has turned out to be a great training camp”.
Dulorme on Terrance Crawford as a fighter and the matchup…
“Crawford is one of the best fighters in the world. He’s been awarded “Fighter of the Year” by many media outlets because he had a tremendous year in 2014. He’s moving up in weight where he’s entering into uncharted territory though. I feel I have the advantage being that I’ve fought at this weight several times. I’m the bigger man and I plan to impose my will on him.”
“I’m very pleased with Dulorme and his new team of trainers,” said Gary Shaw. “The fact that he’s training at home in Puerto Rico makes me feel good because I know his countrymen are there supporting his every move. We are only a few weeks away from fight night and I’m confident I’m going to be the promoter of a new world champion. The people of Puerto Rico will have a huge star they can call their own.”
“It’s a dream come true for us to come together and help prepare Dulorme for the biggest fight of his career.” said Dulorme’s co-trainer Anthony Otero. “From the first day I worked with Dulorme, I knew that the preparation for the fight was destined to be on a great path and has proven to be so to this day”.
“Dulorme is in excellent condition,” stated Felix Pagan Pintor, who has worked over 60 world championship bouts with legendary fighters such as Wilfredo Gomez, Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, Edwin ‘Chapo’ Rosario, Ivan Calderon, Paul Williams, Carlos Santos, among others. “From the way he has performed in training and sparring, I foresee that on April 18th, Puerto Rico will have a new world champion.”
Richy Miranda, Dulorme’s advisor and president of the ADM (Artists Designs Management) company commented, “We were very selective in choosing an experienced and highly committed quality team. Every day during training camp, the atmosphere is very positive and the work being done is exceeding all expectations. There is no doubt that Dulorme will defeat Crawford and join the ranks of all the Puerto Rican champions before him.”
Promoted By Top Rank®, in association with Gary Shaw Productions, Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate, tickets to the Crawford-Dulorme are on sale now. Priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable fees, tickets can be purchased at College Park Center box office, online at www.utatickets.com or www.utacollegpark.com or by phone at (817) 272-9595.
