A Virtuoso Performance
An edited version of this article was published on TheFightCity.com on July 29th, 2023: https://www.thefightcity.com/spence-vs-crawford-virtuoso-performance-boxing/
When the chips are down, great fighters step up and do great things. In the biggest fight of his life, in front of an electrified crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Terence Crawford showed up and produced a masterclass performance that will define his legacy. On paper, the Spence-Crawford superfight looked like a 50/50 contest. But in the event, Crawford proved to be a level above, completely dominating his rival and winning by ninth-round stoppage, to become the undisputed welterweight champion.
Welter Wars: 30 Years of 147lb Super-Fights
This article was published on TheFightCity.com on July 29th, 2023: https://www.thefightcity.com/welter-wars-thirty-years-of-superfights-boxing/
As the hype dials up for the mouth-watering Spence vs. Crawford clash for undisputed welterweight supremacy, it’s impossible not to draw comparisons with classics of years past. The 147lb division has always been a hotbed of elite talent, with old-time legends like Ted “Kid” Lewis and Jack Britton, golden era greats like “Sugar” Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan, and modern era kings Roberto Duran, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, and Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns all leaving their mark on the division’s storied history. The tradition has continued in more recent times, with many of boxing’s top pound-for-pound showdowns taking place at welterweight. Tracing the story of the division over the last 30 years, here’s some of the biggest superfights that paved the way to Spence-Crawford.
Spence vs Crawford: The “IT” Factor
This article was published on TheFightCity.com on July 27th, 2023: https://www.thefightcity.com/finally-spence-vs-crawford-preview-boxing/
It’s taken almost five years, but the superfight we’ve been yearning for is finally here. Saturday sees two of boxing’s finest practitioners square off in a showdown that will crown an undisputed, undefeated welterweight champion. Errol “The Truth” Spence, 28-0 with 22 KOs, brings the IBF, WBC and WBA belts to the table, while Terence “Bud” Crawford, 39-0 with 30 KOs and already a former undisputed champ at 140lbs, brings the WBO strap. The best fighting the best; all the belts on the line. It really doesn’t get any better than this.
Fight Report: Crawford TKO4 Brook
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on November 15th, 2020: https://www.thefightcity.com/fight-report-crawford-vs-brook-boxing/
Pound-for-pound lists are not to everybody’s taste, but regardless of how you choose to rank the best fighters in the world, there’s no denying that Terence Crawford is one of the most outstanding talents of the last few years. The WBO welterweight champion from Omaha, Nebraska, is now 15-0 in world title fights across three weight classes, winning his last eight contests all by stoppage. If anything, Crawford only looks to be getting better. Read more
2019 Fight of the Year
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on January 7th, 2020: https://www.thefightcity.com/fight-of-the-year-inoue-donaire-boxing/
Well before the final bell had sounded, it was clear the bantamweight World Boxing Super Series finale would be one to add to the “Classic Fights” collection. It had all the right ingredients: a timeless “old legend vs. young Monster” storyline, two endearing characters, twists and turns in the plot, elite skills, and true grit – all fired up in a 12-round pressure cooker to produce 2019’s Fight of the Year. Read more
Matt O'Brien
Boxing Philosophy 