With the win,
Crawford unified the WBA, WBC and IBF titles with his WBO title and more importantly closed a longstanding debate over whether he or Spence was the best 147-pound fighter of the era. Crawford, who is also a former undisputed junior welterweight champion, also became the first male fighter to ever achieve undisputed status in two weight divisions in the modern four-belt era.
Having conquered yet another division, Crawford then rose to welterweight for his next fight, winning the WBO World Welterweight Title with a ninth-round TKO over Australia’s Jeff Horn. With the win, Crawford was now a three-division world champion and widely considered the best fighter in the sport.
Crawford went on to score a highlight-reel sixth-round KO of David Avanesyan in December in his native Omaha, Nebraska. Spence, 33, last fought in April 2022, a 10th-round TKO victory over Yordenis Ugas in Arlington, Texas, to pick up a third welterweight title.
The fighters landed 130 shots each in the fight, but the punch stats were not an indicator of how Santiago (28-3-5, 14 KOs) controlled the fight in the latter stages to dominate Donaire (42-8, 28 KOs) throughout their 12-round tilt.
On November 20, 2021, Crawford staked his claim as the world’s top welterweight with a two-knockdown, 10th-round TKO of two-time world champion Shawn Porter. It was the first time Porter had ever been stopped in his career.
Williams, 27, has won two straight and four of five in the UFC. The Michigan native, nicknamed "The Ox Fighter," has three big knockouts in those four UFC victories. Baeza, a 29-year-old from Florida, has dropped two in a row following a three-fight UFC winning streak.
It's really, really difficult to discount what Sugar Ray Leonard did despite the loss to Duran. No matter how dominant Crawford has been during his tenure at welterweight, comparing any of his opponents to Hearns or Duran feels blasphemous at this current point in time.
Nevertheless he emerged for the eighth hoping to land one punch that could turn the fight around - but Crawford's superiority was entrenched and he boxed beautifully off his jab, bamboozling Spence at will with his speed and movement.
Round 1: Here we go. Big-time stakes here for Anderson, who’s being touted as the future of American heavyweight boxing. Tonight is by far his toughest test. This is for the WBO international
heavyweight title. They touch ‘em up and we’re off. Bakole comes out swinging. He’s so much larger than Anderson. Anderson pumps out his jab. Bakole looks like he’s giving Anderson no respect. Bakole staying stationary while planting his feet and loading up. Anderson punches repeatedly to the body.
Two-punch combination lands upstairs for Anderson. To call Bakole a stationary target would be an understatement. So far Anderson is dancing around him and continually working the body. Huge left hook followed by a right uppercut for Bakole! He swarms him and down goes Anderson!!! WOW! That gigantic man was just timing his shot the entire time — and BAM, he landed it at the bell. Anderson is back up, but that was rough. MMA Fighting scores it 10-8 Bakole.
Spence has made no secret of his desire to leave 147lbs behind for good, opening up about his struggles to make the welterweight limit. But he doesn’t hesitate for a moment when asked whether he plans to exercise his option for a replay.
On May 23, ESPN reported that Spence vs Crawford agreed to a July 29 deal fight for the undisputed welterweight championship in Las Vegas. On May 25, it was announced that Spence and
terence crawford division would face each other on July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada for the WBA Super, WBC, IBF and WBO welterweight titles.
His most recent major fight was his bout with Errol Spence Jr. in September 2019. Used his aggressive pressure style, he pushed Spence further than anyone else had, leading to the only split decision of Spence’ career. Porter should be more than a measuring stick for Crawford, but instead a real threat to take his title and spoil his undefeated record.
The fight bursts into life in the second round. Porter takes the upper hand with a fine counter right hand and follows it up with a hook. Crawford responds, though, and lands a great check hook. That enlivens the champion. This is a really high-level contest.
Daniel Yanofsky is the Combat Sports Editor for The Sporting News since late 2021. Prior to working for TSN, Daniel provided insight on combat sports for Fightful, FIGHT SPORTS, and Wrestling Inc. A proud Ithaca College alum, when he isn’t working on his golf game, Daniel is advocating for three-minute rounds in women's boxing.
"I’m totally focused on staying at 135 pounds because it’s where I feel strongest and most comfortable," Cruz said. "I just want to give everyone watching a great show. I’ve made a connection with the fans because I showed that I’m not afraid to fight the best. I have no fear, just resolve."
