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OMAHA, Nebr. – Welterweight world title holder Terence Crawford and his challenger Jose Benavidez Jr. started their fight a bit early.
After gaining weight on Friday, they found themselves face to face for a confrontation a little too tight for the comfort of Benavidez, who gave a chest thrust to Crawford. Crawford responded by throwing a right hand that narrowly missed by nailing Benavidez, who had slipped it without getting caught.
Their attendants and the police on the scene immediately separated the fighters, but the half-breed that was being promoted finally spread more than 24 hours before they entered the event ring. Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card. Saturday (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 22:30 ET with full map broadcast on ESPN + from 7:00 pm ET) at CHI Health Center.
"They told me to be cool all week, I was cool," Crawford said afterwards. "I keep it professional, and he pushed me, you saw what I did, I'm cool, I can not wait to fight." [on Saturday]. "
What began as Benavidez (27-0, 18 KOs), 26, put pressure on the fight by calling Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs), 31, in a February confrontation in Corpus Christi , Texas. , has not cooled. When Crawford and his team arrived early to train for the media on Wednesday before Benavidez and his team left the gym, they engaged in a screaming match and had to be restrained.
There was more back and forth and promises of knockouts and physical injuries at the last press conference before Thursday's checkup. And then it was physical after both had gained weight on Friday. Crawford, with supporters of his hometown cheering, weighed 145.4 pounds and the Phoenix Benavidez weighed 145 pounds. Both players were well below the 147 pound limit for the first welterweight title defense of the three-division world title holder and the first opportunity for Benavidez's world title.
"He's a b —-, and I'm gonna make him my b —- [on Saturday], as well. He was trying to catch me in the face, and he was trying to swing, "said Benavidez. I've seen that's a mile away. If he sways like that [in the fight], good night. It's going to be an easy night. I hope that it hits faster than that [in the fight]. He got caught in my face and I had the impression that he was going to kiss me and I do not want anything of it. He had me in the face. He started If I put you in the face, you will not push me away? Of course, you are. "
Top Rank's promoter Bob Arum was worried about the physics of the fighters before the fight and warned Crawford and Benavidez to remain professional. He was upset after the incident.
"It's wrong, there's no room for that in boxing," Arum said. "Keep your emotions to yourself until you get into the ring direction."
According to Brian Dunn, Assistant Commissioner of the Nebraska State Athletic Commission, neither fighter is likely to be disciplined but fined. He said that he was going to discuss the matter with his boss, Commissioner Aaron Hendry.
"You have to punish the one who started, but the other does not come out either, because you can not expect a guy to do nothing," Dunn said. . "There will probably be a fine if there is a punishment."
Dunn said the commission had the power to fine up to 40 percent of his bag to a fighter, but added that if there was a fine, it would not cost much.
Crawford's official purse is $ 2 million, although it is guaranteed that $ 3.625 million will be guaranteed by Top Rank. Benavidez's official purse is $ 350,000, but it has a $ 500,000 guarantee.
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