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Not even a former undefeated world champion fighting the fight of his life is a match for Terence Crawford.
The native of Omaha, Nebraska, offered his audience a remarkable performance on Saturday and consolidated his position as the world's best boxer by consistently putting Jose Benavidez Jr. aside in their title fight WBO welterweight.
Crawford was far ahead on the scorecards entering the 12th day, but dropped Benavidez, insolent, literally on the head with a crushing uppercut. After Benavidez got up, Crawford explained why he was considered the best finisher in the game.
He jumped on Benavidez and completed it with an incessant assault, forcing referee Celestino Ruiz to intervene to save the helpless Benavidez.
The 13,323 of the 13,323 people who packed the CHI Omaha Arena Health Center had a great time watching the world's greatest fighter. Only Crawford's mother, Debra, was not happy. She wanted him to finish Benavidez in the 10th.
She said, "It took you too much time," Crawford said, smiling. "But everything was fine."
It was a step closer to a showdown with IBF welterweight champion, Errol Spence, who is also undefeated and who possesses the kind of punching power that would make a difference. fight against Crawford a Sugar Ray Leonard against Thomas Hearns of modern times.
Because they are on different TV networks and Top Rank and Premiere Boxing Champions have not worked well together in the past, we do not expect Crawford and Spence to fight, even if it's the match that fans want to see.
It's a shame because this fight has the chance to be discussed for decades.
Crawford makes sure every time he is remembered as one of the best he has done. His only drawback is that he does not have a long list of elite opponents on his resume, but he dominates all opponents.
Benavidez had been harassing Crawford for months and the two men were close to taking the lead several times, including at Friday's weigh-in, when Benavidez pushed Crawford with both hands and Crawford threw a right hand that had just failed.
There was a lot of heat and tension between them, and Benavidez came out determined. He just was not experienced enough to deal with a guy like Crawford, who easily went from the leftist classic to the lefty and expertly demolished it.
The typing statistics compiled by CompuBox show Crawford's dominance. He landed 186 out of 579, while Benavidez landed 92 out of 501.
"I'm not taking anything from him," said Benavidez, who said his leg, injured when he was shot twice a year ago, was bothering him in the fight. "He is the best of the best."
Whichever it is, and with Spence also one of the top five fighters, a match between them could be a match for the ages.
Crawford does not mention Spence's name in the ring, saying he only wants to fight "all" against the best fighters in the division.
He also reluctantly gave respect to his vanquished opponent.
"He made me work for it and win it," Crawford said. "I could not understand it at first, but once I took the distance, everything was done."
That was it.
And now, hopefully, in Spence's fight.
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