Terence Crawford – Jose Benavidez

The main event of the upcoming weekend will take place at the CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, as part of a boxing evening organized by Bob Arum’s promotional company, Top Rank. The best boxer regardless of the title and weight category, 31-year-old Terence Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs) will defend the WBO super welterweight title, entering the ring against 26-year-old Jose Benavidez (27-0, 18 KO).

To analyze this duel, in our opinion, does not make sense. Terence not only leads the “pound-for-pound”, is a three-time world champion in three weight categories. He is another of four fighters who managed to combine all four championship titles in their hands. And all this thanks to excellent technique, powerful blows, incredible intuition, which made him a fighter and a puncher at the same time.

For Terence, this will be the first and voluntary defense of the championship belt, won in June by a victory over Jeff Horn. The official history of the battle itself is rather banal. Benavidez went on and on about how Crawford picks his opponents very carefully, picking little, little bastards with a mediocre level of boxing. In general, José talked so much and so long that Terence noticed that it had happened. And if Crawford got angry, then Benavidez is in for some very big trouble.

The unofficial story is much more banal.

Terence’s promoter Bob Arum has not yet been able to organize unification fights for his ward. WBA Super World Champion Keith Thurman can’t get rid of the injuries that have been plaguing his last year. WBA simple title holder Manny Pacquiao is looking for cash fights and doesn’t want to mess with his former promoter. Errol Spence, the IBF world champion belt holder, does not yet understand what he wants: to stay in welterweight or to rise higher. And WBC champion Sean Porter has just become a champion, so he is resting and waiting for profitable offers for him.

That is, Terence really can’t box with him.

And rusting outside the ring is not an option. Here Bob Arum pulls José Benavidez out of his stable, as a magician pulls a rabbit out of a tailcoat sleeve. That’s why Jose is talking tongues in all directions, wishful thinking, and Terence just plays along with him, trying to keep the wave of spectator interest high.

In reality, a confrontation between a wise fighter and a mediocre prospect awaits, where the first will teach a good boxing lesson to the second. How can Benavidez beat Crawford? Thanks to filigree craftsmanship or precise and well-overclocked series? Or because its functionality far exceeds that of a champion? Jose has nothing in his arms, legs, or mind that will puzzle, discourage, and overthrow Crawford. Benavidez will work hard. But it will be impressively stupid. Crawford hits much faster, more accurately and more accentuated. Moreover, with any blow. And this is not to mention the understanding that boxing, at first, is the art of not getting hit, and only then is the sweet science of beating.

And if until the middle of the fight Benavidez is still handsome, then after passing the equator he will be used up and, God forbid, that he has enough stamina and strength to finish the fight on his feet.