This is what boxing lives for
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 21 Apr 2015
IT?S a pity that not many Filipino fans managed to watch a great boxing performance in the US on Sunday which could?ve scored bigger ahead of the sold-out superbout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Terence Crawford won a second world crown, the WBO junior welterweight (140 lbs.) championship in Arlington, Texas.
The sixth-round stoppage of the big, power-hitting Thomas Dulorme of Puerto Rico could be the best championship performance of the year.
It has firmed up Crawford, who relinquished his world ligtweight crown to campaign in a richer division, as a certified elite fighter.
**
It was a daunting task for the shorter, leaner Crawford who got a thundering right to the head early in the match.
Writes Michael Woods of Sweet Science: ?In the first, Dulorme came out cracking a right. Crawford looked to have the speedier jab. In the second,Crawford was patiently dissecting his foe with his eyes and mind. In the third, we saw the straight right lead working for Crawford. In the fourth, he sparked it up. He pressed, landed the right, punched through the target. In the sixth, down came the hammer. Dulorme went down three times and the referee said no mas.?
**
?I worked so hard in training camp, I was ready for anything he gave tonight,? said Crawford, now 26-0 with 18 knockouts.
What stood out before and after the stoppage was the absence of an inflated ego.
Crawford did his task with no fanfare.
In the end though, there was this gift of glowing nobility.
This is what boxing lives for.
**
The 2014 Sugar Ray Robinson fighter of the year will surely get bigger assignments.
Premier promoter Bob Arum swore that Crawford is the next big thing.
He could be lined up against Lucas Matthysse who scored a majority decision win over tough Ruslan Provodnikov.
Arum was also quoted as saying Crawford could be a possible foe for Pacquiao, either late this year or early in 2016.
**
What remains to be seen though is if there would be a performance worthy of honest praise between Pacquiao and Mayweatther on May 2.
Mayweather has been claiming Pacquiao?s raging challenge is sure to bring out the best in him.
There indeed is a promise of a memorable battle, maybe a remake of the 1975 Thrilla in Manila between Muhammad Ali and Jor Frazier.
However, if Freddie Roach?s presumption that Mayweather?s legs are gone is correct, then it won?t be just a mismatch.
The superfight could also slip early into a supersham.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Santisima Wins But Vicelles Loses; Suarez-Navarrete Rematch Hangs in the Balance?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Locked & loaded for Lewis Crocker rematch, Paddy Donovan has prepared to be crowned the new IBF Welterweight World Champion
Mon, 08 Sep 2025Robby Gonzales Advances to Round of 16 with Win Over Cuba
Mon, 08 Sep 2025James Padua rules Marikina rapid chess championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Remembering Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde: A Pilgrimage of Gratitude
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Hometown Triumph: Oscar Valdez Defeats Ricky Medina by Decision
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Team USA Captures Two Wins on Day Three of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Sun, 07 Sep 2025McCormack Stops Parra in 9
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Monika Singh Makes History as India's Newest Youth World Champion
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Who is Nico Walsh?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Kelvin Watts Highlights Day Two of World Boxing Championships for Team USA
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina
Sat, 06 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LOS MOCHIS: Eduardo Nuñez - 130 Lbs., Christopher Diaz - 129.6 Lbs.
Sat, 06 Sep 2025“THE HOMECOMING” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
Sat, 06 Sep 2025‘SUGAR’ NUNEZ VS. ‘PITUFO’ DIAZ – PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Sat, 06 Sep 2025