Terence Crawford vs. Jose Benavidez Jr.: Fight Odds, Time, Live Stream, TV Info
Terence Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs) is new to the welterweight division but he has his sights set on attaining the same thing he did in junior welterweight: unifying the entire world names.
The guy they call"Bud" currently has one of his own, a WBO world title he earned by picking apart Jeff Horn in June in his first bout at 147 pounds. He'll shield it on Saturday night against Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-0, 18 KOs), an undefeated 26-year-old just two years removed from a shooting that nearly ended his career.
As hard as Benavidez may be, he is not what Crawford wants. Crawford is 31 years old and only now entering boxing's most gifted division. He is one of the sports best talents but is far from a household name. He
is looking for glory, quickly. That might even mean passing up Manny Pacquiao, the WBA"regular" winner.
"He's not a champion in my mind," Crawford said, per BoxingScene.com's Keith Idec. "He don't have the superb belt. That is the champion in my eyes. I look at the number one champion in the division. I don't look at the WBC silver and the interim straps and all that. I look at the super [champion] and the actual champion of the branch."
That would mean the likes of Keith Thurman, the WBA"super" winner that has been inactive due to injury. Or better yet, Errol Spence Jr. (IBF), with whom Crawford has been trading insults with for months. Perhaps even Shawn Porter (WBC) may be in the mixture.
Crawford needs among those fights to occur --theearlier the better for his career and legacy. But first up is yet another evaluation fight, which Crawford always appears to ace.
Crawford vs. Benavidez Jr.. Fight Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: CHI Health Center at Omaha, Nebraska
TV: ESPN and ESPN Deportes
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Opportunities: Crawford -3500 (bet $3,500 to win $100), Benavidez Jr. +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and updated as of Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 a.m. ET.
As starving as Benavidez may be, he's going to be hard pushed to beat Crawford, who's an overwhelming favourite going into Saturday's bout. Crawford can switch stances. He hits with precision, power and speed. Most opponents find him difficult to hit, even as Crawford openly taunts them from the ring.
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