Article by Rick Mohamed

Terence Bud Crawford made his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska super proud last night. In a stellar showdown between two top welterweights in the boxing world, he turned in an awesome performance in defeating Showtime Shawn Porter, winning by TKO in the 10th round of their WBC welterweight championship match. 

Porter did exactly what Crawford and the rest of the boxing world expected him to do: come out from the opening bell and jump all over Crawford. As my friend Eric, aka Wilder H8er said in his preview of the Bud vs Porter fight, Porter needs to stay in Crawford’s chest, since Crawford has the longer reach. 

This is what is typically done to neutralize a fighter with such an advantage. This forced Bud to exchange punches in close proximity, allowing Porter the chance to land a good shot on Crawford and get him out of there. 

For his part, Crawford answered the opening bell in his usual stance, if you will. He immediately changed to southpaw, where he is as equally dangerous as a right hand fighter. 

Porter saw lots of great opportunities present themselves, but a great fighter like Bud has an extensive boxing IQ. The sheer skillset he brings to the ring is amazing! There wasn’t much that Porter could do to trip him up or catch him making an error that could provide a devastating opening for a knockout punch or even a big rally. 

It was around the 8th round where Bud finally took advantage of the setup he had laid out for Porter. He realized Porter’s few but real flaws. 

He then began to establish distance from Porter, popping jabs and shooting straight left hands down the pipe. He also mixed in a few left uppercuts to the body, then back upstairs to the head. 

The 2-3 piece combos proved quite effective. When the 9th round came, Bud was like a general on the field of battle. He made intelligent, strategic decisions that put him in total control. It was simply a matter of time. 

The 10th round bore sweet fruit: Crawford connected with a straight right jab, then Porter was floored with a powerful straight left hand. That left hand delivered by Bud was beautifully thrown, and Porter’s straight-ahead come forward style was tailor-made for it. 

Though he survived the knockdown and got up rather quickly, the whirlwind was coming for Porter. Later, Bud’s trainer Brian Bomac recalled telling Bud in the corner between the 9th & 10th rounds that “Porter was ready. 

This is the round where you can hush up all the negative critics who said that he’d never fought a legit, world-class welterweight. They said that Errol Spence Jr. would thoroughly destroy you! 

Bud, go out there and and silence every shock every critic who ever doubted you. Be the first man to stop Shawn Porter, something your enemy Errol Spence Jr. didn’t do”. 

Bud answered the 10th round with a volley of punches that sent him not once, but twice to the canvas. Porter sensed defeat, punching the canvas in frustration. 

He rose in time, but just as the referee was finishing the mandatory eight count, Porter’s father & trainer Kenny Porter was on the ring apron throwing in the towel, saying that he’d had enough. He surely saved his beloved son from serious humiliation and possible damage. 

Kenny Porter knew Bud was in kill mode, and he had to do this to save his son. Bud was probably going to chop Porter down even more had the fight continued. 

Either way, this fight wouldn’t have gone the full 12 rounds. Interestingly, Errol Spence Jr. was in attendance for the fight, but departed immediately after the TKO, avoiding a confrontation with Bud. 

In the Post-Fight Press Conference, Shawn Porter announced his retirement. He said that he would’ve retired win, lose, or draw-even if the public demanded a rematch. 

He felt that his time was up. His heart was very tough, and he fought a great fight-many saw the fight even leading into the fateful 10th round. 

Father Kenny felt that Shawn’s mind wasn’t in the fight as much as he felt he should’ve been, hence Shawn’s falling asleep during the press conference. He wasn’t as “dialed-in” as much as a fighter has to be when he fights the likes of “the baddest man on the planet”, Terence Bud Crawford. 

Only laser-beam focus would’ve sufficed. 

I just want to say that Showtime Shawn Porter is an elite athlete and boxer who gave us many great fights throughout his illustrious career. He never stepped into the ring at anything less than 110%. He fought gallantly, like the true warrior he is, every time out the gate! 

SHAWN WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU’VE GIVEN AND DONE FOR THE SPORT OF BOXING. WE WISH YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS RETIREMENT, MY FRIEND, AND AS PART OF THE MEDIA, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS FINDING TIME TO SPEAK TO US, CHAMP! WE AT BRAWLERS SPORTS MEDIA SALUTE YOU, BABY! CLEVELAND, STANDUP ONE FINAL TIME FOR YOUR HERO, SHOWTIME SHAWN PORTER! 

To my main man Terence Bud Crawford, like the movie “Shaft”, they say that “that cat TBC is a Baad Morher-‘Shut yo’ mouth!’. I’m only talking about Bud, yeah, we can dig it.” Indeed. Omaha, Nebraska, standup tall and be proud! Native son Terence Bud Crawford is the Baddest Man on the Planet! CONGRATS TEAM CRAWFORD “ AND STILL” LETSGOCHAMP!!!

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LETSGOCHAMPS!