Terence Crawford is where he is because he stays true to the business

Terence Crawford is shown here after stopping Dierry Jean in the 10th round this past October in Crawford’s native Omaha, Neb. It was Crawford’s first defense of his junior welterweight title/Associated Press photo by LM Otero

 

Junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford on Tuesday from training camp was asked if Viktor Postol is going to be the toughest test of his career when they square off in a title-unification bout July 23 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view). Crawford’s response said a lot about the way he goes about his business.

“On paper you could make a case that Postol will be the toughest man I have faced inside the ring, but I won’t really know that until I fight him on July 23,” Crawford said. “When I go into camp, I always assume the opponent I’m training for will be my toughest test.  It’s the only way I know how to train. I respect any fighter who laces up the gloves and enters the ring to battle with me. I take no opponent for granted and I take nothing in training camp for granted. We are by the book in camp. We skip nothing in gym training or conditioning.”

Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs) intimated he can’t achieve his goals by half-stepping. That’s why he’s fighting Postol.

“Against Postol, I’m not just defending my belt, I’m out to take his, too,” said Crawford, 28. “That’s the reason for taking such a tough fight. It is because I wanted to fight the best fighter out there, to beat the best fighter out there, to show that I am the best fighter in the division.”

Postol, of the Ukraine, is 32. He is 28-0 with 12 knockouts.

 

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After what Terence Crawford did, Manny Pacquiao may look elsewhere

Terence Crawford/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

 

Terence Crawford was in a sense auditioning for a fight with Manny Pacquiao when he squared off with Canada’s Dierry Jean on Saturday at CenturyLink Center in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Neb.

Pacquiao is currently trying to decide who will be his final opponent. Crawford is one of the possibilities. Perhaps Pacquiao won’t want anything to do with Crawford after Crawford decked Jean in rounds 1, 9 and 10 on his way to a 10th-round technical knockout victory.

That gives Crawford a record of 27-0 with 19 knockouts. Saturday’s victory was the first defense of his junior welterweight world title. He is a former lightweight champion as well.

Crawford is 28. Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) is 36 and will turn 37 on Dec.

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Lamont Peterson hopeful of opening 2014 with a bang in his native Washington D.C.

Lamont Peterson will begin his 2014 campaign at home when he defends his junior welterweight belt against Dierry Jean of Canada at DC Armory in Peterson’s native Washington D.C. (on Showtime).

It will be Peterson’s first fight since he was stopped in the third round by Lucas Matthysse in May at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. However, Peterson kept his belt because it was not on the table.

Peterson, 29, is 31-2-1 with 16 knockouts. Jean, 31, is 25-0 with 17 knockouts.

Peterson is stoked to be fighting in his backyard.

“This is a perfect way for me to kick off 2014, with a great fight against a tough opponent in my hometown,” he said.

Jean aims to spoil Peterson’s homecoming.

“Peterson has been in the ring with many good fighters, but he hasn’t been in the ring with me,” Jean said. “I’ve worked hard for this for a long time. I have already started training camp and I’m in great shape.”

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Cleotis Pendarvis stopped by Dierry Jean in the 4th round

Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis of Long Beach via Los Angeles on Friday was stopped by Dierry Jean of Canada in the fourth round of their junior welterweight title-elimination fight from Miami, Okla. (The bout was televised by Showtime).

It was the biggest fight in the respective careers of both fighters, as the winner would become the mandatory challenge to champion Lamont Peterson. (Peterson is fighting Lucas Matthysse on May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (on Showtime), but at a catch-weight of 141 pounds, one over the junior welterweight limit. That means Peterson’s title won’t be on the line there).

Pendarvis (17-4-2) was decked twice in the fourth round by Jean (25-0, 17 KOs).

 

 

 

 

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Cleotis Pendarvis eyes career-defining fight

Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis of Long Beach via Los Angeles and Dierry Jean of Canada have something in common – both will be in the biggest fight of their respective careers when they square off Friday in a junior welterweight title-elimination fight at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla. (on Showtime).

“Win, and I get a shot at the world championship,” said Pendarvis, a 26-year-old southpaw. “It doesn’t matter against whom. It’s as simple as that. I’ve put in the work and I’m ready to go.”

Pendarvis (17-3-2, 6 KOs) spoke in confident tones at Thursday’s final news conference, even though Jean is 24-0 with 16 knockouts.

“I’m ready to prove myself,” Pendarvis said. “I truly believe in myself. He’s got the undefeated record, but I’ve fought better than he has and have more skills than the guys he’s fought.”

Jean, 31, has fought all but one of his bouts in Canada.

“I can’t lie, this is the biggest fight of my career,” Jean said. “I’m very excited and totally prepared for this opportunity.”

Jean intimated he understands that Pendarvis, a southpaw with a low knockout ratio, will likely present a crafty foe.

“Pendarvis is a slick guy,” Jean said, “but I can fight any style.”

 

 

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