Crawford marks time
WBO welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford defended his 147lb title in Madison Square Garden, New York City on Saturday with a ninth round stoppage of Lithuanian Egidijus Kavaliauskas.
Omaha Nebraskan Crawford (36-0, 27 KO’s) recovered from an apparent knockdown in round three, subsequently ruled a slip, to dominate the fight throughout. The strong Lithuanian (21-1-1, 17 KO’s) was dropped in the seventh and twice in the ninth before succumbing to the pound-for-pound elect early in the round.
Crawford 32, now moves onto further challenges in the 10st 7lb division which have so far denied him. He longs for a career defining fight against fellow Americans WBC & IBF champion Errol Spence, Keith Thurman or Shawn Porter. Either needs to happen in the next 12 months to avoid the Nebraskan losing his prime year.
Conlon avenges 2016 Olympics defeat
On the Madison Square Garden undercard Belfast featherweight Michael Conlon avenged his defeat in the Rio Olympics to Russian Vladimir Nikitin by registering a unanimous points victory (98-92, 99-91, 100-90).
The fight in the Games was famously remembered for Conlon’s double fingered salute to the judges after losing a controversial decision. It has taken Conlon (13-0, 7 KO’s) two years as a pro to get the Russian (3-1) back in the ring and his victory on Saturday brings closure to the rivalry.
The Top Rank Bob Arum promoted Irishman is potentially chalked in to challenge for a version of the world title in Belfast sometime in 2020.
On the same show Top Rank star Teofimo Lopez (15-0, 12 KO’s) brutally stopped Ghanaian champion Richard Commey (29-3, 26 KO’s) in the second round to win the IBF lightweight (135lb) title. WBA/WBC & WBO champion Vasyli Lomachenko was at ringside and a fight between the two Top Rank fighters is a natural in 2020, possibly as early as April.
Joshua to face mandatory defences
New WBA/IBF & WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will face either Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14 KO’s) or Ukrainian star Olexsandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KO’s) in his next defence. Both are mandatory contenders for the title, Pulev the IBF and Usyk WBO, and both sanctioning organisations have mandated that he defend against their champion within 120 days.
This will require both organisations coming to an agreement as to which will take precedence, as both commitments cannot be defended to the same timeframe. Early indications are the fight will be in the UK, with Tottenham Hotspur football stadium being the early front runner.
Leon Spinks hospitalised
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is currently in a serious condition in a Las Vegas hospital. A family statement said “Leon is currently in intensive care….to suppress prostate cancer which he was diagnosed with earlier in the year…a miraculous fighter his entire life, we are optimistic and hopeful that he will move out of ICU soon”. Latest updates are that he is showing “small signs” of improvement.
The 66 year old Spinks (brother of Michael) won Olympic gold in 1976 and shocked the world when defeating Muhammad Ali in only his 8th fight to win the unified championship in February 1978.
The Undisputed’s thoughts and prayers are with you champ to make a speedy and full recovery.
The Undisputed 