This weekend sees one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best fighters make his long-awaited return to the ring when Terence Crawford puts his WBO welterweight strap on the line against Shawn Porter.
Widely considered one of the finest boxers on the planet, Crawford has struggled to build his profile as a superstar thanks to a lack of activity in the ring and the shortage of star quality he has so far faced in his 37-fight career. Thankfully, that can’t be said on Saturday night when he takes on Porter, a two-time champion at 147lbs and a genuine threat to Crawford’s unbeaten record. Here’s everything you need to know about one of the biggest fights of 2021...
Where: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
When: The fight will take place on Saturday, November 20. UK fight fans can expect the main event at around 4am.
How To Watch: The fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Tale Of The Tape:
Crawford
Place Of Birth: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Age: 34
Alias: Bud
Record: 37-0 (28)
Height: 5’8’’
Reach: 74’’
Stance: Southpaw
Porter
Place Of Birth: Akrom, Ohio, USA
Age: 34
Alias: Showtime
Record: 31-3-1 (17)
Height: 5’7’’
Reach: 69½’’
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight:
It’s been more than a year since we last saw Crawford in action, blitzing Britain’s Kell Brook in just four rounds in Las Vegas last November. Porter’s inactivity stretches even further back, having last been seen in August 2020, beating Sebastian Formella by unanimous decision in Los Angeles.
What They Say:
Crawford
"I already know what he's capable of, I already know what he likes to do and what he doesn't like to do. So that’s nothing new to me, because I'm a fan of the sport. I'm a student of the sport as well. I study and watch a lot of fights on the norm." [The Sportsman]
Porter
“I’ve wanted this fight for a long time and now my patience has paid off. Throughout my career, I’ve taken on the best and proven myself as a man who gives 100 percent in everything I do.
“Terence Crawford is a great, versatile fighter who is very athletic just like myself. We are the two best welterweights in the world, and on November 20, we get a chance to prove who is the best.”
Undercard:
Esquiva Falcao vs. Patrice Volny, middleweight
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Hassan N'Dam, middleweight
Raymond Muratalla vs. Steven Ortiz, lightweight
Crawford: 1/6
Draw: 22/1
Porter: 9/2
