By Jake Donovan
Thomas Dulorme didn’t need any additional motivation in accepting fights with Karim Mayfield and Hank Lundy at separate points in 2014. There was nothing major at stake in either fight, or a guarantee of bigger things to come.
As luck would have it, bigger things would come. Following his split decision win over Lundy last December, Dulorme was tabbed as the opponent of choice for Terence Crawford’s return to the 140 lb. division, with a vacant belt at stake for their April 18 showdown in Arlington, Texas.
“I never knew going in what was going to be my next fight,” Dulorme (22-1, 14KOs) said of what turned out to be a tremendous comeback campaign in 2014.” I never worry about my next fight, just the one that’s in front of me.”
What Dulorme now has in front of him is one of the hottest fighters in the sport. As 2014 was a bounceback year for the Puerto Rican boxer, the year was also a breakthrough campaign for Crawford. Three big wins – all for major titles, including his becoming the World lightweight king – resulted in Fighter of the Year honors from several outlets for the unbeaten boxer from Omaha, Nebraska.
The odds suggest that Dulorme is being brought in as an opponent, but don’t expect the streaking contender to assume such a role. Wins over a then-unbeaten Mayfield and tough-as-nails Lundy has helped get his career back to where his team believed it was heading prior to his Oct. ’12 knockout loss to Luis Carlos Abregu.
The loss was his last official fight at the welterweight limit, transitioning with each ring appearance back down to the junior welterweight division. Six straight wins have followed, including his wins over Mayfield and Lundy coming before a live audience on HBO, which also televises this weekend’s bout.
“My pro career has been on the rise,” says Dulorme of his current hot streak. “I’m very positive that this next step in my career will result in a win over Terence Crawford on April 18.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
