Jose Benavidez Jr.: record, next fight and profile →
By Tris Dixon - In the end it was a story of two right hands, one that missed and one that did not. Terence Crawford was making the initial defence of his WBO welterweight title and for the first time in four fights he was back home in Omaha, Nebraska. His challenger, the once-highly regarded prospect Jose Be...
OMAHA, Nebraska – Bob Arum admits he would rather match Terence Crawford against Errol Spence Jr. or another welterweight champion next. In the likely event that typical boxing obstacles prevent any of those fights from happening next, Arum acknowledges that Egidijus Kavaliauskas is toward the top of the list of Crawford’s possible opponents in 2019. Like Crawford (35-0, 24 KOs), Lithuania’s Kavaliauskas is promoted by Arum’s company, Top Rank Inc.
Last night’s Top Rank on ESPN (10:25 p.m. ET to 12:36 a.m. ET) scored three major victories. The overall event delivered a 1.6 metered market rating according to Nielsen, making it the highest-rated boxing telecast in 2018 across all broadcast and cable networks. The main event, featuring Terence Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) vs. Jose Benavidez, Jr. (27-1, 18 KOs), averaged a 1.8 metered market, making it making it the year’s highest-rated Top Rank bout and main event on ESPN. It was an electric, full house at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, as hometown favorite Terence “Bud” Crawford, defeated Benavidez Jr. by 12th-round TKO to defend his WBO welterweight world title.
Crawford had knocked Benavidez to the canvas with a powerful uppercut with 46 seconds left, and then Crawford finished him off with consecutive right hands. After referee Celestino Ruiz stopped the fight, Crawford stuck out his tongue at his fallen opponent, who had made this a personal grudge match with insults he's directed toward Crawford for months.
Crawford, Benavidez Fight Photos Gallery - CHI Health Center, Omaha - Terence Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) knocked out previously undefeated Jose Benavidez (27-1, 18 KOs) in the final minute of the twelfth and final round. (photos by Mikey Williams).
Crawford, a three-division champion who was making his first defense of his WBO welterweight belt, stuck out his tongue at his fallen opponent at the conclusion of what amounted to a personal grudge match.
Crawford (34-0) was dominant throughout at the CHI Health Center in his hometown, and his first defence of the title ended in victory in the final round. The hometown native was the aggressor from the outset, dictating to Benavidez, who suffered his first loss in 28 fights.
OMAHA - Terence Crawford took over the after round six (103-33 edge in punches landed in 7 thru 12) and closed show by landing 17 of 35 power shots in 12th. 70 of Crawford's 186 landed punches (38%) were body shots.
By Keith Idec - OMAHA, Nebraska – Terence Crawford’s second welterweight fight wasn’t quite as easy as his 147-pound debut, particularly early. Once Crawford was warmed up, though, the unbeaten WBO champion comfortably controlled Jose Benavidez Jr., battered Benavidez’s body, picked him apart...
Crawford, Benavidez Scorecard BoxingScene Live - Following Friday's weigh-in, Terence "Bud" Crawford and Jose Benavidez Jr. had to be separated at the weigh-in. The trash talk led to Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs) being shoved, and then throwing a punch at the WBO welterweight world title challenger Benavidez (27-0, 18 KOs) - as they collide on Saturday at the CHI Health Center Omaha (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10:30 p.m. ET). (photos by Mikey Williams).