This was also the first time two fighters born in Mexico competed for an undisputed championship, and the first super middleweight title fight featuring two fighters born in Mexico. There has never been a world title fight featuring two Mexican-born fighters above 160 pounds.
"I don’t think there’s anyone I’ve fought who’s similar to Terence Crawford. His style is different from anybody else. I don’t think Sugar Ray Leonard fought anyone like Tommy Hearns until he fought Tommy, and vice versa. That’s what happens in these historic fights."
"I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to become a world champion once again on an already historic night for boxing," Donaire said. "I’m thankful to my team for this opportunity and I’m going to do everything I can to make the most of it. We’re working really hard on defense and being as fast as possible. It’s been an amazing camp and I can’t wait to get in the ring."
Crawford continued to pick up the pace as the fight progressed through the early rounds. His hand speed and accuracy proved to be assets. Spence continued to push forward but Crawford consistently landed his counters.
Crawford doesn’t land clean with a jab but is pressing forward and lands a big counter that puts Porter down! Porter gets up and is ready to continue. Check hook lands for Crawford who wants to press the advantage. Porter ducks a big hook from Crawford. Combination from Crawford puts Porter down again! Porter gets up and says he wants to continue but Kenny Porter throws in the towel!
Anson Wainwright of The Ring reported Tuesday the fight will take place between Spence—who is the IBF, WBA and WBC title holder—and his WBO counterpart in Las Vegas on June 17. Wainwright noted an official announcement could be made April 22 at the fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a major commitment to boxing since 2019, when it staged the Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz heavyweight championship rematch. The kingdom's interest in boxing grew exponentially when Alalshikh entered the fray last year with October's Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou fight in the capital city of Riyadh.
"This fight is happening at the right time. All the belts are on the line, so there’s even more to fight for. What better way to have this fight than to have it for the undisputed welterweight title?"
Crawford held onto his titles, stopping Molina in the eighth round in front of a large home crowd in Omaha. Crawford moved around the ring for most of the fight, jabbing, holding and pot-shotting Molina. Referee Mark Nelson halted the fight in the eight round after Molina received three consecutive hits to the head. In the post-fight interview, Crawford felt he should be the 2016 'Fighter of the Year' for his wins over Molina, Lundy and Postol, "I feel like I got it. I just have to wait until the results come in." Crawford also reiterated his desire to unify the division before a possible move up to welterweight. Crawford landed 184 punches from 419 thrown, Molina landed 41 of 287 thrown, a 14% connect rate. The fight drew an average 806,000 viewers and peaked at 871,000 viewers on HBO.
Crawford went on to score a highlight-reel sixth-round KO of David Avanesyan in December in his native Omaha, Nebraska. Spence, from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, last fought in April 2022, scoring a 10th-round TKO victory over Yordenis Ugas in Arlington, Texas, to pick up a third welterweight title.
"I’m truly excited to be a part of the biggest fight in boxing and the best welterweight matchup of the century," said Spence. "Terence Crawford is a great fighter and our styles are going to make for a great fight. I told him and the world what I was going to do after I captured my first welterweight title and it’s been strap season ever since.
"To be honest, I never wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist," Crawford said. "Midge and BoMac, they wanted me to stay in the amateurs and win a gold medal because they know how tall is terence crawford tough it is coming out of Nebraska. I wanted to be a world champion."
But what was expected to be a highly competitive, 50-50 matchup, turned into one of the finest performances fans had witnessed in recent years. Crawford emphatically stamped his place in the history books with a ninth-round TKO over Spence to become the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.
Round 6: Feints galore coming from Madrimov right now. Madrimov leads with his jab and walks Crawford to the ropes. Crawford answers with a flurry. He sneaks a left hand past Madrimov’s guard. Right hand from Madrimov, Crawford throws out a combination. There appears to be a mouse developing under Crawford’s right eye. Madrimov whiffs on a big overhand. Madrimov lunges into an uppercut, Crawford ties up. Nasty body work by Crawford to close out the round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Madrimov. (57-57 overall.)
Round 1 – Oh!Big right hand early for Soniano wobbles Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus recovers quickly. A low blow from Stoltzfus halts the action. It resumes a few seconds after. Leg kick from Stoltzfus. Body kick by Soriano. Left hook by Soriano, as he counters Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus connects with a right hand. They briefly clinch, and break away quickly. Two minutes left. Oh! Huge left by Soriano. Again, Soriano stuns Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus closes the distance and takes down Soriano. Soriano immediately back up, gets presses against the cage for a few seconds, and then breaks free. Another big left by Soriano. Great chin on Stoltzfus. Oh! Soriano gets dropped a second before the bell.
"I don’t think there’s anyone I’ve fought who’s similar to Terence Crawford. His style is different from anybody else. I don’t think Sugar Ray Leonard fought anyone like Tommy Hearns until he fought Tommy, and vice versa. That’s what happens in these historic fights."
"I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to become a world champion once again on an already historic night for boxing," Donaire said. "I’m thankful to my team for this opportunity and I’m going to do everything I can to make the most of it. We’re working really hard on defense and being as fast as possible. It’s been an amazing camp and I can’t wait to get in the ring."
Crawford continued to pick up the pace as the fight progressed through the early rounds. His hand speed and accuracy proved to be assets. Spence continued to push forward but Crawford consistently landed his counters.
Crawford doesn’t land clean with a jab but is pressing forward and lands a big counter that puts Porter down! Porter gets up and is ready to continue. Check hook lands for Crawford who wants to press the advantage. Porter ducks a big hook from Crawford. Combination from Crawford puts Porter down again! Porter gets up and says he wants to continue but Kenny Porter throws in the towel!
Anson Wainwright of The Ring reported Tuesday the fight will take place between Spence—who is the IBF, WBA and WBC title holder—and his WBO counterpart in Las Vegas on June 17. Wainwright noted an official announcement could be made April 22 at the fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a major commitment to boxing since 2019, when it staged the Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz heavyweight championship rematch. The kingdom's interest in boxing grew exponentially when Alalshikh entered the fray last year with October's Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou fight in the capital city of Riyadh.
"This fight is happening at the right time. All the belts are on the line, so there’s even more to fight for. What better way to have this fight than to have it for the undisputed welterweight title?"
Crawford held onto his titles, stopping Molina in the eighth round in front of a large home crowd in Omaha. Crawford moved around the ring for most of the fight, jabbing, holding and pot-shotting Molina. Referee Mark Nelson halted the fight in the eight round after Molina received three consecutive hits to the head. In the post-fight interview, Crawford felt he should be the 2016 'Fighter of the Year' for his wins over Molina, Lundy and Postol, "I feel like I got it. I just have to wait until the results come in." Crawford also reiterated his desire to unify the division before a possible move up to welterweight. Crawford landed 184 punches from 419 thrown, Molina landed 41 of 287 thrown, a 14% connect rate. The fight drew an average 806,000 viewers and peaked at 871,000 viewers on HBO.
Crawford went on to score a highlight-reel sixth-round KO of David Avanesyan in December in his native Omaha, Nebraska. Spence, from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, last fought in April 2022, scoring a 10th-round TKO victory over Yordenis Ugas in Arlington, Texas, to pick up a third welterweight title.
"I’m truly excited to be a part of the biggest fight in boxing and the best welterweight matchup of the century," said Spence. "Terence Crawford is a great fighter and our styles are going to make for a great fight. I told him and the world what I was going to do after I captured my first welterweight title and it’s been strap season ever since.
"To be honest, I never wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist," Crawford said. "Midge and BoMac, they wanted me to stay in the amateurs and win a gold medal because they know how tall is terence crawford tough it is coming out of Nebraska. I wanted to be a world champion."
But what was expected to be a highly competitive, 50-50 matchup, turned into one of the finest performances fans had witnessed in recent years. Crawford emphatically stamped his place in the history books with a ninth-round TKO over Spence to become the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.
Round 6: Feints galore coming from Madrimov right now. Madrimov leads with his jab and walks Crawford to the ropes. Crawford answers with a flurry. He sneaks a left hand past Madrimov’s guard. Right hand from Madrimov, Crawford throws out a combination. There appears to be a mouse developing under Crawford’s right eye. Madrimov whiffs on a big overhand. Madrimov lunges into an uppercut, Crawford ties up. Nasty body work by Crawford to close out the round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 Madrimov. (57-57 overall.)
Round 1 – Oh!Big right hand early for Soniano wobbles Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus recovers quickly. A low blow from Stoltzfus halts the action. It resumes a few seconds after. Leg kick from Stoltzfus. Body kick by Soriano. Left hook by Soriano, as he counters Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus connects with a right hand. They briefly clinch, and break away quickly. Two minutes left. Oh! Huge left by Soriano. Again, Soriano stuns Stoltzfus. Stoltzfus closes the distance and takes down Soriano. Soriano immediately back up, gets presses against the cage for a few seconds, and then breaks free. Another big left by Soriano. Great chin on Stoltzfus. Oh! Soriano gets dropped a second before the bell.