Terence Crawford. Pennington/Getty Images/AFP
Lead Fighter of the Year candidate Terence Crawford, with his vast edge in skill and power, could’ve turned his third fight this year into a clinical punching picnic. He instead opted to thrill the home crowd in his native Omaha and banged it up with overmatched challenger John Molina.
The entertainment could’ve lasted longer, until the overweight Molina left his mid-section open midway in the eighth. A precision left to the belly crushed Molina’s guts, and Crawford drummed in blinding combinations to head and body. The referee jumped in to rescue Molina who had sunk in the neutral corner.
Crawford was an awesome 14-1 prefight favorite, but he refused to be fancy. He got tagged hard several times but still played it bold and raw, thereby unwrapping a great facet in his arsenal.
Said Crawford beating his chest: “I showed I could be a great finisher.”
He hoisted his WBO and WBC junior welterweight title belts, visibly absolving himself from the cloud of an uncharacteristic run-run finish in a previous win over hard-hitting Viktor Postol.
In the next breath, the unbeaten Crawford (30 wins, 21 KOs) blurted out a long-time wish to be given the chance to box Manny Pacquiao next.
“Yeah, I’d like to fight Manny Pacquiao,” Crawford stated.
Crawford indeed wanted to fight Pacquiao badly; but he has also started to get frustrated.
Crawford said they would not lose sleep chasing after Pacquiao.
Normally, the dare from Crawford should’ve merited a firm reply from the Pacquiao camp.
Sorry, but Pacquiao appeared engrossed in other pressing commitments.
He was yesterday set to accompany President Duterte in an official state visit to Cambodia.
Here’s hoping Sen. Pacquiao would find time to make a categorical reply to Crawford. The boxing world is anxiously waiting.
Or does the lone world boxing champion senator in the world still dream of avenging a comprehensive loss to the firmly retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.?