The Madison Square Garden was lit and packed with boxing fans in expectation of crack boxing exhibition between the undisputed lightweight champion and WBO welterweight champion Terrence Crawford and Former WBA and IBF super lightweight champion Amir Khan.
Crawford 31, (35-0, 26 KOs) made the second defense of his WBO title on Saturday in dominant style by headlining the inaugural Top Rank on ESPN pay-per-view at the Madison Square Garden, ending fight with Amir Khan via sixth-round TKO.
Crawford’s victory, however, wasn’t quite the stoppage win his supporters and boxing fans expected after a left uppercut in Round 6 accidentally connected the lower trunk of Khan (33-5, 20 KOs) forcing referee David Fields to momentarily halt the fight to allow Khan to recover from the low blow. But after referee David Fields gave Khan time to recover, a conversation between Khan and trainer Virgil Hunter led to the fight being stopped.
“First of all, it wasn’t a low blow and second of all, Virgil knew the fight was going in a bad direction and he saved his fighter before anything bad happened to him,” Crawford said.
The fight ended in the sixth round, when Khan’s trainer, Virgil Hunter, told referee David Fields that Khan could not continue after an accidental low blow.
The fight started in round with both boxers throwing good jabs at each other but Khan was caught in a straight right from Crawford on the side of his head followed with a left hook sending Khan to the canvas.
Round two was one sided in favour of Crawford landing fairly good punches but Khan kept running around recovered and recorded a good round in three.
The exchanges continue with Crawford changing to a southpaw stance as he look to landing the right jabs. Khan relied on the quick quick one two punches but was unsuccessful in the fourth round.
The boxers exchanged many punches as they stand toe-to-toe in the fifth round but Crawford appeared to have hurt Khan who shook his head in denial. But in all it was a good round for Khan as he landed descent punches.
Crawford landed that left uppercut low blow in the sixth round which clearly hurt Khan. He was given some time to recover but he showed signs to have been hurt with that low blow. Hunter asked Khan if he can continue but Khan can denied. Hunter subsequently signalled referee Fields to stop the fight.
“I want to apologize to all the fans. The fight was just getting interesting,” Khan said. “Terence is a great fighter. I’m not taking anything away from him. I now realize why he’s one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. I’m a good boxer but he was showcasing great skills, great movement.
“I was caught with shot below the belt. I could feel it in my stomach. I couldn’t continue. I could feel it in my legs. I’m a warrior. I would never give up in a fight like this. I was in pain. I couldn’t move. I could no continue. I’m not one to give up in any fight. I fight to the end. I’m gonna come back stronger from this.” Khan Added.
Khan who was hopeful that back in his natural weight were he had unified titles and won, he was going to stage a sterling performance and snatch the title away from Crawford failed and had to apologise for his inability to continue the fight.
Making a mouth watering purse of a minimum of $5.5m and $5 by both Crawford and Khan respectively, the champion turn his guns on the IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence.
“The fight I want next is Errol Spence,” Crawford said. “Whenever he is ready, he can come and get it”.
As to whether this fight will see the day of light, Bob Arum the promoter and bank roller of Top Rank was vocal and explicit.
“Al Haymon won’t make fights. Spence won’t fight Crawford, not because of Spence but because of Al Haymon. He’s running a scam of a company. People have to realize he is ruining the sport of boxing. To not make a Spence fight with Crawford, which is a fight that all fight fans want, why? He only has his fighters fight in his own camp, unless he gets fighters he knows his fighters can beat. That’s the scam. Spence believes he will beat Crawford. Al Haymon does not believe. I’m looking to make the fight and do it on the most reasonable terms.”
“We want to fight Errol Spence,” Arum said. “Everyone wants the fight. There is one guy stopping it, and that is Al Haymon.
The two, Bob Arum and Al Haymon the kingpin Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) have had this rivalry between them for quiet some time now and it does not seem to go away any time soon. Just like the Mayweather and Pacquiao fight was eventually made by Top Rank and PBC we will be looking forward to seeing a Crawford-Spence fight. Boxingghana.com have it’s locked on this fight.