Unbeaten WBO junior welterweight champion of the world Terrance Crawford (26-0 , 18 KOs) returns to the ring this Saturday night. Crawford will make the first defense of his world title against former world title challenger Dierry Jean (29-1 , 20 KOs) of Canada by way of Haiti. The bout will take place in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska at the Centurylink Center. Crawford’s promoter Top Rank will promote the show that will be aired on HBO.
Crawford impressively stopped Thomas Dulorme in his last fight this past April to win his current world title. The win immediately set Crawford a top of the 140 pound division. The recent win of fellow Top Rank stablemate Vikotor Postol over Lucas Matthysee has given Crawford a possible unification fight in 2016. He must first get by Jean on Saturday. Jean competed very well the first half of his world title fight against Lamont Peterson. He is will surely come as well prepared as possible in an attempt to dethrone Crawford.
Crawford’s name could now be in the discussion of boxing’s top pound for pound fighter. Floyd Mayweather Jr. recently retired leaving the top spot vacant. Crawford with a few more significant wins and remaining unbeaten could see him being put on a small list for the very elite class of fighters in boxing. Ultimately Crawford would be the ideal person to hold the prestigious number one position. He carries himself very well, is developing a large following in his hometown, and he can fight. He is heavily favored to defeat Jean so a grind it out decision won’t impress many or bring him any closer to pound for pound king status. A knockout like he scored on Dulorme would be an entirely different story all together.
