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By Norm Frauenheim-

OMAHA, Neb. – There’s not much left to say, or even places to say it. They’ve insulted each other in the gym. They’ve insulted each other at a news conference. They’ve insulted each other’s family and friends, teeth and tastes. They’ve even insulted each other’s favorite food. Apparently, Terence Crawford likes chicken. Apparently, Jose Benavidez Jr. prefers burritos.

Give me an opening bell, please.

Fortunately, one is about to happen, a relief from trash talk’s version of a food fight. Or is it the other way around? Whatever it is, it’s been as noisy as it has been repetitive. Only a fight Saturday night in an arena on the banks of the Missouri River can settle what has evolved into what looks to be genuine hostility. Say it often enough and everybody will believe, including those saying it.

“It’s been real since Day One, since the fight has been announced,’’ Crawford said. “It ain’t been nothing but real.”

So real, the fighters are staying at different Omaha hotels, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. So real, that uniformed police were there and vigilant throughout Thursday’s news conference. So real, that Arum warned both against pushing or punching seconds before they faced each other in the ritual stare-down for the cameras after the newser.

“They can say whatever they want,’’ said Arum, who has taken steps to ensure there is no sequel to the near-riot that erupted last Saturday after the Conor McGregor-Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC bout in Las Vegas. “No screwing around. You don’t get paid if you punch the other guy out here. No physical stuff.’’

There was only more of the same.

Over weeks, months and perhaps longer, Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs) and Benavidez (27-0, 18 KOs) have talked themselves into believing the worst about the other. Perhaps, that changes after a welterweight title fight in an ESPN televised bout (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT) at CNI Heath Center Omaha.

On Thursday, however, their mutual contempt sounded as stubborn as ever after the contentious newser. Each said they would not shake the other’s hand after it was all over. That was about the only thing they could agree on.

“I won’t shake his dad’s hand, either,’’ Crawford said of Jose Benavidez Sr., also his son’s trainer.

The threatening words have filled gyms, ballrooms and social media for days before a bout that appears to be little threat to Crawford’s WBO title or his hopes of moving on to a 147-pound showdown with Errol Spence Jr. Odds are stacked, all in favor of Crawford, who will fight in front of a hometown crowd for the fifth time.

“Bet a thousand dollars on me and you can collect $13,000 when I win,’’ said Benavidez, who says he is motivated by one-sided odds for what will be only his third fight since he suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg from a still unknown assailant while walking on a Phoenix canal bank in the summer of 2016. “I’ve got nothing to lose.’’

Benavidez, a Phoenix fighter and a former WBA junior-welterweight champion, said he hasn’t placed a wager on himself. His father Jose Sr., said he would not agree to a bet with Crawford trainer Brian McIntyre, who challenged him to a $10,000 wager during the middle of Thursday’s news conference.

The stakes are high enough, as it is. Benavidez’ words include an intangible meaning. There’s pressure, self-imposed.

“You guys ain’t scaring nobody,’’ Benavidez said to Crawford and a news-conference audience that recorded every word. “You best bring your A-game on Saturday because you’re going to get your ass beat.

“Guaranteed.”

Crawford, who is either No. 1 or No. 2 in the various pound-for-pound polls, smiled, almost ominously. Throughout his career, he says, he has always been motivated by fighters with brash words and threatening promises.

“Absolutely,’’ said the unbeaten Crawford, whose versatility in switching from left to right and back again has left its mark, including 26 stitches around Australian Jeff Horn’s eyes in his last fight. “I’m not worried. I’m just going to go out there and shut him up.

“That’s it.

“That’s all.”

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