OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 8, 2022) – WBO Welterweight Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) went face to face with WBO # 6 contender David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at a press conference on Thursday before they meet for Crawford’s WBO Welterweight Title on Saturday, December 10 headlining a BLK Prime Pay-Per-View from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from the CHI Health Center.

TERENCE CRAWFORD

“I’ve been carrying Omaha with me everywhere I go my entire life, and when I fought here in the golden glove nationals in the finals that’s when Omaha gravitated towards me. For me to continue bringing the big fights back to Omaha, means the world to me. There’s never been anything like this, I’m really excited.”

“I’m very focused and have been since day one strictly on Avanesyan. We know what he brings to the table, but we’re going to elevate it to a higher level. this Saturday we’ll be victorious, and going to have fun doing it.”

“I really can’t look at too much of who [Avanesyan] fought and how they fought each other. When [Avanesyan] and I match up we’ll be making our adjustments on the fly and we’re going to do what we do best, which is shine.”

DAVID AVANESYAN 

“This is a big fight, a huge fight. I had a great camp, and I’m going to be giving everything to win this fight. Everyone is talking about Terence, I’m not only here to win this fight decisively but to shock the world.”

“Come Sunday morning, the news will be spreading that I raised the belt, and shocked the world. I’ll be getting to go back and see my family who I haven’t seen for so long, and return home a champion.”

CRIS CYBORG

“I can’t wait for Saturday. It’s my second fight in boxing after 18 years in MMA, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. All of my supporters, team members, and fans are all behind me, I can’t wait to make them proud.”

“I’ve been training and learning to continue my boxing career. Learning the difference between the two at first was tricky but now it’s much easier. I’m hoping this sets me up for bigger and bigger fights in the future for my boxing career, and when that comes, I’ll be ready.”

GABRIELLE HOLLOWAY

“I don’t think there’s added pressure because of my opponent’s legacy in MMA. Right now she’s my opponent so that all goes out the window.”

ARNOLD KEGHAI

“This fight is very important to me. After a great camp and great sparring, this fight is my next step to a belt. I can’t wait to get in the ring and prove that I should be next in line for a belt.”

EDUARDO BAEZ

“I’m always extra intense in studying my opponents. I think that I’m well prepared to go into Saturday, and with the favor of God we’ll get our hand raised at the end of the fight.”

JEREMIAH MILTON

“Not many know me, being that I’m so young in my career, at 7-0 with 6 KO, but it’s not always about the record. It’s about who you walk with, and I’ve had great opportunities in the sport of boxing to spar with some of the best ever, world champs, the who’s who of right now.”

“I’m happy to be in the supporting role of Terence Crawford, I know that I’m on my way up and looking to continue making a bigger name for myself in my career and it’s an honor to share the stage with the pound for pound best boxer in the world Terence Crawford. I’ll get to show him what Oklahoma does.”

DUJUAN CALLOWAY

“It’s not about my power, I’ve got skill too. I’ll be proving that Saturday night. This is a business trip, I’m here to win. I’ll be taking care of that business quickly and easily.”

STEVEN NELSON

“I was training in early 2021 and my achilles just popped. At the moment, I thought my career is over. But now, after a long road back, I’m ready to put on a great show. From the walkout to the first punch to the last punch to the bell ringing, I’m ready to go out there and win.”

“I feel bad for [Ballard], and I’m sorry you had to sign this contract. I really hope he’s ready. I’ve been training really hard for this, so he better be ready.”

JAMES BALLARD

“I’m not coming here to play any games. I’m here to sit my opponent down, knock him out, and leave no questions for the judges. There’s no reason to get in the ring with a Detroit fighter unless you’re willing to risk it all.” 

“I had the same injury [Nelson] had, but I didn’t sit back and think that I could have my career ended. I told myself if I can walk I can fight, so nothing was going to hold me back.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

White Plains, New York (December 8, 2022) – Star Boxing fighters take to the road this weekend, as Hartford, Connecticut’s own, RICHIE “POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN” RIVERA (21-1 16KO’s) is on a mission of retribution in Puerto Rico on the show headlining former world champion Alberto Machado vs Edwin Valentin on Friday night (12/9). The following night (12/10) in Omaha, Nebraska, undefeated super lightweight BOUBACAR SYLLA (12-0 7KO’s) aims to tack on another victory in 2022, fighting on the undercard of multi division and undisputed world champion, Terrance Crawford vs David Avanesyan.

RICHARD ‘POPEYE’ RIVERA

On Friday night (12/9) Richie Rivera, affectionately known as “Popeye,” will face off with Argentinian ARIEL BOSCONCEL (13-3-1 12KO’s) at the Coliseo Pedrin Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico on ProBox TV in an 8 round 185 lb. bout. Rivera saw his acclaim rise after fighting former world champion, BADOU JACK, on the undercard of Joshua-Uysk 2 this past August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In a fight that was draped in controversy Rivera commanded the respect of the boxing world for his performance, even though the judges somehow saw otherwise. In a bout that included an 8th round that ran 58 seconds long and finished with a highly questionable 10 round split decision in Jacks favor, Rivera will only allow the Jack fight to fuel his return to the ring Friday night.

Rivera had this to say about the bout, “Popeye el marino soy, TOOT TOOT! Can’t wait to show out on Friday. I am super blessed and orgulloso de tener esta oportunidad! Ahora si quetate tu pa poner me yo.” Translated , Rivera stated “I am Popeye the Sailor Man, TOOT TOOT! Can’t wait to show out on Friday. I am super blessed and proud to have this opportunity. Get out of the way, now it’s my turn.”

BOUBACAR SYLLA

On Saturday night (12/10) at the Chi Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, undefeated super lightweight Boubacar Sylla of Cincinnati, Ohio will take on Javier Mayoral (4-2 1KO) in a six-round super lightweight bout. Sylla who is coming off a victory in April, looks to close out 2022 with a pristine 13-0 record- but this fight is more than just another possible notch in the win column for Sylla. His dream of fighting on the samecard of his friend and training partner, World Champ and P4P Star, Terrance Crawford, becomes a reality on Saturday night. The fight will stream live on ppv.blkprime.com.

Sylla shared his thoughts on the fight, “I have always wanted to fight on a Crawford undercard and I am excited to make that a reality. This will be a great way to close out the year with another victory and then focus on a big 2023. Thanks to my trainer BoMac, Star Boxing and BLK Prime for the opportunity.”

The Rivera-Bosconcel bout will take place on December 9, in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

The Sylla-Mayoral bout will take place on December 10 in Omaha, Nebraska and is promoted by BLK PRIME and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

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OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 7, 2022) – Pound-for-pound king, WBO Welterweight Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs), WBO # 6 contender David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), superstar Cris Cyborg (1-0, 1 KO), and undefeated light heavyweight prospect, Steven Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs), held a media workout in Omaha, Nebraska ahead of their BLK Prime Pay-Per-View event taking place at the CHI Health Center on December 10.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from the B & B Boxing Academy.

TERENCE CRAWFORD

“Training was great, we had an awesome training camp, and pre-camp before we went to Colorado Springs. My thing is to keep doing what I’ve been doing, which is winning in a tremendous fashion, and everything else will fall into place.”

“I’m getting restless thinking about Saturday, it’s a job that I’ve done for a long time and as used to it as I am, I’m still really excited about this one in my hometown. I’m sure there will be a lot of first-time boxing fans who haven’t been able to see me live, and they’ll get the opportunity to see me right in their backyards.”

“My camp is like a family, when one fights, we all fight. There are four of us on this card, which is great for us, but at the same time, it gets us pushing each other that much harder. We’re able to make sure each one of us is healthy, prepared mentally and physically, and ready to go out there and perform at our best.”

DAVID AVANESYAN

“I’m going into this fight with a lot to prove as no one is giving me a chance to win, but he has a lot on his plate. He’s got a lot of distractions, and none of the interviewers ask him about me. It is always about the fight that didn’t happen or other stuff. I am more focused than ever, and coming in as a massive underdog, is just the way I like it. I was in camp already and got to extend my camp for a month or so, which was perfect. I will be the mentally stronger fighter on Dec.10th.”

“A win against the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, will make one of the biggest names in the sport. I would become a household name and a top-5 pound-for-pound fighter. These are motivations, I get to take everything Crawford worked for, and I will.” Beating Terence Crawford will change my life forever. I am better than ever, and I am about to be the one that everyone in boxing talks about.”

CRIS CYBORG

It’s my second boxing fight, my first was in Brazil and it was a great experience. I always like to think it’s best to keep myself ready, a fight can come up at any time, and I’m able to take on these fights because I stay ready. I’m really excited about Saturday, getting another chance in the boxing ring will be great. 

I think one of my strengths for my entire 18-year MMA career is that I am always looking to knock opponents out and I always have to defend takedowns in MMA. Now in boxing, I don’t have to worry about those takedown moves. In terms of power, I definitely have that punching power. I know the stance is different in boxing from MMA, but I always was prepared with the fight stance in MMA.

STEVEN NELSON

“It’s my first fight since I tore my achilles, my first fight in 26 months. I’ve been putting an extra focus on my rest, recovery, and taking care of my body with the same level of attention as I have on my training. Being 17-0 with 14 knockouts, I’m feeling really strong going into Saturday, very prepared, and excited to defend my undefeated record against Ballard.”

“I’m so excited to be back at home. After two years off, it’s going to be a special night. I’m going to make my mom proud. When my hand goes up after the final bell rings, I’ll know she’s going to be proud.”

“Omaha has the best fans in the world. Whether they’re boxing fans or not, I know that Omaha will show up and show out for Bud (Terence) and me. It’s going to be a big party when the hometown stars keep the wins rolling in.”

“It’s so special to be a part of the launch of BLK Prime into boxing. I feel like a pioneer, me and Bud and everyone on the card pioneered BLK Prime. It’s the first event, looking like it’ll be a sellout, it’s going to be an awesome night. I’m looking forward to it. To all the other boxers out there, BLK Prime takes care of its people, takes care of its fighters. From the negotiations to everything, even today’s media workout, it’s different from the others and they really care for their people.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 6, 2022) – Welterweight sensation and current pound-for-pound king, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs), will look to finish 2022 on a high note as he takes on the WBO #6 ranked challenger, David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs). The fight takes place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10. Crawford is back in his hometown, fresh off his training camp in Colorado, Springs, and he’s eager to show the world why he’s the best fighter in boxing.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

Here is what Crawford had to say about his recent training camp, his matchup with David Avanesyan, fight on BLK Prime at home, and more:

On his recent training camp: 

“It is business as usual. It’s great to have a fight date and a goal to work toward.  I have a solid group of guys who are pushing me every single day, and we had a close-knit community during camp. This was one of my best camps, and I am motivated to put on a show for my fans in Omaha, who have had my back from the start of my career.”

On his matchup with David Avanesyan:

“David Avanesyan is a good fighter. He’s on a good winning streak, and beat a guy in the U.K., in Josh Kelly who people thought was going to be a star. I have to train like I am facing King Kong on December 10th, because Avanesyan has everything to gain and nothing to lose. I know he is going to bring everything on December 10th, so I’m not looking past him. This will be the best Avanesyan, so I have to be the best Terence Crawford.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“My goal is to remind the world that world I am the best fighter on the planet so everyone needs to tune in December 10 on this new BLK Prime PPV platform. I am fighting not just to be the best, but to give fighters fair and equitable treatment in negotiations moving forward.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 5, 2022) – Brazilian MMA superstar, Cris Cyborg, is all set to make her U.S. boxing debut on BLK Prime PPV, when she squares off against Gabrielle Holloway on the Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) card, live from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

Here is what Cyborg had to say about her recent training camp, her matchup with Gabby Halloway, fighting on BLK Prime PPV, and more.

On her recent training camp:

“Things are going great. Boxing is a lot different than MMA, but the hard work stays consistent. The biggest difference is the time. The rounds go so fast, I only have two minutes to win the round. So, the big thing I worked on is focusing on starting quickly. I have given this camp my all, and I am expecting to win.”

On her matchup with Gabby Holloway:

“I am fighting a tough opponent. Gabby Halloway has never been stopped and fought someone I knew in Raquel Miller. She hasn’t been the most active but has been around the game for a long time, and has more experience than me, as a pro boxer. I am not overlooking her at all. I want to keep up a good pace and apply a lot of pressure.”

On what a win will do for her career:

“I want to be able to fight against the big names in the sport of boxing. I want to compete and challenge myself against the best of this era, and to do so it all starts on a win on December 10th. A win puts me in a great position.”

On fighting on BLK Prime PPV:

“I was a part of women’s MMA when it was a new thing, and BLK Prime gives me the same feeling as some of the great companies like Strikeforce, when I was on my rise. I want to headline a card on BLK Prime in the future and I am excited that they are allowing the fighters to take control of their career. The fans must support this event, and bring in a new age of boxing.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 5, 2022) – The biggest fight to end the year between the best fighter in the world, WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) taking on David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) in a PPV showdown, that will take place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, now has an official broadcast team.

Lupe Contreras will serve as the ring announcer, Zab Judah will offer behind-the-scenes insight and backstage interviews, Todd Grisham will lead the commentary crew with BWAA award-winning broadcast journalist Paulie Malignaggi, along with former world champion Antonio Tarver. Cheyenne McCargo will serve as the undercard scoring voice to conclude the crew. 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Lupe Contreras, a veteran ring announcer of over 20 years, has called some of the biggest fights the sport has seen. Traveling to every realm of the globe to introduce the best pugilists in the world, when Contreras calls a fight, you know it is a big deal!

Todd Grisham has been innovating sports entertainment broadcasts from the WWE, to being a staple of the DAZN boxing crew, Grisham is becoming one of the iconic figures in the sport, and will be guiding the action on Saturday.

Paulie Malignaggi is a former two-division world champion holding the IBF super lightweight title, as well as the WBA welterweight title. Malignaggi transitioned into the field of commentary in the past decade, in which he was quickly regarded as one of the best young voices in broadcast journalism, and his vibrant personality has earned him a close connection with the fans. 

Antonio Tarver is a five-time light heavyweight champion, holding the WBC and IBF titles two times, and the WBA title for good measure. Tarver has been in some of the greatest fights, and is now calling some of the modern great bouts on BLK Prime.

Zab Judah is a former two-division, six-time world champion holding the IBF light welterweight title on two different occasions, as well as the WBO light welterweight title, the WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight world titles. Judah is widely considered one of the best fighters of his era and was the last undisputed champion at welterweight.

Cheyenne McCargo is a popular YouTuber, with thousands tuning into his daily livestreams. McCargo will offer the voice of the fans for the BLK Prime broadcast, scoring the undercard bouts. 

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 4, 2022) – Featherweight Arnold Khegai (18-1-1, 11 KOs), of Lymanske, Ukraine, is ready to make his PPV debut on the Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) card, live on BLK Prime from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

Here is what Khaegai had to say about his recent training camp, his matchup with Eduardo Baez, fighting on BLK Prime PPV, and more.

On his recent training camp: 

“I’ve been waiting for this type of moment for my whole career, and I am thankful to BLK Prime for putting me on this card. I am giving it my all in the gym, and I’ve had some incredible sparring partners to get me ready for this fight. I’m in tremendous shape and I’ll be ready to fight at my best on fight night.”

On his matchup with Eduardo Baez:

“He is a very good fighter. Baez is the type of guy who could be a world champion. I thought he was beating Emanuel Navarrete until he got caught. This is the type of fight that puts me in the conversation as a top contender in my division. I think we are going to give the fans the best fight of the night.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“I would hope a win could bring in good fights with guys I’d like to face such as Robeisy Ramirez, Isaac Dogboe, and other top fighters. I’d like to face the best fighters, and a big win over a credible opponent like Baez should open the door for those types of moments in my career. 

On fighting on BLK Prime PPV:

“I am big on streaming because everyone with a device or TV can easily watch the fight. I am excited to be part of the future of boxing with BLK Prime. I have told everyone about it, and they’re excited that I am ushering in a new era of boxing.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 2 , 2022) – Undefeated prospect Steven Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs), of Omaha, NE, is ready to square off against James Ballard (10-4, 3 KOs), on the Crawford vs. Avanesyan card taking place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10. Nelson vs. Ballard is scheduled for eight rounds in the light heavyweight division. 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

Nelson is fighting for the first time since a TKO victory over DeAndre Ware in September of 2020 following a torn Achilles tendon. A U.S. Army veteran, Nelson spent eight years working in satellite communications with the 7^th Special Forces Group and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009. He then joined the Army’s World Class Athlete Program boxing team and was stationed in Colorado Springs prior to beginning his professional career.

He is training alongside his lifelong friend and fellow Omaha native Crawford in their Colorado Springs training base in preparation for December 10. Here is what Nelson had to say about his training camp, his matchup with Ballard, fighting at home on BLK Prime PPV, and more.

On his recent training camp: 

“Training camp has been going great. This is one of many camps that we’ve done together in Colorado Springs, but seeing how motivated Bud is and how hard he pushed us has made this camp really special for all of us. I’m coming off a torn Achilles that had me sidelined for two years, so I cannot wait to step back in the ring. It really feels like it is our team against the world. Bud and the coaches have made me step up my game. If you aren’t strong enough, you are not going to make it in this camp.”

On his matchup with James Ballard:

“I am going to smash Ballard, respectfully of course. I have had some setbacks, but I am one of the best fighters in my division. I am looking to win this fight and go after fighters like Edgar Berlanga and many others who have been avoiding me. I am taking Ballard extremely seriously, but I fully expect to stop him.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“Once I am victorious on December 10, I want all the top contenders in the division. But to do so, I have to put on a great performance in Omaha and remind the boxing world who I am. This reminds me of how I felt prior to the Reyes Diaz fight when I stopped him. He basically retired after that fight, and that is the type of performance I am going to do on December 10th. I am going to win and target all the big-name fighters.”

On fighting on BLK Prime PPV at home:

“This is the first time I’ll be fighting on PPV, so I’m very excited. Seeing the type of love BLK Prime is showing Bud, made me a fan. They’re putting the fighters first, and I know the fans will get behind them, because they have good intentions and are paying the fighters for risking their lives. Getting the chance to fight at home on this BLK Prime PPV card is a blessing. I’m expecting a lot of hometown supporters and people I have met worldwide during my military career to be in attendance. The CHI Health Center is going to be electrifying on fight night.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

LAS VEGAS, NV (December 1, 2022) – One of the most exciting heavyweight prospects in America, undefeated power puncher Jeremiah “Dreamland” Milton (7-0, 6 KOs), of Tulsa, OK, will make his BLK Prime PPV debut on the Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) international showdown. Milton will battle Dajuan Calloway (5-1, 5 KOs), of Warrensville Heights, OH, in a scheduled 6-round bout, live from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Here is what Milton had to say about his training camp, his matchup with Calloway, fighting on BLK Prime PPV, and more.

On his recent training camp:

“Training camp has been amazing. Vegas has the best work, and I just sit back and reflect often on how blessed I am to see so many different styles in the gym. I have the motivation to train hard, but the thing that keeps me improving is the type of work I get, and the ability I have thanks to my team to be a full-time fighter. This has been a solid camp. I’m more than ready.” 

On his matchup with Dajuan Calloway:

“I am not taking easy fights. My next opponent has a good record, his coming to win, and he’s never been stopped, so this is a big step up in my boxing career. The harsh part of this sport is, sometimes you run into fighters who are just better than you. On this night that is what is going to happen, but I am not overlooking him at all.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“In the heavyweight division, I feel I am one fight away from a big chance, a life-changing moment. I am nearing the point of being an eight-round fighter, and once you get to eight-round fights you can get the call for any type of marquee fight. So, this is simple, a win keeps my dream alive.”

On fighting in his first PPV on BLK Prime:

“I have fought on all types of networks, and now to fight on BLK Prime PPV, it feels like a perfect fit. Dreamland and BLK Prime, it sounds so right. In the future, I hope I can headline a card on BLK Prime, and bring it back to Black Wall St., in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I feel that would be historic. I just feel very welcomed and embraced with this platform and the folks at BLK Prime.”

# # #

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

PPV.com has a huge month of December that will kick off this Saturday with the anticipated trilogy fight between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez; On December 10th, WBO Welterweight champion Terence Crawford defends against David Avanesyan. Also on December 10th, Legendary Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring against DK Yoo.

Date                Live Event                                                                             Price

Dec. 3             Estrada vs. Chocolatito 3                                                     $29.99 

Dec. 10          Ring of Honor: Final Battle 2022                                         $30.99

                        (Canada only)

Dec. 10          Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan                          $39.99

Dec. 10          Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo                                              $29.99

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership between three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.—Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 80 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 150 companies. In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports. With the addition of PPV.COM to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turn-key PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers. For more information, go to indemand.com. 

TENAFLY, N.J. (November 29, 2022) – BLK Prime has united with Integrated Sports to distribute the highly anticipated showdown between Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) and David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), taking place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 10. Superstar Cris Cyborg (1-0, 1 KO) is scheduled to make her U.S. boxing debut in the co-main event special feature attraction.

The event will be distributed by BLK Prime and Integrated Sports across the United States live on Cable & Satellite pay-per-view via iNDEMAND, (Comcast, Charter and all major cable outlets), DIRECTV and DISH priced at $39.99. Additionally, it will also be broadcast via Digital PPV on BLKPrime.com and PPV.com. A live PPV preshow starts at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.

“We wanted to make the Crawford vs. Avanesyan PPV available for the masses, so we made the decision to go the traditional route with cable and satellite, in addition to our BLK Prime app,” said Sam Katkovski of BLK Prime. “Integrated Sports has been in the business for many years and has the experience to hit all corners of the United States. We are happy to be partnering with them and we look forward to a great night of boxing on December 10.”

“We’re excited to be distributing Crawford-Avanesyan to boxing fans throughout the U.S.,” Integrated Sports president Doug Jacobs said. “Crawford is arguably the No. 1 pound-for-pound champion in the world. And Cris Cyborg may be the greatest female MMA fighter of all-time. It’ll be interesting for MMA fans to watch her box and we are excited to be part of the BLK Prime movement to make all the big fights happen.”

Tickets priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Terence “Bud” Crawford will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About Integrated Sports:

North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed-Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ricky Hatton, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, and Juan Manuel Lopez. In addition, Integrated Sports Media has distributed numerous international soccer matches showcasing the National Teams of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts events featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEBOXING

OMAHA, NEBRASKA (November 23, 2022) – The undercard for the highly anticipated BLK Prime PPV fight between Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) and David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), taking place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 10, is set. Cris Cyborg (1-0, 1 KO) is scheduled to make her U.S. boxing debut in the co-main event special feature attraction.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

In a scheduled 10-round featherweight war, Arnold Khegai (18-1-1, 11 KOs) of Odessa, Ukraine, will challenge battle-tested warrior Eduardo Baez (21-3-2, 7 KOs), of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

Undefeated heavyweight Jeremiah “Dreamland” Milton (7-0, 6 KOs), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will go toe-to-toe against Dajuan Calloway (5-1, 5 KOs), of Warrensville, Ohio, in a scheduled 6-round bout.

Opening the PPV telecast will be a scheduled 8-round light heavyweight bout, showcasing Steven Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska, vs. James Ballard (10-4, 3 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan.

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Khegai has a fan-friendly style and always comes forward with aggressive pressure. His lone defeat is at the hands of two-time world champion, Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs), a fight that went twelve full rounds. A victory against Baez will get him right back into world title contention.

“Baez stands in the way of my goal to become a world champion,” said Khegai. “He’s fought at the championship level and beating him will get me one step closer to landing a big fight. I must win this fight to stay relevant in the world title picture.”

Baez, known for his tremendous toughness, is coming into this fight with his back against the wall. In his last outing, he challenged the monstrous Emanuel Navarrete ?(36-1, 30 KOs) for his WBO world title, a fight where he got caught with a solid body blow. With nothing to lose, Baez sees this fight as a do-or-die situation.

“I must win this fight, and I’m going to do everything possible to come out on top,” Baez stated. “Khegai is not invincible, he’s been beaten before. I have the

experience needed to win this fight. Those tuning in will see an all-out war, I’m going to make this a Mexican-style slugfest.”

Milton, recognized for his heavy hands, stands 6? 4?. He trains out of Las Vegas, Nevada, where he’s shared the ring with Tyson Fury, Luis Ortiz, Joy Joyce, along with a bunch of other top heavyweights. In addition, Milton has multiple knockouts that have gone viral on the internet.

“Five fights in one year because I had to! I wouldn’t want to end the year any other way. Make sure to drop my name whenever they ask who got next. Dreamland Milton from Tulsa Oklahoma, representing Black Wall St. on BLK Prime.”

Calloway has never been stopped and all his wins have come by way of knockout. Standing 6? 3?, Calloway has the power and durability to give Milton his stiffest test to date.

“Going into any fight, my goal is always to score a knockout, and that will be the case when I step in the ring with Milton,” said Calloway. “I’m excited to be

fighting on a great card, especially with Terence Crawford, who is the pound-for-pound king right now.”

Nelson, a U.S. Army veteran and former member of the Army World Class Athlete program, is a hometown hero and local fan favorite. He vows to come out victorious with a spectacular performance.

“Fighting at home in Omaha is a blessing and the CHI Health Center is always electrifying,” said Nelson. “It’s been two years since my last fight but I’m more than ready to leave everything in the ring against Ballard,” said Nelson. “Winning this fight will put me back in the rankings and in line to fight for a title in the near future. I’ve been training with Terence and the B&B team in Colorado Springs, so best believe I’ll be in the best shape of my life.”

Ballard has faced stiff opposition in his last three fights and is ready for the challenge that is in front of him. He feels he’s gained valuable experience throughout his career that will help him win this fight.

“I’ve learned more from my losses than my wins and the experience I’ve gained is what I believe will be the difference in this fight,” said Ballard. “I’m coming into this fight in great shape, and I’ll be letting my hands fly with bad intentions.”

UNDERCARD BOUTS:

Light Heavyweight Edel Gomez (6-0, 6 KOs) of Fremont, Nebraska, will take on Joseph Aguilar (4-1-1, 2 KOs) of Portland, Oregon. (8-rounds)

Welterweight Boubacar Sylla (12-0, 7 KOs), of Cincinnati, Ohio, will look to stay unbeaten when faces Javier Mayoral (4-2, 1 KO), of New Orleans, Louisiana. (6-rounds)

Lightweight Alan Garcia (7-0, 6 KOs), of Ulysses, Kansas, will battle a fighter TBA. (6-rounds)

Super Bantamweight Robert Rodriguez (10-1-2, 5 KOs), of Riverside, California, squares off against Jose Lopez (3-2-1), of Ridgewood, New York. (6-rounds)

Opening the card will be a welterweight bout between Alton Alik Wiggins (Pro Debut), of Oakland, California, vs. Phillip Carmouche (2-3), of Las Vegas, Nevada. (4-rounds)

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 22, 2022) – Legendary MMA superstar, Cris Cyborg, will be making her highly anticipated return to the boxing ring on December 10, when she battles Gabrielle Holloway on the Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan BLK Prime PPV showdown. Cyborg vs. Holloway, a scheduled 4-round bout in the lightweight division, will serve as a special feature attraction.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Cyborg, Ultimate Fighting’s only Grand Slam Champion, comes from a world-class mixed-martial-arts background. From Brazil, Cyborg makes her return to the boxing ring to continue her quest to establish herself as the greatest female fighter in any combat sport ever. In her boxing debut earlier this year, Cyborg defeated Simone Silva by a convincing unanimous decision – throwing clean right hands, pressing forward and unloading punches with Silva against the ropes. Her debut in the boxing ring established Cyborg as a looming championship contender, this next bout will prime her for that eventual opportunity. 

“This is a great opportunity for me to make a splash in the boxing world, especially on a card with Terence Crawford, the best boxer in the world,” stated Cyborg, who will be making her USA debut in the squared circle. “Boxing has always been a big part of my training and I feel I can compete at the highest level. I’m expecting Holloway to be in great shape, and I know she’s coming to win. That said, I’m taking this fight very seriously. I feel confident, and I can’t wait to showcase my boxing skills to the world.”

Holloway also comes from an MMA background. Recently fighting in the Bellator system, she joins the undercard of Crawford vs Avanesyan to establish her place in boxing – taking on a universal women’s fighting icon in Cyborg.

“Looking forward to testing my skills against a legend in Combat sports, I’m coming fully prepared, conditioning is on point, we are going to steal the show, we are the real Main Event.” said Holloway.

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

NEWARK, ENGLAND (November 15, 2022) – WBO #6 welterweight contender, David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), is preparing for the most electrifying fight of his career, a 12-round Championship showdown with the current pound-for-pound king, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) on December 10 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Avanesyan, deep in training, talks about his upcoming fight with Crawford and gives his thoughts on the epic opportunity that stands in front of him.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for my family and me, one I will not take for granted,” said Avanesyan, who is currently training in Nottinghamshire, England. “I know going in that I’m a huge underdog and no one is giving me a chance, but let me tell you, I’m going to surprise everyone watching. I’ve had enough time to prepare, so I’ll be ready for the southpaw.”

“There’s a reason Terence Crawford is considered the best fighter in boxing, his skill set is amazing, and he knows how to win. I know my hands are full, but I’m going to do everything I can to become a world champion. I need to stick to the game plan we have in place, and if adjustments need to be made during the fight, I will have to make them.”

“As I’ve matured in boxing, I’ve learned a lot of tricks that have helped me become the fighter I am today. Coming from the amateur ranks, I had to learn how to sit on my punches correctly, which can take a lifetime for some fighters. The bad habits that plagued me early in my career, are now fixed. Today I’m a completely different fighter in the ring, and my last six fights have shown my growth when it comes to my power punching. I believe my aggressive style is going to give Crawford problems.”

“I’m coming into hostile territory, his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, all his fans will be there in abundance. I’ve fought most of my career in people’s backyards, and I love it because it gives me an extra buzz. This is what being an underdog is all about. When I walk out of the arena with a monumental victory, I believe I will win his fans over.”

A former WBA interim champion, Avanesyan enters this welterweight title bout on a six-fight stoppage streak dating back to 2019 when he captured the European welterweight championship. He defended that title five times before he recently decided to vacate and challenge Crawford for his WBO crown. Considered by many boxing connoisseurs as a legitimate welterweight contender, Avanesyan is ranked top ten by three of the recognized sanctioning organizations. 

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

About BLK Prime:

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, (November 9, 2022) – Terence Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) is proving to be one of the hottest tickets in America this holiday season. The December 10th clash at the CHI Health Center, in Omaha, Nebraska, available on BLK Prime PPV, for the affordable price of $39.99, has already sold 9,500 tickets to the mega-fight. Nearly half of the arena is sold out within days of the tickets going on sale.

“Terence Crawford is a cultural icon and an American boxing superstar, and his fans in Omaha are showing just how big of a star he is,” said Sam Katkovski, a representative for BLK Prime. “This fight will have an amazing atmosphere and show the world how much combat-sports fans enjoy seeing Terence Crawford in the ring.”

At the current pace, the event is on schedule to sell out before fight week. The heightened demand to see Crawford fight in his hometown shows the star power he has locally.

“The fans want to see Crawford,” continued Katkovski. “He is the best fighter in the world and has been out of the ring for too long. The city of Omaha is showing tremendous support for Terence, and they’re getting their exclusive opportunity to attend a world-class fight right in their backyard.”

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video on demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. Telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

About BLK Prime:

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY!

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan go on sale today, November 7, at 10:00 a.m. CT. and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video on demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. Telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (November 4, 2022) – Welterweight superstar and current pound-for-pound king, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford’s WBO welterweight title on the line.

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan go on sale this Monday, November 7, at 10:00 a.m. CT. and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

“We have seen player empowerment movements in other sports, and now we are starting to see it in boxing,” said Crawford. “I have taken control of my career and my December 10 fight on BLK Prime is the start of my next chapter.”

Crawford chose to bring his latest world title fight back to his hometown of Omaha, Neb. He hasn’t fought in front of the always raucous Nebraska crowd since a TKO victory over Jose Benavidez in October of 2018. “My hometown fans deserve another big fight, and we are going to pack the CHI Health Center once again on December 10.”

Crawford is looking to extend his nine-fight knockout streak, one that has gone under-appreciated from boxing fans and media. December 10 will mark Crawford’s sixth defense of his WBO welterweight title and his 17th straight world title fight across three weight divisions.

“I am an exciting fighter and the best closer in the sport. I have knocked out every fighter I have faced since 2016,” continued Crawford. “I’m going to put on another entertaining fight on December 10 and continue my knockout streak. David Avanesyan is a tough opponent who is riding a strong knockout streak of his own. He’s upset some really good fighters and has nothing to lose. That makes for something that the fans will want to see.”

A former WBA interim champion, Avanesyan enters this welterweight title bout on a six-fight stoppage streak dating back to 2019, when he captured the European welterweight championship. He defended that title five times before he recently decided to vacate and challenge Crawford for his WBO crown. Considered by many boxing connoisseurs as a legitimate welterweight contender, Avanesyan is ranked top ten by three of the recognized sanctioning organizations. His will to keep his winning streak intact is not to be discarded and will certainly bring forth an entertaining fight.

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video on demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. Telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view.

By Norm Frauenheim-

The outrage is predictable. Inevitable. Boxing loves its misery and more was delivered Thursday with news that Terence Crawford won’t be fighting Errol Spence Jr.

Not in November.

Not in December.

Not in February.

Sorry, if I don’t join the chorus of angry cries. I don’t care. Not anymore, and I suspect that feeling is more widespread than social media’s noisy outburst might suggest.

There was a desperate, last-chance hope attached to the prospect that Crawford-Spence would finally happen. The welterweight showdown was seen as a way to resurrect, if not save, the business.

But that dwindling light at the end of a long, futile tunnel was extinguished with ESPN’s report that Crawford will fight David Avanesyan on Dec. 10 in hometown Omaha.

“I don’t even know who (he) is,’’ Spence told the Dallas Morning News.

About that – and only that, there’s no debate. No outrage. Avanesyan is unknown. Then again, Crawford and Spence aren’t much better known among a crowd that hasn’t paid attention or a pay-per-view price-tag since Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao in 2015.

An eroding, hair-on-fire fan base can scream and yell, but the rest of the world isn’t listening.

It just doesn’t care anymore.

Indifference is the problem, or perhaps the epitaph.

Dylan Hernandez, the Los Angeles Times’ forthright and fearless columnist, generated some of the battered game’s familiar outrage in 2016 with last rites.

Boxing Is Dead, he wrote then.

Hard to argue with him today.

I’m not prepared to throw another shovel of dirt onto its remains. The game will continue, always in some form. After all, it’s already outlived most newspapers, a dying game if there ever was one.

Long after the newspaper industry prints its final edition, boxing will still be there, surviving on some forgotten street corner. Its inherent defiance is inextinguishable. But defiance isn’t a business model. The money is going, going, gone.

There’s a generation of boxers who grew up expecting Mayweather money. They have practiced Mayweather’s risk-to-reward formula. Mayweather left a model. Dollar-for-dollar, there’s never been anybody better. But the door to the vault began to close when he left the game.

He continues to collect bigger money than most in today’s generation in so-called exhibitions in Asia and the Middle East. His skills are eroded, but his name recognition is not.

Only Canelo Alvarez and Tyson Fury can rival his earning power. But Crawford and Spence, pound-for-pound contenders, have none of his notoriety. They’re skilled fighters. But skills don’t exactly pay the bills any more.

Crawford reportedly has signed a deal worth as much as $10-million to fight Avanesyan on a pay-per-view venture produced by BLK Prime, which is part of Endavo Media & Communications Inc., an Atlanta-based business.

Crawford’s deal in terms of percentages isn’t clear, yet. How much is guaranteed? How much is tied to the pay-per-view numbers? The bout’s price tag is $39.95.

Initial reports make it look as though it’s an investment in a future Crawford-Spence fight. Crawford was quoted as saying that Spence was still there, possibly in 2023.

“Once I’m successful against Avanesyan, my plan is still the same: Whoop Errol Spence’s ass,” Crawford told ESPN.

Trouble is, this fight is way past its due date. It should have happened five years ago. Crawford turned 35 on Sept. 28. His prime time is beginning to fall through the hour glass. More significant, perhaps, is Spence, who is already a big welterweight. He’s talking about moving up the scale.

“I got to talk to my manager but I already told them I’m at this weight too long,’’ the 32-year-old Spence told the Morning News.

Spence also tweeted that he had been fighting at welterweight for more than a decade.

“this sh!t ain’t easy or fun,” he tweeted.

Futile negotiations ain’t much fun, either.

BLK Prime, however, can only make its apparent investment in Crawford work if it can bring disaffected customers back into the PPV tent. The idea, perhaps, is to stage a bout or two against a couple of unknowns as a way to sell a possible past-due fight. The task is to introduce Crawford to the so-called crossover fans, who probably know a lot more about Jake Paul than they do Crawford.

But it’s a little late in the game to do that. It’s no secret that Top Rank grew frustrated with Crawford, still a free agent after he split and subsequently sued the promotional entity after his definitive stoppage of Shawn Porter last November.

Crawford’s versatile skillset hasn’t included much in the way of self-promotion. Maybe that changes. Maybe not. The question is how to awaken some interest, which wasn’t there for Crawford-Porter, a welterweight fight that would have sold itself in another era.

It did about 135,000 pay-per-view buys at $69.99, according to multiple media reports. That means it fell about 15,000 buys short of the 150,000 break-even point. despite a reported $2-million in ticket sales from a soldout crowd of 11,568 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.

In other words, it was a bust, a financial loser. Crawford won an entertaining fight, stopping Porter in the 10th-round. But everybody else took a bath. Indifference is costly.

But the PPV model is still there. The question is whether anything has been learned from the Crawford-Porter lesson. Will it result in any substantive changes? Prompt any real moves?

“I might be moving up, I don’t know,’’ Spence said of a jump to junior-middleweight. “I might be moving up.’

Fans might have already moved.

Moved on.

OMAHA, Neb. (October 21, 2022) – Pound-for-pound superstar Terence “Bud” Crawford makes his long-awaited return to the ring on December 10th as he faces current European Champion and WBC No. 4-ranked David Avanesyan at CHI Health Center in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Neb.

The fight will be streamed live by BLK Prime (https://watchnow.blkprime.com/)

for the price of $39.99. This will be BLK Prime’s first streaming of a professional boxing event, but the Silicon Valley-based tech company has streamed several non-professional bouts. BLK Prime is a subscription video on demand company that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available.

“BLK Prime has been in existence for five years and we are excited to announce our first World Championship bout,” said a spokesman from BLK Prime. “To make our debut with boxing’s pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, Terence Crawford, is a home run and we can’t wait for December 10th in Omaha, Neb.”

The three-division world champion and current WBO Welterweight World Champion Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs), 35, is widely considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound star in the sport, topping the rankings on major publications including ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Known for his exceptionally fast hand speed, ring IQ, counter-punching abilities, defense and ability to switch naturally from orthodox to southpaw, Crawford won his first world title at lightweight in 2008.

Crawford became the undisputed 140-pound world champion after he knocked out Julius Indongo in August 2017, making him the first undisputed champion at 140 pounds since Kostya Tszyu in 2004 and the first male boxer to simultaneously hold all four major belts since Jermain Taylor in 2005. More recently, Crawford has taken over the welterweight division, disposing of world champions Jeff Horn, Amir Khan, Kell Brook and Shawn Porter in his destruction of the division. His last time out, Crawford became the first fighter to stop Porter, putting him down twice in the 10th round.

The 34-year-old Russian native Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) is promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry’s Promotions. The biggest win of Avanesyan’s career took place in 2016, when he scored a unanimous decision against former world champion Shane Mosley to retain his title, while also making his United States debut. Avanesyan is currently riding a six-fight knockout streak and is considered a very dangerous opponent.

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, check back soon to: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view

By Norm Frauenheim-

It’s been a summer about comebacks, which is another way of saying that it’s been mostly forgettable.

Maybe, the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua rematch on Aug. 20 knocks out the doldrums. Maybe, it ends with something memorable in the Canelo Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin trilogy on Sept. 17.

For now, at least, the season belongs to a power hitter in another arena. Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge’s bat is the only Big Drama Show.

As Judge moves ever closer to Roger Maris’ magical 61 homerun mark, boxing finds itself stuck in the waiting room. Plenty appears to be on deck, but in the here-and-now there’s only Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. 

ESPN reported in June that an agreement was close. Maybe it is. Maybe, Crawford and Spence are signing the contract as I write this. Maybe, it gets announced this weekend.  Maybe, maybe.

The sooner, the better, because the messy web of maybes has put the balkanized business and its suspicious fans on edge.  When ESPN first reported that a deal was close, talk was that the long-awaited welterweight fight would happen in October. Now, no news has pushed the speculated bout into November. Can the Twelfth-Of-Never be too far away?

It’s getting hard to remember when Crawford-Spence wasn’t a topic. It’s been in the public imagination for so long that the two welterweights have gone from early prime time into their 30s.

A whole new 147-pound generation is beginning to emerge. One of them, Vergil Ortiz Jr., will be back in the ring Saturday in his first fight in a year. Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs), of Grand Prairie TX, is coming off a scary illness for a date against UK welterweight Michael McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) in Fort Worth Saturday night on DAZN.

“Fortunately, time is on my side,’’ said Ortiz, who suffered from a debilitating condition apparently brought on by intense workouts.  “I’m only 24 years old, and at the same time, I don’t want to be wasting time. You know what that’s like. I should have fought three or four times already, and that’s time we won’t get back.’’

Time is what Crawford and Spence are running out of. Crawford is 34; Spence is 32. It’s no coincidence that one of the acronyms made the Ortiz-McKinson a title eliminator this week. Increasingly-impatient fans will watch in part to get an idea at how Ortiz might do against a Crawford or Spence.

Reasons are countless as to why there was still no Crawford-Spence deal as of Thursday. PIck one, pick-em all.

Crawford, at least, seemed confident this week that the fight will happen.

“Hopefully we can get that fight made down the line,” Crawford told FightHub on Wednesday. “Real soon, not down the line, and give fans what they’ve been looking for.

“We’re working to get it done for you all.’’

The apparent hurdle – surprise, surprise — is the size of the prize in this projected prizefight. In a welterweight bout some say could be the best since Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns, both Crawford and Spence want big money in what would be pay-per-view. They’re hoping for big guarantees. However, most of their money would likely have to come from a percentage of pay-per-view sales.

That’s the problem. Neither Crawford nor Spence have done big PPV numbers. Crawford’s impressive stoppage of Shawn Porter last November generated fewer than 100,000 PPV buys, according multiple reports.

That makes promoters and networks leery, especially during an era when theft of the PPV signal is rampant. It also leaves a question about whether there’s a sugar-daddy willing to step up with the kind of investment that can make it happen.

That’s exactly what transpired in 2015 when then-CBS President Les Moonves stepped up and brokered the deal that led to the revenue record-setting fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Can it happen again? No sign of it in July. But, maybe, there will be a home-run deal in August. At least, Aaron Judge is there and on a pace to prove that just about anything is possible.

By Norm Frauenheim-

It’s a lawsuit that probably shouldn’t surprise anybody. Its inevitability was evident throughout an awkward news conference a couple of months ago.

Bob Arum and Terence Crawford looked like a couple headed to divorce court after Crawford’s stoppage of Shawn Porter on Nov. 20.

The fight itself was worth celebrating. But the post-fight newser was troublesome, another sign of a game going nowhere. Arum frowned. Crawford, whose Top Rank contract expired the second Porter’s dad/trainer threw in the towel, said he was moving on. Wednesday, we found out where he’s headed.

For now, at least, Crawford is moving only into the legal ring with a lawsuit filed in Las Vegas’ Clark County District Court. The 23-page document accuses Top Rank of racism and breach of contract.

Arum called it frivolous. Crawford’s attorneys called it a lot of other things, most of which mean the same thing.  (Insert F-word of choice here). The suit is generating lots of social-media heat. But it’s anybody’s guess whether it does much more than that.

There are some predictions that it’ll go the way of a Golden Boy Promotions anti-trust suit against PBC (Premier Boxing Champions). That one was filed in May 2015. About 19 months later, it was in the trash.

A federal judge dismissed the case in January 2017 because of Golden Boy’s failure “to demonstrate that there is a genuine issue of material fact.’’ Translation: No evidence. Let a judge decide the merits of this one.

But you don’t need a law degree to wonder about the timing. For Crawford, time is everything. He’s 34 now. He’ll be 35 in September. Prime time is slipping through the hour glass. Nineteen months from now, he’ll be nearly 36.

Right now, he needs a fight more than a lawsuit against his former promoter   

Nothing in a legal brief or a courtroom will further Crawford’s claim on the top spot in the pound-for-pound debate or enhance his Hall of Fame legacy. He can do that only in the boxing ring.

Maybe, that move is forthcoming. Maybe, he’ll announce his next fight tomorrow or next week, or next month. Maybe, the lawsuit is the first step toward a deal with another promoter in what would be a new chapter to an otherwise unappreciated career.

This lawsuit, like any other, will wait. Even if it moves forward to a trial, it will sit forgotten on a docket long after the due date on its relevance has expired.

Crawford’s brilliance in the ring – he’s still No. 1 in this pound-for-pound rating – hasn’t been complemented by what he’s done, or not done, outside of the ropes.

The lawsuit’s many issues center around the allegation that Top Rank failed to turn him into a pay-per-view star. His PPV record is dismal, including a reported 130,000 customers for his powerful statement win against Porter.

Those PPV numbers have left him with little bargaining power, despite his pound-for-pound acclaim. The public clamors for Crawford to fight Errol Spence Jr.

But Spence is demanding a 60-40 share of the total purse, because his PPV record proves he’s the bigger draw. Fifty-fifty or nothing, counters Crawford, who is as proud as he is defiant.

So far, it’s been nothing, nada.

Do you blame stubborn demands from both corners? Do you blame Top Rank for failing to fulfill alleged promises it can’t really keep? Do you blame a shrinking boxing market? Boxing’s gilded age – the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather era – is gone.

For now, boxing’s traditional ranks (sorry, Jake Paul) include only one proven PPV star – Canelo Alvarez. He followed Mayweather. They turned themselves into PPV stars. They broke with their promoters.

Mayweather paid Arum $750,000 to get out of his Top Rank contract in 2006. At the time, he was collecting Crawford-like wages — between $3 and $5 million per fight. Crawford earned a reported $6 million for his victory over Porter.

In November 2020, Canelo split with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. His $250-million complaint “was resolved to everyone’s satisfaction,’’ De La Hoya said at the time.

Both took a risk that Crawford did not. A lawsuit won’t change that.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Terence Crawford put the debate back into the pound-for-pound campaign. But there’s no argument about pay-per-view. Canelo Alvarez owns it. Almost monopolizes it.

Perhaps the two, P4P and PPV, shouldn’t be linked. But forget the old apples-and -oranges advice. Punches-and-pay do mix. It’s called prizefighting. It’s one word, sometimes separated only by a hyphen, depending on who’s doing the spell check. Yet, they’re forever one and the same, a little bit like blood-and-sport.

The linkage was never more evident than it has been over the last couple of weeks. It was capped by Crawford’s statement stoppage of Shawn Porter last Saturday in Las Vegas. At one level, it was almost predictable. It was vintage Crawford — always poised, powerful and predatory.

Because of delays throughout the pandemic season and some of the usual divisions in in the balkanized boxing business, however, we just forgot how good – scary good — he really is.

He reminded us, winning a 10^th-round TKO over a smart, tough ex-welterweight champion who had never been stopped. Within one round, Porter was down twice, which equaled the number of times he had been on the canvas before the 36^th bout in his 13-year career. Then, Porter announced his retirement.

It was stunning. From Keith Thurman to Errol Spence Jr., there have been all kinds of explanations as to why Crawford had not faced the best-known fighters in the 147-pound division. There was the promotional divide, PBC and Top Rank. There were rival networks. Yet in one dynamic performance, Crawford displayed plenty of reasons to avoid him.

The big reason, however, arrived a couple days after the fight. The pay-per-view numbers were a disappointment, despite a capacity crowd of 11,568 at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

According to various reports, they ranged from 135,000 to 190,000. Whatever the number, it fell short of expectations. The guess before opening bell was 300,000. Top Rank’s Bob Arum had talked about 500,000 to 1.5 million for a bout carried exclusively on ESPN +. That exclusivity might have limited the television audience. Crawford thinks so.

“I feel like there was a lot of opportunities left on the table,” Crawford said Tuesday on Shawn Porter’s podcast, The Porter Way. “You know what I mean? Not only with fighters (like Thurman and Spence), but also with pay-per-view. Like for instance, me and Shawn Porter fought on a app. 

“There were so many people that was telling me they don’t know how to get the app on the TV. They don’t know how to do it. And, you know, the average elderly or person that doesn’t — you know, know tech – they’re not gonna know how to get the app on the TV. So, what do they do? They don’t buy.’’

There were other factors. Crawford-Porter was just the latest in a string of pay-per-view bouts. There was Tyson Fury’s wild KO of Deontay Wilder on Oct. 9. There was Canelo’s stoppage of Caleb Plant on Nov. 6.

Then, there’s inflation. The PPV price for Crawford-Porter was $69.99. Add another $6.99 if you weren’t already an ESPN+ subscriber. A month-long subscription was part of the price tag. That comes to $76.98. In other words, do you buy the fight or a tank of gas?

Maybe, the disappointing PPV numbers were also a result of bad scheduling. It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Turkey isn’t exactly cheap either.

Trouble is, Crawford’s PPV numbers have never been good, despite his brilliance. That’s problematic for a fighter who was a promotional free agent the second Porter’s father and trainer, Kenny Porter, ended it at 1:21 of the 10^th. Then, Crawford indicated he was leaving Top Rank. But his PPV record, more than his unbeaten record, will determine whether he can land a rich deal. The prize in prizefighting is pretty simple: Follow the money.

Arum has talked about a one-fight deal with Crawford versus Scotland’s Josh Taylor, the best fighter in the UK today. It makes sense. Taylor, the unified junior-welterweight champion, would move to 147 to face Crawford, a former unified champion at 140.

However, Arum is talking about doing the fight in the UK. Why? Because Crawford’s PPV numbers make him the so-called B-side. The money for a Crawford-Taylor fight would be in pounds instead of dollars. More Brits than Americans would buy it.

Meanwhile, Crawford’s victory over Porter appears to have resurrected interest in a fight with Spence, who underwent eye surgery in August. Spence was at ringside for Crawford-Porter. So was Taylor. But Spence has stronger PPV numbers than Crawford. That creates a real dilemma for the fighter who – from this corner – emerged from the victory over Porter as the pound-for-pound No.1, ahead of No. 2 Canelo.

But this debate will continue, well into 2022. Canelo has more than punching power. Pay-per-view, he’s undisputed. His victory over Plant did a reported 800,000 buys, or at least 600,000 more than the reported number of customers for Crawford’s victory. The result is that Canelo can do what he wants. 

For now, that means Ilunga Makabu instead of David Benavidez.

In a surprise, Canelo manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso asked the World Boxing Council (WBC) for permission to challenge Makabu, the acronym’s cruiserweight champion from The Congo.

The WBC is about the prize, too. There’s money – a good sanctioning fee –in the move. There’s risk, too. Canelo would be jumping up the scale in a bid for a fifth division title. There’s a reason for weight classes. Canelo is in jeopardy of suffering a knockout. He could get hurt.

If he wins, however, he wins the PPV debate. Even if he’s defeated and emerges unhurt, he’s in a no-lose situation. He’ll still have his undisputed super-middleweight title. He’ll be applauded for taking the risk, and applause counts for a lot in the pound-for-pound race, which is inherently political.

For Benavidez, that means more waiting and more calling out Canelo. He did so after blowing out a brave Kyrone Davis in an impressive Phoenix homecoming a couple of weeks ago. If he fights David Lemieux – as rumored — for a mandatory shot at Canelo WBC 168-pound title, Canelo could decide to fight at light-heavyweight. Maybe, Benavidez gets shot at him at 175, Maybe, not.

For now, it’s Canelo’s call. On any scale, he’s got all the clout.

LAS VEGAS — Shawn Porter announced Saturday that will retire during the post-fight news conference following his stoppage loss to Terence Crawford for the welterweight title at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

“I am ending my career tonight,” Porter (31-4-1, 17 KOS) said after father and trainer Kenny Porter ended it in the 10th-round of a bout televised by ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Porter was knocked down twice in the 10th by Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs).

In losing for the first time by stoppage, Porter was knocked down as many times within one round as he was in his career — first by Adrian Broner and then by Errol Spence Jr.

LAS VEGAS – In the end, it was Terence Crawford’s dance floor.

He danced with his family. Danced with his mom. Maybe he danced to the top of the pound-for-pound debate.

Neither the dance nor the debate figures to end anytime soon. Above all, Crawford proved he still belongs on any dance floor and in any debate with a 10^th-round stoppage of Shawn Porter Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Porter came as advertised. He knows a lot of dance steps. But he couldn’t sustain them against the patient Crawford. He knows how to wait. Knows how to adjust. And how to finish.

The finish came at 1:21 of the 10^th round after two knockdowns of Porter. Porter’s first trip to the canvas started with a left-uppercut from. The return trip started with a combination followed by a left hand to the head. Frustrated, Porter got up and stomped his foot.

 But the gesture was futile. It was over. His father and trainer, Kenny Porter, was already up the steps with towel in hand. The towel was never thrown. The referee and inspector for the Nevada Commission saw it and acted. Kenny Porter would later say his son wasn’t properly prepared, confirming rumors that Shawn Porter had a problematic camp.

For Crawford, however, it was a moment that punctuated what he wanted to accomplish.

The belt, the World Boxing Organization’s version of the welterweight. Title, was still in his dangerous hands. More important, he strengthened his claim on the top spot in the pound-for-pound debate. Canelo Alvarez, are you listening?

One potential Crawford rival, however, was there. Listening and watching. Errol Spence had a ringside seat.

“Now wait, my thing is, who’s No. 1 in the welterweight division now?” Crawford said in a comment clearly intended for Spence.

At the top of the 147-pound division, it’s either Spence or Crawford. There is nobody else. Crawford made sure of it by eliminating Porter from any real say-so in the weight class. Crawford also has the last word, at least for now.

“You know who I want,’’ said Crawford, who collected about $6 million, $2 million more than Porter’s $4 million payday. “I’ve been calling him out all day. Maybe, Spence will get his tail out of his butt and fight me.’’

Maybe.

For now, there are questions about where Crawford is headed. Promotionally, he’s a free agent. His victory of Porter was the last fight on Top Rank contract.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum is confident he can re-sign him. Arum is already talking about a fight between Crawford and junior-welterweight champion Josh Taylor, who is preparing to move up in weight

For now, however, Crawford only wanted to celebrate a night that began with Porter coming out fast, moving forward and attacking throughout the first three minutes. For one round, it worked. He appeared to win the round with his aggressiveness.

He also was sending a message, one that he wore on the back of his black-and-orange robe. Marvelous War, it said. It was a tribute to legendary warrior, Marvin Hagler. It was note of respect to the past. But it was also a look at the immediate future, a sign of what Porter intended to do.

To wit: Crawford better be ready to brawl. He was. Porter unleashed a whirlwind of an arsenal — conventional, unconventional and often a blur of both.

“I figured that I had the reach and he had to take chances to come to him and he did what he normally does,’’ Crawford said.  “He tried to maul and push me back but I used my angles and I pushed him back at times as well.  Shawn Porter is a slick fighter he was doing some things in there and made me think

“I know I caught him with a good uppercut and then when I caught hidm with another left hook clean in his face that he was real hurt and his dad did the right thing by stopping it because I was coming with a vengeance.’’

In the end, there was nothing else to do but dance to Chaka Khan’ “Ain’t Nobody.’’

For one night, nobody but Terence Crawford.

Falcao wins technical decision in dull bout stopped by head butt

It was called an eliminator. In one way, it was. The crowd cheered when the final six rounds of the Esquiva Falcao-Patrice Volny was eliminated because head butt.

The butt came late in the sixth after Volny (16-1, 10 KOs), of Montreal, swung his head into Falcao’s face. The bout, so-called eliminator for a shot at the International Boxing Federation’s middleweight title. Everything before then was boring. Think deadly dull.

After it was determined that Falcao could not continue, the scorecards were turned in and counted. Two scores, 57-56 and 58-56 were for Falcao, an Olympic silver medalist from Brazil The third — a head scratcher — was for Volny, 86-84. Falcao (29-0, 20 KOs) got the victory by technical decision.

The crowd got some relief. At least, it was over.

Kazak middleweight Alimkhanuly wins stoppage

Janibek Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7KOs) ), a heavy-handed middleweight from Kazakhstan, administered a beating, landing lethal left hands that rocked Hassan N’Dam around the ring and off the ropes, virtually everywhere except on to the canvas.

Somehow, N’Dam (38-6, 21 KOs) , a former middleweight champion from Cameroon, stayed on his feet throughout the bout on a card featuring Crawford-Porter. But that wasn’t enough for him to have even a slim chance of winning. Finally, Kenny Bayless stopped it at 2:46 of the eighth round of a bout that could have easily been stopped a round or two earlier.

Unbeaten Raymond Muratalla wins fifth-round TKO

There was no stopping Raymond Muratalla (13-0, 11 KOs), a lightweight from Fontana CA. Elias Araujo (21-4, 8KOs), of Argentina, couldn’t. But Allen Huggins could. And did.

Huggins stepped in and ended the bout at 2:20 of the fifth round in the first ESPN + PPV bout on the Crawford-Porter card. Araujo protested, first in anger. Then, in tears. But the referee had seen enough. Muratalla began to land punch after punch. Blood began to drip from a cut on Araujo’s cheek and from his nose.

Huggins saved him from what would have been a bad beating.  

Dogboe wins majority decision

LAS VEGAS –Isaac Dogboe, a fighter from Ghana once projected to be a star, continued to try to regain some of his abundant promise, scoring a narrow victory — majority decision — over Puerto Rican Christopher Diaz (26-4, 16 KOs) on a card featuring Crawford-Porter.

Dogboe , a former 122-pound champion now at featherweight, won his third straight since his career(26-4, 16 KOs) was sidetracked by successive losses to Emanuel Navarrete.

Head butt leads to no decision

There was blood. But there was no decision.

Adan Ochoa (12-2, 5 KOs), a featherweight from Long Beach CA, was badly cut above his right eye in a head butt with Adam Lopez (15-3, 6 LOs of Glendale CA during the first round of a scheduled eight-rounder. on the Crawford-Porter card.

Late in the second, the blood began to flow into Ochoa’s eye. Just as the bell rang to start the third, the fight was stopped, declared a no decision because it had not gone at least four rounds.

Karlos Balderas wins fourth-round stoppage

Karlos Balderas (11-1, 10 KOs), a junior-lightweight from Santa Maria CA, was bigger and just better, scoring repeatedly with combinations, including a headrocking left-right that finished Julio Cortez (15-4, 11 KOs) of Ecuador at 2:13 of the fourth round in the second bout on the Crawford-Porter card.

First Bell: Tiger Jonson kicks off his career and Crawford-Porter card with TKO win

It was first bell. A debut, too.

Tiger Johnson, a welterweight from Cleveland, kicked off his career and the card featuring Terence Crawford-versus-Shawn Porter with a stoppage of Antonius Grable (3-3-1, 3 KOs) in a Saturday matinee at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Johnson landed successive right hands, leaving Grable of Sarasota, FL dazed and done at 1:54 of the fourth round.

Just to make sure that everybody noticed, celebrated by walking toward retired welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, who was already in his ringside seat for he ESPN + pay-per-view telecast..

“I’m here, Tim,” Johnson shouted as he leaned over the ropes. “I’m here.”

Follow all the action as Terence Crawford Defends the WBO Welterweight title against two-time champion Shawn Porter.

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED; THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Porter comes right punching…Uppercut..

Round 2 Crawford turns Southpaw..Right hook from Crawford..Right from Porter..Right hook from Crawford..Good exchange…Right from Crawford..Jab…Body shot at the bell

Round 3 Body shot from Porter..Porter cut over right eye..Porter slips….Cut from Headbutt

Round 4 Hook from Porter..Good left to body from Crawford…Left to Chest…Right from Porter..Left from Crawford..Short left

Round 5 Double right from Porter…Counter right..Porter being aggressive…Right on inside..Left to body from Crawford

Round 6 Right from Crawford…Right from Porter,,,Body shot from Crawford…Left…Another headbutt…Crawford cut on the right eye…Combination from Crawford..

Round 7 Good right from Porter…Jab from Crawford..Uppercut..

Round 8 Good combination from Crawford…4 Punch combination…Jab…2 hard rights from Porter…Body shot from Crawford

Round 9 Double Jab from Crawford…Check Hook..Body shot from Porter…Jab from Crawford…Left to body..and another…Lead Left..

Round 10 COUNTER LEFT AND DOWN GOES PORTER…RIGHT,,,HEAD COMBINATION AND DOWN GOES PORTER…FIGHT STOPPED BY PORTER’S DAD

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – Only two ounces separated them on the scale. That amounts to a couple of AA batteries, or maybe a tennis ball. It’s not much, somewhere between tiny and imperceptible.

Call it even, a sign perhaps of what to expect in a compelling welterweight fight between Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter Saturday (ESPN + pay-per-view/6 pm PT, 9 pm ET) at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.

Betting odds suggest otherwise. They were 6-to-1 in favor of Crawford after he was at 146.4 pounds and Porter at 146.6 Friday at the formal weigh-in.

If those odds are reliable, Crawford will prove what he’s been saying all along. His skillset, he says, is unrivaled at welterweight and perhaps any weight.

It’s a claim he has asserted and re-asserted throughout a pound-for-pound debate that has shifted in favor of Canelo Alvarez, a super-middleweight champion who apparently is planning to fight for a cruiserweight title.

Against the smart and stubborn Porter, Crawford has a chance to punch some real evidence into his pound-for-pound claim.

“Beating a guy like Shawn Porter would boost my resume and my legacy to the next level,’’ Crawford, the World Boxing Organization’s champion, said earlier this week. “I’m not going to be biased. I’m going to be realistic.

“It depends on how I beat Shawn Porter and what fashion.’’

Fashion could mean just about anything. But a stoppage seems to fit best. It would say everything Crawford hopes to.

However, Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs), never a man of many words, said even less Friday. Opening bell is close. He stepped off the scale Friday and only said he wanted to win.

But he punctuated that comment with the intense eyes that appear to to see opportunity in the approaching storm. Lose the opportunity and he has lost the debate.

Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) also understands the stakes. He said a few weeks ago that he thought Crawford, unbeaten and a three-division champion, is already in the Hall of Fame. Porter is not quite there yet. But he’s on the brink, he said. An upset of Crawford would put him there.

Despite the seemingly one-sided odds, Porter has a resume that suggests he can spring that upset.

He has lost three fights – to Errol Spence Jr., Keith Thurman and Kell Brook He has a draw with Julio Diaz. He’s been down twice, once against Spence and once against Adrian Broner. That’s the part of his record that says he’s vulnerable.

But here’s what says he has a shot: He’s never been stopped. More significant, perhaps, is that he lost narrowly on the scorecards — a split decision — to Spence before Spence was badly hurt in a car crash. Pre-accident, Crawford-Spence might have been a pick-em fight.

Porter’s gritty resilience against Spence is just one marker that says that he can do what the odds say he can’t.

He knows that, knows it enough to smile straight into the menace projected by Crawford’s unforgiving eyes.

They measured each other throughout an unblinking stare-down during the ritual face-off for nearly 23 seconds after the weigh-in.

Porter finally broke it off, faced the crowd and smiled.

“Terence, you know better than I do that you’ve matured,’’ he said a couple of days before the weigh-in. “I feel like people see your personality and your character right now more than they’ve ever seen, but I feel like I’m still correct in saying that when the wrong Tweet or Instagram post goes up, you can get upset.’’

Upset, maybe, in more ways than one.

   •      Terence Crawford 146.4 lbs vs. Shawn Porter 146.6 lbs 
(Crawford’s WBO Welterweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Judges: Dave Moretti, Max De Luca and Steve Weisfeld
Referee: Celestino Ruiz  

•     Esquiva Falcao 158.8 lbs vs. Patrice Volny 159.4 lbs 
(IBF Middleweight Title Eliminator — 12 Rounds)

•    Janibek Alimkhanuly 159.8 lbs vs. Hassan N’Dam 158.6 lbs 
(Alimkhanuly’s WBO Global and WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Titles — 10 Rounds)

•    Raymond Muratalla 135.4 lbs vs. Elias Araujo 137 lbs 
(Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

(ESPN2 & ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)

   •    Isaac Dogbe 125 lbs vs. Christopher Diaz 125.5 lbs
 (Dogboe’s NABF Featherweight Title— 10 Rounds)

   •    Adam Lopez 126.4 lbs vs. Adan Ochoa 126.5 lbs
 (Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

(ESPN APP, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)

   •      Karlos Balderas 131.8 lbs vs. Julio Cortez 131.4 lbs
 (Junior Lightweight — 6 Rounds)
  •       Tiger Johnson 144.8 lbs vs. Antonius Grable 146.8 lbs
 (Welterweight — 4 Rounds)

By Norm Frauenheim–

LAS VEGAS – Friends aren’t supposed to fight each other. But Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter are about to in a fight fascinating in large part because of a friendship forged and often tested over a couple of decades.

Both 34, they’ve grown up together, brothers-in-arms who on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena will walk to opposite corners and then face each other in perhaps the best bout (ESPN+ pay-per-view, 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET) in the fabled welterweight division in awhile

It’s intriguing for all the usual reasons. There’s legacy and the pound-for-pound debate. It’s also the best fight at any weight in the post-Manny Pacquiao era. It’s a chance to move on in a business so often trapped in nostalgia.

That accounts for some late buzz suddenly surrounding a fight that was kind of lost when formally announced amid noisy hype before Tyson Fury’s wild stoppage of Deontay Wilder in the capper to a heavyweight trilogy on October 9.

Fury-Wilder was a carnival. Crawford-Porter could be a classic.

A sure sign of it is in the absence of the tired trash talk that cheapens so much of what boxing has to offer. In terms of the pre-fight rhetoric, most bouts these days are a cross between pro wrestling and a lousy-lounge act.

The pre-fight tone to this one is different. Translation: Nothing phony about it. The reason rests in what Crawford and Porter know about each other. They’ve watched each other, sometimes in admiration and sometimes warily, as amateurs and then as young pros. They might never have imagined that they would one day meet at the top of the 147-pound division.

But here they are, at a crossroads to a shared journey. In some ways, it almost looks inevitable. Then again, doesn’t everything in hindsight? But much of the bout revolves around what they’ve seen in each other over the years. Their past creates a dramatic dynamic.

They’ll step into the ring as very different personalities. Crawford says little. Porter, a television analyst, says a lot.

Crawford has the most expressive eyes since Thomas Hearns. They say everything. There’s anger there. Menace, too. More than a few opponents have looked into Crawford’s eyes and melted down.

But Porter won’t. He has looked into them. Looked back. Seen that anger. If anything, he’ll try to turn it around, turn it against Crawford.

Porter’s father and trainer, Kenny Porter, looks at Crawford and recalls a testy confrontation with him when the Omaha welterweight was 20-years old. Both Crawford and Shawn were fighting in an amateur tournament in Venezuela. There was a brawl in the stands. Kenny Porter thought he saw Crawford in the middle of it.

Kenny Porter decided to confront Crawford about it. He said he encountered Crawford in a dark hallway beneath the stands. He was about to ask him what in- the-hell happened.

That’s when Kenny Porter said he looked at Crawford and saw those eyes flash like a spark off flint.

“Then, I looked at Terence’s hands, which were already balled up into fists,’’ Kenny Porter said. “He looked at me. It was a look that said: ‘What do you want to do?’

“I decided to walk away. But that’s Terence.’’

Then and now.

It’s the Terence Crawford that father Kenny Porter and son Shawn say is essentially still there.

“I believe Terence Crawford is more dangerous than any fighter today,’’ Kenny Porter said.

But dangerous doesn’t mean unbeatable. Mike Tyson was the defining face of dangerous until he ran into Buster Douglas and then Evander Holyfield.

Shawn Porter puts on his analyst’s cap when he studies today’s Crawford, No. 2 to Canelo Alvarez in many pound-for-pound rankings.

He sees a fighter he might be able to disrupt with an inside attack full of uppercuts and counters.

Crawford’s versatile skillset – an ability to switch from orthodox to southpaw and one-punch power – has allowed him to dictate tempo throughout his unbeaten career (37-0, 28 KOs), which includes titles at three weights. That – and those eyes – help explain the odds. He was a 6-to-1 favorite Thursday.

But Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) thinks he can frustrate Crawford in ways that might anger him enough to interrupt a rhythm that from – fight-to fight – Crawford has been able to establish and sustain.

Porter knows Crawford’s temperament. He has seen him get angry at criticism.

“Every tweet, every social-media post that goes up, you’re going to get upset,’’ Porter said to Crawford Wednesday during the final formal news conference.

Crawford looked back and said:

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Texts and social media posts aren’t exactly uppercuts and counters. But Porter hopes they have the same impact, mostly because he’s seen how an old friend reacts to them. Porter’s use of the word “upset” was no coincidence. That’s what he’s planning.

Maybe, maybe not.

The Pick: Crawford, split decision. In the end, it’s a fight between consummate professionals. That means it will be decided by inches. Crawford is an inch taller. He has four-and-half more inches in reach. He’ll need those advantages and he’ll know how to use them against the clever Porter for a margin of a few points – inches – on the scorecards.

Fight week is here. Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight world title in a legacy-defining super fight against “Showtime” Shawn Porter this Saturday, November 20 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. 

Presented by Top Rank and TGB Promotions, Crawford-Porter will be a Top Rank PPV exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.  Limited tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com.

Before Crawford and Porter touch gloves, the full suite of fight week events will stream live on Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages, in addition to various ESPN platforms.

New episodes of Top Rank Real Time, a behind-the-scenes look at the fighters and their camps, will premier every evening on Top Rank’s YouTube channel.

Thursday, November 18: Crawford vs. Porter Undercard Press Conference
4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT
Streaming on ESPN APP and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Friday, November 19: Crawford vs. Porter Official Weigh-In
Undercard Fights (including PPV bouts)
4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT
Live on Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Main Event 
5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Live on ESPNews and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Saturday, November 20: Crawford vs. Porter FIGHT DAY
Early Undercard Fights
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Live and exclusively on ESPN APP (no paywall)
* Features rising junior lightweight Karlos Balderas and the professional debut of recent U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson in a welterweight bout.

Undercard Broadcast
7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
ESPN2 and ESPN+
* Isaac Dogboe-Christopher Diaz (10 rounds, featherweight) & Adam Lopez-Adan Ochoa II (8 rounds, featherweight).

PPV Broadcast
9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
CLICK HERE for ESPN+ Order Event Page

* PPV broadcast includes Crawford-Porter, a 12-round IBF middleweight title eliminator featuring unbeaten contenders Esquiva “La Pantera” Falcao and Patrice Volny, a 10-round middleweight tilt between rising star Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and former world champion Hassan N’Dam, and an eight-round lightweight contest between Raymond “Danger” Muratalla and Elias “El Macho” Araujo.

Use the hashtag #CrawfordPorter to join the conversation on social media. For more information, visit www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing;twitter.com/ESPNRingside.

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Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year)
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LAS VEGAS (Nov. 18, 2021)—Before WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and two-time champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter battle for division supremacy, a loaded PPV undercard and a pair of can’t-miss featherweight fights will set the stage Saturday, Nov. 20 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The PPV co-feature, a 12-round IBF middleweight world title eliminator, will see Brazilian 2012 Olympic silver medalist Esquiva “La Pantera” Falcao fight fellow unbeaten Patrice Volny.
 
The PPV telecast also includes a 10-round middleweight tilt between rising star Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and former world champion Hassan N’Dam, and an eight-round lightweight duel between unbeaten prospect Raymond “Danger” Muratalla and Elias Araujo.

Presented by Top Rank and TGB Promotions, Crawford-Porter will be a Top Rank PPV exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. CLICK HERE to view the ESPN+ order page.

The televised undercard (ESPN2 & ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) will feature former junior featherweight world champion Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe against two-time title challenger Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz, and an eight-round featherweight rematch between Adam Lopez and Adan Ochoa. Lopez defeated Ochoa by four-round decision in 2017 when both fighters were undefeated prospects.

At Thursday’s undercard press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Esquiva Falcao

“You can be sure that I am very well prepared and I will bring the win to Brazil. I had the best training and the best sparring. I trained hard and I sparred hard and now I bring the title to Brazil. My last fight was against a Russian {Artur Akavov} and a very tough opponent. He had never been knocked down and I took him out in the fourth. I am prepared and no one will take this opportunity from me.”

Patrice Volny

“Not many people have seen me because I fight in Canada a lot. I am ready to fight. I have prepared for this and here I am on the stage in Vegas. If we have to box, we will box, and if we have to fight we will fight. I am ready for everything.

“I came to Vegas to train and I learned a little bit from each boxer I trained with. Coming to Vegas early I got to adapt and it’s been great. This is a big opportunity, and opportunities don’t happen every day, and when you get them, you’ve got to take them. We have been working many years for this.”

Janibek Alimkhanuly

“I am here to show the world ‘Qazaq Style.’ I want to put Kazakhstan on the map of boxing, not like all the other stops. My goal is not only to be a one-division champion, but to be a four-division world champion.  

“I think I should have got my first shot (at a world title) yesterday. I prepare 100 percent for each fight and I don’t want to fight former world champions. I want to fight present world champions. He was a good champion – he is a former world champion – and it will be easy work.”

Hassan N’Dam

“I want to thank my team for getting me ready, and I want to thank Bob Arum, and I want to thank my opponent who went to social media to tell me to be ready for the fight. Look at me. You think I’m not ready? I am ready to face you. Saturday night I am going to respond to you in the ring, so be ready.  I think you are ready and you need to be so we can do the good fight.  

“This is a good fight for me, and when I win, I will be closer to a world championship, and that’s why I took the fight. I feel good at middleweight. Super middleweight was too big for me.”

Raymond Muratalla

“I feel like I’ve been putting in the work and it’s really showing. It was more difficult than I thought it would be (coming back from COVID), but I just kept training and it’s been good. In the gym (Robert Garcia Boxing Academy), there are a lot of good fighters and we are sparring a lot with a lot of different styles and just continue to learn. This (fighting on a PPV) has come a lot sooner than I thought. I put in the work and good things are coming. I am different than a lot of fighters, I have a lot of skills and I’m going to show that Saturday night.  He’s an aggressive fighter – I am prepared for anything – so I’ll be good.”

Isaac Dogboe

“The losses to Navarrete helped me to see things clearly and for me to start paving my own way. Boxing has taken me places and got me to meet my new team. My new team made me realize boxing is not all about knockouts – it’s a thinking man’s game. Now I am trying to think a little bit more, enjoy the atmosphere a little bit more. With my new team – Perfecting Athletes – I can eat and drink on the day of a weigh-in and that is crazy, whereas before on fight week I’d be looking like a skeleton. 

“Diaz is a tough man. We know he is an energetic fighter and he will throw overhands and uppercuts. It will be fireworks. Let it begin.”

Christopher Diaz

“{The Navarrete fight} was a great fight. I pushed through every round, and {in the 12th}, I went down three times and I got up three times like the warrior that I am. On Saturday, every time I hit him, he will feel it, and let the best man win.  

“Two weeks after the last fight, they made me the offer to fight Dogboe, so I went back to the gym – let’s get it! I am here to fight the best. Will you go the 130 and fight Ito? Yes. Will you fight Navarrete? Yes. Will you fight Dogboe? Yes. So they send me the offer and here I am. Being the warrior that I am I will continue to get opportunities. It will be a great fight on Saturday night and the best man is going to win.”

Adam Lopez

“The kid is tough, and when we first fought, I have to give him credit. He was a tough competitor and had no quit in him. He’s got 12 wins and a couple losses, so that’s a winning record to me, and I’ve never turned down anybody, so let’s do it. I got pushed up quick with the {Oscar} Valdez fight. I went from a nobody to a featherweight contender. I’ve held my own against the best in the world. You all know I can fight, and I bring it every time, and it’s going to be a tough fight for sure.”

Adan Ochoa

“It’s always been on my mind since the first loss and it’s personal to me. I’m not the same fighter I was four years ago. I was barely an amateur transitioning into professional and now I feel like I’m ready for this. There is no animosity – it is just a loss that has stayed in the back of my mind.  You can expect fireworks. I am going to go straight at him and do what I’ve got to do to win.”

SATURDAY, November 20, 2021

ESPN+ PPV, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Terence Crawford vs. Shawn Porter, 12 rounds, Crawford’s WBO Welterweight World Title

Raymond Muratalla vs. Elias Araujo, 8 rounds, lightweight

ESPN2 & ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Isaac Dogboe vs. Christopher Diaz, 10 rounds, Dogboe’s NABF Featherweight Title

Adam Lopez vs. Adan Ochoa, 8 rounds, featherweight

ESPN APP (no paywall), 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

Karlos Balderas vs. Julio Cortez, 6 rounds, junior lightweight

Tiger Johnson vs. Antonius Grable, 4 rounds, welterweight