Eight years ago, before his title defense, a confident Jeff Horn confidently dismissed his opponent’s ring skills. “He has a devastating left hand, he can hurt you in the body or in the head. He’s able to switch-hit. But that’s alright; I have a few plans of my own,” he said. He was talking about Terence Crawford, who was then a rising star in the boxing world.
Horn and Crawford faced off in a highly-anticipated match in 2018, with Horn defending his WBO welterweight title. At that time, Horn was the undefeated champion, having famously defeated the legendary Manny Pacquiao the year before. On the other hand, Crawford was the highly-touted challenger, hailed as one of the most talented fighters in the sport.
Despite Crawford’s impressive resume, Horn was confident in his abilities and believed that he could come out on top. However, as the fight unfolded, it became clear that Crawford was on a different level. He dominated the fight from start to finish, showcasing his elite skills and outclassing Horn in every aspect of the game.
Crawford’s prediction of a knockout victory over Horn seemed like a bold statement at the time, but as the fight reached its final round, it became clear that he was well on his way to making it a reality. In the ninth round, Crawford landed a powerful right hook that sent Horn crashing to the canvas, prompting the referee to stop the fight and declare Crawford the new WBO welterweight champion.
Since his impressive victory over Horn, Crawford has solidified his position as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He has gone on to defend his title multiple times, defeating the likes of Amir Khan, Jose Benavidez Jr., and most recently, Kell Brook.
But it’s not just his dominance in the ring that has caught people’s attention; it’s also his ability to make accurate predictions about his opponents. Crawford has a keen eye for his opponents’ weaknesses and is not afraid to speak his mind about how he plans to exploit them. And more often than not, he delivers on his predictions.
Recently, Crawford’s former opponent, Amir Khan, spoke about his experience facing the undefeated champion. “I’ve never been hit so hard in my life,” Khan said. “I have to give credit to Crawford; he’s a great fighter and he proved me wrong when it came to his power. He’s one of the best out there.”
But it’s not just his former opponents who have been impressed by Crawford’s skills. Even his fiercest rival, Errol Spence Jr., has acknowledged his talent and has stated that he would love to face Crawford in the future.
Crawford’s dominance and his sharp predictions have not gone unnoticed by the boxing community. In fact, many are now speculating that Crawford could be the man to finally dethrone the current pound-for-pound king, Canelo Alvarez.
In a recent interview, former Horn trainer Glenn Rushton predicted that Crawford would not only defeat Alvarez but also knock him out. “Crawford is just too skilled for Alvarez, and he’s also a natural welterweight,” Rushton said. “I can see Crawford winning by knockout; that’s how good he is.”
Of course, this prediction may seem far-fetched at the moment, as Alvarez is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. But Crawford’s former opponents know firsthand not to underestimate his abilities.
So, while the boxing world eagerly awaits a potential showdown between Crawford and Alvarez, one thing is for sure: if Crawford’s prediction comes true, it will be yet another feather in his already impressive cap.
In conclusion, eight years ago, Jeff Horn dismissed Terence Crawford’s ring skills, confident in his own abilities. However, Crawford’s prediction of a knockout victory over Horn turned out to be accurate, showcasing his elite boxing skills and cementing his position as one of the best fighters in the world. As he continues to dominate the welterweight division, many are now looking to Crawford as the man who could potentially take down the current pound-for-pound king, Canelo Alvarez. And if Crawford’s former opponents and trainers are to be believed, it’s not just a possibility – it’s almost a certainty.
