After years of trash-talk, two of the world's best boxers will face one another in a welterweight battle as Terence “Bud” Crawford returns to the scene of many of his greatest professional triumphs.
Crawford will make the first defense of his WBO welterweight world title against Jose Benavidez Jr. on Saturday, October 13th at the CHI Health Center Omaha.
It was Benavidez who challenged Crawford in Corpus Christi, Texas, this past February, accusing him of ducking a potential showdown. Crawford invited Benavidez to “step outside” before cooler heads prevailed. They will settle the score in front of a raucous crowd who will be cheering on their hometown hero.
“This fight is the fight he has been calling for, and now he will get the chance to see what it’s like to be in the ring with a real champion,” Crawford said. "I’ll happily give him his first L.”
“I’ve been wanting this fight for three years. I know I have what it takes to beat him, and I am going to beat him,” Benavidez said. “Crawford has been running his mouth and saying I’m a nobody. I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity.”
“The Crawford-Benavidez fight is an old-time grudge match. These are two elite fighters who don’t care for each other, to put it mildly,” said Bob Arum, Top Rank’s founder and CEO. “They will battle each other at a fever pitch. I can’t wait to watch the action.”
The Crawford-Benavidez fight will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 11th at 10:00 AM.