Date: Saturday, November 29, 2014
WBO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT
Location: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Promoter: Top Rank / Bob Arum
Supervisor: John Duggan
Referee: Mark Nelson
Judges: Adelaide Byrd (119-109), Bill Lerch (120-108), Cesar Ramos (119-109)
Results: The WBO Lightweight Champion Terence Crawford retained the title with a unanimous decision over his contender Raymundo Beltran.
TV: USA HBO Hungary Sport 1
OMAHA, NEB — Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD, Omaha’s favorite son, will make an encore hometown title defense on the heels of his wildly successful victory over previously undefeated world champion and Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa. Crawford will defend his title against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger RAY BELTRAN on Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday, November 29, at the CenturyLink Center. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank.
Crawford successfully defended his title on June 28, at the CenturyLink Center, knocking out previously undefeated world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in front of an energized crowd. The fight, a candidate for Fight of the Year honors, was televised live on HBO®, and according to Nielsen Media Research, garnered an average audience of 1.208 million viewers to the live, first-time airing, making it the second most-watched fight of the year so far. Crawford vs. Gamboa was the first world championship fight the city of Omaha had hosted in 42 years when Joe Frazier defended his World Heavyweight Championship crown against Ron Stander in 1972.
“It’s an honor to fight in my hometown during the holiday season in front of my fans and family who will be traveling to Omaha,” said Crawford. “It’s great that Top Rank and HBO are coming back into town to promote another show on one of the biggest weekends of the year. Beltran feels I have something – a world title belt – which belongs to him. He thought he beat Ricky Burns and I thought Beltran won too. But he didn’t and I did. Beltran can fight. We know that. I am going to fight him like a bad dog, fight fire with fire. Let’s see if he really has a will to win in Omaha. My will to win is off the charts. He won’t be coming straight at me the way he did against Ricky Burns. My team and I are training hard to put on a good show for everyone. No one will be disappointed.”
“Crawford has shown to be a talented fighter, someone I respect,” said Beltran. “But I see this fight as an opportunity for me to achieve the recognition in the boxing world and the public’s eye. This fight is Champion vs. Champion. It’s not about the belts. It’s about us. Crawford is talented, has skill, but I have the ability to adapt and will be ready for what he brings. The situation against Burns made me stronger, I felt the love of the crowd and all of their respect that night. I feel blessed with my family and friends. All of that will be with me when I fight Crawford in Omaha. I am the No. 2 fighter in the world. Crawford is No. 1. That is what this is all about. I believe in me. This is my moment.”
“This fight between Crawford and Beltran could very well be the fight of the year. The styles and skills of both fighters guarantee as much,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
“When Terence Crawford fought in front of his Omaha hometown crowd last June, the atmosphere produced one of the most spectacular fights of 2014 on HBO,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “The spotlight returns to the American heartland November 29, as the undefeated champ faces Ray Beltran, a challenger who has earned more opportunities than he’s been given and always gives the fans his all.”
“CenturyLink Center Omaha is honored to have the opportunity once again to host this world championship boxing event,” said Roger Dixon, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority. “The atmosphere was electric in June and we expect even more excitement this time around”
Crawford (24-0, 17 KOs), of Omaha, returns to the ring fresh from his dramatic and critically-acclaimed knockout victory of Gamboa. Not only did Crawford retain his title, he also made himself a contender for Fighter of the Year. He is only the second Nebraska native to be recognized as a boxing world champion. Perry “Kid” Graves, from Rock Bluff, captured the welterweight crown, knocking out Johnny Alberts in Brooklyn, in 1914, according to the Omaha World-Herald. After a short but impressive amateur career, which included victories over future world champions Danny Garcia, Mikey Garcia and one-time world title challenger Diego Magdaleno, Crawford made his professional debut on March 14, 2008 – a first-round knockout victory of Brian Cummings. On March 1, 2014 – just 13 days short of the sixth anniversary of his pro debut, Crawford captured the WBO lightweight title, dethroning defending champion Ricky Burns on Burns’ home turf of Glasgow, Scotland. Scoring a powerful and unanimous decision, Burns put the boxing world on notice that with his virtuoso performance. Crawford pulled out all stops in dismantling Burns as he rocked the defending champion throughout the fight, while switching back and forth between orthodox and southpaw stances.
Beltran (29-6-1, 17 KOs), a native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, who now lives in North Hollywood, Calif., is one of the lightweight division’s toughest and most experienced fighters. A former NABF and USBA lightweight champion, Beltran enters this fight riding a two-year five-bout winning streak, which includes a disputed draw against defending WBO lightweight champion hometown favorite Ricky Burns in Glasgow, Scotland last year. In that fight, Beltran fractured Burns’ jaw in the first two rounds and dominated the fight, consistently landing the harder punches. Beltran scored a knockdown in the eighth round and finished the fight strongly. Ringside observers and television viewers alike screamed “home cooking!” when the fight was declared a draw. Beyond his professional fight, Beltran has had the benefit of being a main sparring partner for Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao for several years before becoming a top-rated contender in his own right. In his last fight, on April 12, he claimed the NABO lightweight title, winning a 12-round unanimous decision against once-beaten Arash Usmanee on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr world welterweight championship rematch.
http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-terence-crawford-ray-beltran-go-face-face–82695
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2014
WBO Lightweight Championship Bout
Location: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Promoter: Top Rank
Supervisor: John Duggan
Referee: Genaro Rodriguez
Judges: Levi Martinez 78-72 | judge: Dennis Nelson 78-72 | judge: Robert Hecko 77-73
Results: Terence Crawford retained the WBO Lightweight Title by TKO on 9th. round against Yuriorkis Gamboa.
TV: USA HBO
By Bill Green/BG Sports Entertainment
Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank
Fight week has arrived and WBO lightweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (23-0, 16 KOs), of Omaha, Nebraska, took time out of his busy training routine to discuss his much talked about world title defense against fellow undefeated former champion and Olympic gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0, 16 KOs) live on HBO Boxing After Dark this Saturday night at the CenturyLink Center located in Omaha, Nebraska. The event is being promoted by Top Rank, in association with SMS Promotions, PS4 and Tecate.
Hello champ, thank you for taking time out of your schedule and supporting the #1 boxing website, www.fightnews.com. How is training camp going?
Camp went real well as always. I have a great team. They have been there since day one. We put in the work necessary to compete at this level. Colorado Springs is perfect for conditioning and we had great sparring as well. We did everything we normally do but just more of it. We are taking things to the next level.
On June 28th, Omaha, Nebraska and Terence Crawford will be making new history in the boxing world. For instance, first televised HBO Boxing After Dark card in Nebraska, Top Rank’s first appearance in Nebraska, and the first major boxing card at the CenturyLink Center. How does it feel to be part of Nebraska history?
Wow, I mean it’s a real honor. This is home. This is where it all started. I’m truly blessed and thankful to all my supporters.
Champ, your popularity has soared since becoming a household name and capturing the WBO lightweight title. You received the key to the city, appeared on several sports talk shows and gave back to the community by talking to students throughout the Omaha Public Schools district. How has the fame changed you inside and outside the ring?
I feel like it hasn’t really changed me in terms of who I am. I feel like this is my responsibility as a champion. Before the Burns fight, I promised the kids/students that I would be back but that I would be bringing the belt with me. If anything, the added attention makes me train even harder. I love my city and on June 28th, I will fight my heart out.
Since you mentioned the Burns fight, how would you rate your performance?
It was a great night, we got the job done and that’s what counts. However, I felt like I could have done better. I give my performance a B. I adjusted and took control of the fight after a few rounds but made a few mistakes that I will correct heading into this fight with Gamboa.
At the press conference to announce the fight, most boxing insiders were surprised to see you be more vocal and outspoken. I believe it started after hearing Gamboa boast about his accomplishments, including being a former Olympic Gold Medalist, and three-time world champion. Any bad blood with Team Gamboa or is this simply a champion coming out of his shadow?
Crawford: No, there is no bad blood at least on our end. I just want him to know that this is my city, he’s the challenger. Also, this isn’t the amateurs and everyone else he beat in the pros weren’t Terence Crawford.
I have noticed some back and forth comments from both camps on social media. SMS Promotions, aka a 50 Cent, Promoter of Gamboa, boldy predicted that his fighter will stop you in four rounds, while Gamboa himself stated that he faced the better opposition in his career and that his combination of power/speed will be the deciding factor. How would you like to respond to Team Gamboa’s somewhat stern statements?
They can say all they want it doesn’t faze me. We will see what he can or can’t do. I know that I’m well prepared and I assume he will be as well. All that talk won’t matter, we are going to settle things in the ring.
You competed as an amateur at 132lbs and typically campaign between 135-140 lbs. However, Gamboa won gold as a flyweight and most of his key victories as a pro were at 126. Do you believe that your size and strength will be your biggest advantage?
We shall see. I mean… we have never fought before so we prepared for whatever he might bring to the table. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get that “W.”
The old cliché in boxing is “styles make fights.” Why will Crawford vs Gamboa be a great fight?
Crawford: The fight is going to be explosive. It will be great because we are both undefeated as pro’s, both stellar amateur careers, and I truly believe both of us are elite fighters in the sport. Find the best-fitting & stylish women’s swim tops, bottoms & bikinis available in plus sizes. Shop women’s plus size swimwear & bathing suits online at Swimwearlux.com. Discover women’s plus size swimwear and beachwear at Swimwearlux – Pick from a range of tummy control swimwear and swimsuits styles and colors. What kind of plus-size bathing suit are you looking for? Since swim styles and patterns are always changing with each season, you’ll always find new styles. #1 selection of plus size Bikinis & Tankinis at Swimwearlux. #plus #size #swimwear #swimwearlux
Ok champ, we are almost finished and then you can get back to training. At a sold crowd, live on HBO boxing, Omaha Nebraska fans are on their feet in complete anticipation chants of BUD… BUD… BUD… begin to surface, the stage is set, Michael Buffer grabs the mic as his voice blisters’ the air with “Omaha? Are you ready? Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!!!” Please finish the ending to the story.
You will hear the words “and STILL,” followed by “WBO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, TERENCE “BUD” CRAWFORD.”
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/crawford-you-will-hear-the-words-and-still-250386
OMAHA, NEB. (May 23, 2014) — Top Rank® announced today that undefeated Top-Five contenders MATT KOROBOV and JOSE UZCATEGUI would battle in a 10-round rumble in the co-main event to World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion TERENCE CRAWFORD’S world title defense homecoming against Cuban sensation and three-division world champion YURIORKIS GAMBOA. Korobov and Uzcategui will be battling for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title. Both fights will be televised live from the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Saturday, June 28, on HBO Boxing After Dark®, in its first-ever visit to Omaha, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
This exciting all-action doubleheader features four undefeated gladiators with a combined record of 91-0, 63 KOs.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with SMS Promotions, PS4 and Tecate, remaining tickets to the Crawford vs. Gamboa world championship event, priced at $102, $52 and $27, can be purchased at the CenturyLink Center Omaha box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. To charge-by-phone call 800-745-3000. To order online, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Korobov (23-0, 13 KOs), a 2008 Russian Olympian and stellar amateur will be making his long-awaited HBO debut. Now based in St, Petersburg, Fla., Korobov, a six-year veteran of the pro ranks, enters this fight having won three of his last four fights by knockout, including a sixth-round stoppage of Emil Gonzalez on April 16. Korobov is currently world-rated No. 3 by the WBO.
Uzcategui (22-0, 18 KOs), a native of Venezuela who trains in Mexico, will be making his U.S. debut. A knockout artist who has stopped 10 of the last 11 opponents he has faced, he captured the WBO Latino middleweight title in March, knocking out David Lopez in the sixth round. He is currently world-rated No. 5 by the WBO.
Read more at http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2014/korobov-vs-uzcategui-added-to-crawford-uzcategui-title-card/#9YJmVM4DfyPF8Wee.99
OMAHA, NEB. – Undefeated world champions TERENCE CRAWFORD, the Pride of Omaha, and Cuban sensation YURIORKIS GAMBOA, who share identical 23-0 (16 KOs) professional ring records, will battle for Crawford’s newly-won World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight title, Saturday, June 28, at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha. This will be the first world championship fight Omaha has hosted in 42 years, when Joe Frazier successfully defended his heavyweight title against Nebraska’s-own Ron Stander in 1972. It is also a professional homecoming for Crawford, who has not fought in his home state since 2011. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, in its first-ever visit to Omaha, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=77615