Watching the two fighters warm up, I don’t know whether it was all the oil on Crawford‘s body but he just looked a lot better, warmed up and ready to go and Benavidez seemed to be going through the motions. Maybe that’s the way it is when your a 25-1 underdog.

Watching the ESPN program, it really made me think about how I will miss HBO, instead of talking about future fights coming up and interviewing some boxers about their future fights, we had to sit and listen to Crawford’s Mother being interviewed for 30 minutes on two different times, I guess planning out a program when you have an early first round knockout in the first fight is not as easy as it seems, it’s ESPN, yes I expect more.

In the first televised fights, undefeated young sensation Shakur Stevenson (9-0, 5 KOs) beat Viorel Simion (21-3, 9 KOs) by 1st round KO. Stevenson will be fun to follow, he seems to have the total package ( power, speed, High IQ and maturity)

Crawford vs Benavidez Fight:

1st Round -Benavidez did some good work and some good generalship in the ring, Benavidez’s round.

2nd Round -Crawford starting to realize that Benavidez is very slow and doesn’t have too much power on his punches. Crawford’s round.

3rd Round -Crawford looking really good throwing some really nice combinations, it is clear Crawford not only has more power but he’s also the much quicker fighter. Crawford’s round

4th Round- Benavidez comes out looking good looking to counter everything that Crawford throws, Midway through the round Crawford Lands a huge punch which startles Benavidez for a second. Benavidez lands a couple good shots to the body to win the round.

After 4 rounds, we have an even fight.

5th- best round so far, both fighters landing good combinations, Crawford really light on his feet moving and boxing well. Crawford stole the round in the last 10 seconds by landing a couple of shots. 3-2 Crawford

6th-Crawford really getting comfortable now, Benavidez holding his ground and doing well, Crawford is just busier and landing more. 4-2 Crawford

7th- Crawford boxing very well almost playing with Benavidez, Benavidez lands well in the last seconds. 5-2 Crawford

Benavidez is really going to have to step up because he’s falling behind in the score cards. Right now this fight can go either way, I can see Crawford easily KOing Benavidez and I can see Benavidez coming on in the later rounds, The announcers say Benavidez is tired but I think he might just be holding back because he’s having a hard time catching Crawford

8th-same song and dance, Benavidez trying hard to land but Crawford to slick. 6-2 Crawford

9th- Much respect to Benavidez as he is trying his best, he looks like a poor man’s version of Juan Manuel Marquez (excellent chin can take a punch, slow footwork and really looking to counter-punch). Crawford 7-2

10th-watching Crawford box is a little refreshing, he is way ahead on the score cards and is still mixing it up, if this was Mayweather right now I would be asleep because he would just be running away and getting the decision. Good round for both, Crawford 8-2.

After a boring 11th, Crawford catches Benavidez towards the end of the 12th round and wins by TKO.

Good fight, with all due respect to Benavidez, now I understand why he was a 25-1 underdog. Lots of hype for this fight, Crawford already in his 30’s, fight Spence and see who the best welterweight and p4p fighter in the world truly is.