WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford is likely to bag a lucrative fight against Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao provided he makes a very impressive performance against Dierry Jean Saturday at the CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
Crawford (26-0-0, 18 KOs), who is the current WBO Light Welterweight champion is staking his title against Jean (29-1-0, 20 KOs), a Haitian-Canadian boxer and the current NABF lightweight titleholder. The 28-year old native of Omaha, Nebraska who is unbeaten in his pro career is also a three-time gold medalist in the US amateur competitions. Crawford is coming off a TKO win against Thomas Dulorme last April to win the vacant WBO Light Welterweight title after dispatching Raymundo Beltr?n by unanimous decision in November last year. Crawford, who has spent so much time in the gym for this Saturday’s fight, is confident he will prevail over Jean despite his known speed and punching power. ?It?s going to be a real tough fight,? Crawford said of Jean. ?He poses a lot of threats with his speed and punching power, his counter-punching and boxing abilities, but we?re ready for whatever. ?Because I put all of my same effort into the gym, did everything I was supposed to do in camp. That?s where my confidence comes. I feel like I still have something to prove. I want to make it to the top. ?And I?m not there yet.? Bob Arum, who promotes both Crawford and Pacquiao said the Filipino boxing star will make the choice after watching the fight on Saturday. ?It?s all up to Manny,? Arum said. ?I want to see a good performance from Crawford. He?s fighting a good fighter, and Manny is the kind of proud guy who looks for the toughest opponent. ?So if Crawford gives a great performance, it enhances him as a Manny opponent.? he added. Jean is coming off four-fight straight victories since losing to Lamont Peterson by unanimous decision at the DC Armory, Washington, District of Columbia in January 2014.
