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Terence Crawford silences Lundy in five, respect ensues

Fighters Network
27
Feb
Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Hank Lundy was aware of what he was doing. He knew the consequences involved. All week, as he spewed trash talk at Terence Crawford in an attempt to unnerve him, Lundy knew he might be providing ammunition to a fighter who was already heavily favored and one of the top talents in all of boxing.

It turned out to be a poor strategy. Crawford took a round to figure out Lundy and once he did, switched to the southpaw stance and dominated his shorter opponent, dropping him in the fifth round with a left and stopping him moments later at 2:09 of the stanza to defend his WBO junior welterweight title Saturday at Madison Square Garden’s Theater before an announced crowd of 5,092.

Afterward the two embraced, with Lundy finally giving Crawford his due. “Much love and good fight,” Lundy said. Crawford (28-0, 20 knockouts) did the same for Lundy (26-6-1, 13 KOs).

“I told him good fight and I appreciate him taking the fight,” Crawford said. “Cause I got my respect – I said he was going to respect me at the end of the fight and he was going to respect me today and I respect him back. He said good fight it’s all love and I appreciate it.”



Crawford hurt him with an overhand right in the fifth that had Lundy on skates, wobbling around the ring. Crawford, who isn’t exactly known for his finisher power, then dropped him with a left hand. Lundy crumpled to the canvas in the corner. He rose, clearly hurt. Referee Steve Willis took a long look at Lundy, who was cut around his right eye, and let it continue. Crawford jumped on a still-hurt Lundy, swinging away as Willis jumped in to stop it. Crawford stuck his tongue out at Lundy.

“He hit me with a good shot,” Lundy said. “He hit me on the top of the head. It is what it is. He knocked me on the top of my head and knocked my equilibrium off and I couldn’t recover. I felt I was closing the distance a little and I was planning on switching southpaw in one more round.”

The first round was Lundy’s best. He landed some lunging punches in the first, scoring with some overhand rights in a fast-paced round. Crawford appeared a little surprised by the brashness and audacity of Lundy, but he adjusted nicely in the second, keeping his distance and landing his jab to resume control of the bout. He changed his stance to southpaw and looked more comfortable.

Crawford landed a hard straight-left hand in the third that pushed Lundy back and he continued to dole out his jab, keeping Lundy at bay. Lundy did have some success, jumping in with some punches toward the end, but Crawford easily controlled the round.

The top of Lundy’s right eye was cut in the fourth round, a small stream of blood trickling down, and it was unclear what caused it. But it was a precursor for what would happen in the fifth.

“I told everyone I got power in both hands and the boxing ability that I have and it’s going to take me a long way in this game,” Crawford said. “I never duck anyone and I’ll fight anybody. My manager will make the fights happen and and I will train and fight.”

Crawford dominated the punch stats, landing 89 of 247 thrown (36 percent) while Lundy landed 47 of 211 (22 percent). The future is bright for Crawford, who narrowly missed out on facing Manny Pacquiao in April but may come back in June, possibly against Ruslan Provodnikov in Los Angeles, promoter Bob Arum said afterward.

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