Terence Crawford refutes the idea that David Avanesyan might be a tomato can.
Crawford will be defending his WBO title of 147 pounds against the England-based Russian on Dec. 10. The fight will be available on pay-perview via a previously unknown platform called BLK Prime.
The boxing world was not pleased with the outcome of the bout. It had hoped to see Crawford face Errol Spence Jr. in the ring to claim the undisputed welterweight champion title.
Crawford, however, offered his view on why negotiations fell apart in an extended monologue last Wednesday, essentially blaming Spence’s advisor Al Haymon.
Crawford (38-1, 29KOs) had to contend with the perception that by fighting Avanesyan (199-3-1, 17KOs), he was taking on an opponent unworthy. Despite being a three-division titlist, Crawford has been roundly criticized for his lackluster résumé at 147.
“A lot of people don’t know him, but the boxing diehards [do] know him,” Crawford said on The DAZN Boxing Show. “They just act like they don’t because they’re kind of disappointed in the way negotiations went with me and Errol Spence, so of course they’re gonna try and throw shade on the fight. Like, ‘Oh he’s fighting this guy (bum).’
“But this guy that I’m fighting is a real guy. He’s a real challenge. He’s dangerous because he’s got everything to win — I mean, those guys right there that have nothing to lose are the most difficult guys to fight, with a lot of passion, a lot of determination, and a lot of will to win to dethrone you”
They share a common opponent, Lithuanian contender Egidijus Kalaliauskas. Crawford defeated Kavaliauskas within nine rounds in their 2019 bout, while Avanesyan lost in the sixth round to Kavaliauskas.
Crawford, 35 years old, said that he will ignore any criticisms regarding his selection of Avanesyan 34, who is on an impressive six-fight winning streak. In addition, Crawford claimed that “lots” of fighters had turned down an opportunity to fight the Russian.
“I’m not listening to all these guys, ‘Oh, he’s fighting a bum, a cab driver, this and that,’ Crawford said. “Because they don’t know boxing. There’s a reason why a lot of people turned this guy down to fight him and why he hadn’t gotten his shot.
“Me, personally, I’m gonna go in there and do what I’m supposed to do. I’m focused, I’ve been training tremendously hard like I would anybody else. I never take any opponent lightly.”