Terence Crawford says it’s put up or shut up as he face old friend Shawn Porter on November 20

WBO welterweight champion – Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford has said that he is going to put friendship aside and deal with Shawn ‘Showtime’ Porter when the two fighters mount the ring on Saturday, November 20 at Michelob ULTRA Arena [Mandalay Bay] in Las Vegas.

“We always have had a good relationship ever since the amateur days. There has never been any bad blood. It’s always been all love, but come November 20, we step on him,” Crawford said at a kickoff press conference in Las Vegas yesterday.

“It’s put up or shut up. In my eyes, I can stand up and pull my shirt out and I can really show this 8-pack I got because you know I stay working.

“I stay working. That is nothing new to me, and it isn’t anything new to you. You know what you are up against on November 20. I know what I’m against on November 20.

Crawford [37-0, 28KO’s] noted that there’s going to be war in the ring come fight night while adding that he’s aware that beating Shawn Porter on November 20 will boost his status:

“We are going to give the fans a great night of boxing. It will be fireworks from the first bell to bell 12 if you last that long.

“Unlike other fighters that you fought, I’m different. I believe you know that I’m different. The more you push, the more I will push. You hit me hard, and l will hit you even harder if you can last. That’s what makes this fight a great fight.

“A dominating win against Porter will boost my status as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“Everybody is excited. My family, my friends, my supporters have been dying to be at a live event and this will be the first time in a long time where they can see Terence Crawford live in action.

“Everybody is hungry for it, just like I have been dying to get in the ring. The time is now. I’m going to give everyone what they have been asking for.”

By James K. Attaglo Wilson

www.sports24ghana.com