Terence Crawford vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas - December 14, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boxing’s pound-for-pound boogeyman is ready to battle the machine. Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight world title against undefeated mandatory challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas Saturday, December 14 at Madison Square Garden as part of a special ESPN-televised tripleheader that will immediately follow the 2019 Heisman Trophy Presentation (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). ESPN Deportes will provide the Spanish-language telecast.

Richard Commey vs. Teofimo Lopez in co-feature

The triple-header on ESPN and ESPN Deportes will also feature IBF lightweight world champion Richard Commey defending his title against human highlight film and Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez. Additionally, in the 10-round featherweight special attraction, Irish sensation and New York fan favorite Michael “Mick” Conlan will battle unbeaten Russian Vladimir Nikitin in a rematch of their highly controversial 2016 Olympic quarterfinal bout.

The undercard, with fights to be announced in the coming weeks, will stream exclusively on ESPN+, the leading multi-sport streaming service, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

“This is the best fight card of the year, and Madison Square Garden is a fitting venue for what will be a special night,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Terence Crawford is a generational talent, but he’ll have his hands full against the ‘Mean Machine.’ Teofimo Lopez is taking a giant step up against Commey, and it will be a tremendous fight. Mick Conlan has been asking for Nikitin since the day he signed with Top Rank. He finally gets his wish, and I know he wants to correct the tremendous injustice of the Rio Olympics.”

Crawford vows to be prepared for Kavaliauskas

“Egidijus Kavaliauskas is a two-time Olympian and I can’t take him lightly,” Crawford said. “He’s got everything to gain and nothing to lose and that makes him dangerous. I never overlook any opponent, and this will be no exception. I’ll be ready for anything and everything he brings on December 14 when I return to my second home, Madison Square Garden, and live on ESPN.”

“I have prepared my whole boxing career for a fight of this magnitude,” Kavaliauskas said. “Terence Crawford is an excellent fighter, but I fear no man. Nobody has seen the best of the ‘Mean Machine’ yet. I am going to shock a lot of people on December 14, but it won’t be a surprise to me. I earned this title shot. It is my time.”

Crawford (35-0, 26 KOs), the pride of Omaha, Nebraska, has been impeccable since turning professional, winning world titles in three weight classes and unifying all four major world titles at super lightweight. He is 13-0 with 10 knockouts in world title bouts and has knocked out his last six opponents, including Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz, bitter rival Jose Benavidez Jr. and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff “The Hornet” Horn. In his last bout, April 20 at Madison Square Garden, Crawford neutralized former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan en route to a sixth-round TKO after Khan could not continue following a low blow. Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will be the fourth undefeated fighter Crawford has faced in his last five bouts.

Kavaliauskas has been piling up the victories

A native of Kaunas, Lithuania, Kavaliauskas represented his homeland at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, rising the professional ranks with convincing victories over perennial contenders Juan Carlos Abreu and Roberto Arriaza. Kavaliauskas has a February 2018 TKO win over David Avanesyan, who is now the current European welterweight champion. He has never been knocked down as a pro or amateur and trains out of the famed Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, California.

Commey (29-2, 24 KOs) has had a career year, winning the vacant IBF lightweight title February 2 in Frisco, Texas with a devastating second-round TKO over Isa Chaniev. He defended the belt June 29, knocking down former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran down four times before stopping him in the eighth round. A native of, Accra, Ghana, he has won four in a row by knockout.

Crawford vs. Kavaliauskas ticket information

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and MTK Global, tickets priced at $506, $306, $206, $106 and $56 (not including applicable fees) go on sale Friday, October 18 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.

[dagilechia]

Really?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Really?

We all knew it was going t happen sometime.. Who else can TR even offer??

Kava is with TR and the 'mando'..

If Crawford can't get Brook or whoever else they might be trying to get, then wtf, just fight anyone.

[dagilechia]

i have ranked Crawford #1 in my p4p ranking. i guess it will change soon.

[SenorPipino]

Kava always looks pretty ordinary to my eyes. This is a blowout.

I'd easily lean toward Khan over Kava, so this one should be over after a few well placed Crawford body shots.

[Onetimeonly]

Yeah, he isn't even a big puncher .

[KiwiRider]

Really?

Yes, it's time to break out the Saad memorial emoticon from storage.
Ah, here we go;

[Best Coast]

We all knew it was going t happen sometime.. Who else can TR even offer??

Isnt 13-0 Russian Alexander Besputin a Top Rank fighter too? IMO he would be a more legit challenger for Crawford than Kava!!

Kava's draw against gatekeeper Ray Robinson should have disqualified him from being mandatory contender!!

[gilgamesh]

i have ranked Crawford #1 in my p4p ranking. i guess it will change soon.

He's already dropped a good bit on my list. Not because he's doing anything wrong exactly, it's just other fighters are doing more impressive things, and passing him up. He's just kinda coasting, and staying where he's at.

Not really his fault mind you with the promoter and situation, and all that, but that's the way she goes. If other people are getting marquee wins, and you ain't...they're gonna pass you by.

[lazboy]

Wasted rare potential is very difficult to witness. We need to see him in bloom, the only way is to fight another on the level (Spence) or the next best thing such as a D Garcia, Porter even Thurman. Anything else will not do. I’d settle for a Ugas. Time to call Uncle Al.

[Cent0089]

Not the worst fight, but when we considered this is 147 lbs division which is full of talents, this is very bad fight. Wondering what must Kavaliauskas do to at least survive 12 rounds.

[SenorPipino]

Not the worst fight, but when we considered this is 147 lbs division which is full of talents, this is very bad fight. Wondering what must Kavaliauskas do to at least survive 12 rounds.

Demand Crawford fight at a 126 pound catchweight.

[diddy]

How long is the sport of boxing gonna make us wait for Crawford vs Spence? It is, hands down, THE biggest fight that can be made in the sport. What are we thinking, 2022?

[SenorPipino]

How long is the sport of boxing gonna make us wait for Crawford vs Spence? It is, hands down, THE biggest fight that can be made in the sport. What are we thinking, 2022?

Maybe one year from now or a little longer.

That's simply based on my belief that the fight will eventually come to fruition and that you can't expect Spence to stick around at 147 for much longer than another year.

[gilgamesh]

How long is the sport of boxing gonna make us wait for Crawford vs Spence? It is, hands down, THE biggest fight that can be made in the sport. What are we thinking, 2022?

It's one of the most interesting fights that can be made for sure. Not sure it would be one of the biggest at the Box Office, but it'd do well.

I certainly hope we get to see it. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we just don't get it.

[diddy]

How long is the sport of boxing gonna make us wait for Crawford vs Spence? It is, hands down, THE biggest fight that can be made in the sport. What are we thinking, 2022?

It's one of the most interesting fights that can be made for sure. Not sure it would be one of the biggest at the Box Office, but it'd do well.

I certainly hope we get to see it. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we just don't get it.

Not in total dollars, but in total meaning...the winner is the clear #1 p4p fighter by virtue of beating the other guy.

[gilgamesh]

It's one of the most interesting fights that can be made for sure. Not sure it would be one of the biggest at the Box Office, but it'd do well.

I certainly hope we get to see it. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we just don't get it.

Not in total dollars, but in total meaning...the winner is the clear #1 p4p fighter by virtue of beating the other guy.

Yeah it would definitely establish that no doubt, and usually being the clear #1 P4P guy tends to be a lucrative gig in the sport.

[caldo2025]

Wasted rare potential is very difficult to witness. We need to see him in bloom, the only way is to fight another on the level (Spence) or the next best thing such as a D Garcia, Porter even Thurman. Anything else will not do. I’d settle for a Ugas. Time to call Uncle Al.

Crawford vs Spence is the fight that we fans should be making the most noise about instead of the GGG/Canelo or these various heavyweight combos who all combined don’t have half the boxing skills of either of these two guys. If we don’t ever get to see Crawford/Spence at least once then I’ll say it will be the biggest boxing disappointment in terms of matchmaking of my lifetime. Has anyone sat back and pictured what the action will look like if they square up? It will literally be the most skill, power and speed ever brought inside the same ring ever. Go ahead and throw out old greats but you’ll be wrong. I’d take either guy over any WW in the history of the game aside from maybe Floyd. I think Floyd would find a way to beat Spence but TC would trounce Floyd.

[SenorPipino]

Wasted rare potential is very difficult to witness. We need to see him in bloom, the only way is to fight another on the level (Spence) or the next best thing such as a D Garcia, Porter even Thurman. Anything else will not do. I’d settle for a Ugas. Time to call Uncle Al.

Crawford vs Spence is the fight that we fans should be making the most noise about instead of the GGG/Canelo or these various heavyweight combos who all combined don’t have half the boxing skills of either of these two guys. If we don’t ever get to see Crawford/Spence at least once then I’ll say it will be the biggest boxing disappointment in terms of matchmaking of my lifetime. Has anyone sat back and pictured what the action will look like if they square up? It will literally be the most skill, power and speed ever brought inside the same ring ever. Go ahead and throw out old greats but you’ll be wrong. I’d take either guy over any WW in the history of the game aside from maybe Floyd. I think Floyd would find a way to beat Spence but TC would trounce Floyd.

I don't think either guy has proven all that much at welterweight to warrant the lofty status you bestow on them.

Look at the list of middling fighters they've defeated and tell me that qualifies them for ATG status.

If either Leonard or Duran of Montreal faced this pair, Crawford and Spence would be left wide eyed and battered.

Good fighters, yes. But untested. Unproven as historic elites. That's why the world isn't exactly clamoring for the match up.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Crawford vs Spence is the fight that we fans should be making the most noise about instead of the GGG/Canelo or these various heavyweight combos who all combined don’t have half the boxing skills of either of these two guys. If we don’t ever get to see Crawford/Spence at least once then I’ll say it will be the biggest boxing disappointment in terms of matchmaking of my lifetime. Has anyone sat back and pictured what the action will look like if they square up? It will literally be the most skill, power and speed ever brought inside the same ring ever. Go ahead and throw out old greats but you’ll be wrong. I’d take either guy over any WW in the history of the game aside from maybe Floyd. I think Floyd would find a way to beat Spence but TC would trounce Floyd.

I don't think either guy has proven all that much at welterweight to warrant the lofty status you bestow on them.

Look at the list of middling fighters they've defeated and tell me that qualifies them for ATG status.

If either Leonard or Duran of Montreal faced this pair, Crawford and Spence would be left wide eyed and battered.

Good fighters, yes. But untested. Unproven as historic elites. That's why the world isn't exactly clamoring for the match up.

You need to beat other TOP welterweights to be given the ATG name. They need to fight each other and the other top WW’s.

Thurman has a better WW resume than both of them.

[SenorPipino]

I don't think either guy has proven all that much at welterweight to warrant the lofty status you bestow on them.

Look at the list of middling fighters they've defeated and tell me that qualifies them for ATG status.

If either Leonard or Duran of Montreal faced this pair, Crawford and Spence would be left wide eyed and battered.

Good fighters, yes. But untested. Unproven as historic elites. That's why the world isn't exactly clamoring for the match up.

You need to beat other TOP welterweights to be given the ATG name. They need to fight each other and the other top WW’s.

Thurman has a better WW resume than both of them.

100% truth.

Crawford has barely fought at 147.

Spence had a real battle on his hands against a pretty decent but somewhat faded Brook. And then he dominated a P4P entry in Mikey Garcia. But Garcia is only a lightweight.

Nothing they've accomplished currently qualifies them for the welterweight HOF.

Maybe the future will prove them great. But it's jumping the gun to induct them today.

[lazboy]

If you have paid attention to Caldo, he's a man of extremes, either hot or cold however I'm happy to forgive this. This fight needs the hype. This fight needs to be made. Market as you can. I just want it to take place.

[ironbeard]

I think that Hitman Jr. has peaked due to lack of quality opposition. Hope I am wrong. He was not that impressive v Khan.

[caldo2025]

Crawford vs Spence is the fight that we fans should be making the most noise about instead of the GGG/Canelo or these various heavyweight combos who all combined don’t have half the boxing skills of either of these two guys. If we don’t ever get to see Crawford/Spence at least once then I’ll say it will be the biggest boxing disappointment in terms of matchmaking of my lifetime. Has anyone sat back and pictured what the action will look like if they square up? It will literally be the most skill, power and speed ever brought inside the same ring ever. Go ahead and throw out old greats but you’ll be wrong. I’d take either guy over any WW in the history of the game aside from maybe Floyd. I think Floyd would find a way to beat Spence but TC would trounce Floyd.

I don't think either guy has proven all that much at welterweight to warrant the lofty status you bestow on them.

Look at the list of middling fighters they've defeated and tell me that qualifies them for ATG status.

If either Leonard or Duran of Montreal faced this pair, Crawford and Spence would be left wide eyed and battered.

Good fighters, yes. But untested. Unproven as historic elites. That's why the world isn't exactly clamoring for the match up.

I’m going by their performances and the skill level that they display. I’ve never seen a more talented boxer than Crawford period. No one can come up a fighter that has been close to as effective as he’s been fighting out of both stances. That has to be impossible to gameplay for and he does it all with that chip on his shoulder. The only hope anyone has is catching him cold or during an anger exchange where he stays too long in the pocket, which has been the only possible flaw I’ve detected in his game. He’s been buzzed.

Spence is just enormous for 147. Super talented but he looks like a super MW on fight night and his body work is ridiculous along with a chin that no one credits him for. I’ve seen him clipped hard and it’s like throwing a pebble at a tank.

Those individual characteristics are why I must see this fight. I’ve never been more intrigued if a matchup. How can you even look at past performances in a sport where no one fights anyone. It’s our times man, you just have to go by what you see these guys doing against the guys they are allowed to fight. It sucks. But I know what I see and I can’t see this being anything but one of the best fights ever made.

[SenorPipino]

They're just not at that superstar ATG level. They haven't proven it by beating other great fighters.

They may appear excellent but it just means that they're head and shoulders above the ordinary fighters they've faced.

What Spence and Crawford can do effortlessly to a Khan, a Benavidez, a Peterson, a Horn and an Ocampo, is hardly an indication that they can be that effective versus historically great welters.

Ruthless-RKO is correct. If you go by resumes, Thurman has proven himself far more than either Crawford or Spence.