RAY BELTRAN knows a boxing talent when he sees one. The Mexican had been a Manny Pacquiao sparring partner for a decade. After 12 hard rounds with Terence Crawford he believes the man from Oklahoma is destined to become one of the sportโs superstars.
โCrawford is a very smart fighter, very smart. He starts touching, touching but heโs studying your style, studying your distance, studying where you are, you know. Youโre working, working and heโs studing. Heโs a smart guy. I didnโt really feel uncomfortable with him. I think I did a good job,โ Betran told Boxing News.
But he added, โEspecially the last two rounds, I feel he kind of took over. He managed the distance, his reach. If I moved one inch forward, he moved one inch back. Heโs got the perfect movement at the right moment. He was just โ boom, catches you. But he can punch. I had to be careful because if I made a mistake he made me payโฆ He can catch you, make you pay and knock you out.
โHeโs just so talented. Heโs the smartest guy that Iโve fought.
โHe had the level. He will become better and better with time. I think heโs got what it takes to become a superstar. Heโs a superstar in the making right now.โ
Don’t miss this week’s issue of Boxing News for a special feature on Ray Beltran