Why Terence Crawford is boxing’s next superstar

Ray Beltran

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 sportโ€™s superstars.

โ€œCrawford is a very smart fighter, very smart. He starts touching, touching but heโ€™s studying your style, studying your distance, studying where you are, you know. Youโ€™re working, working and heโ€™s studing. Heโ€™s a smart guy. I didnโ€™t really feel uncomfortable with him. I think I did a good job,โ€ Betran told Boxing News.

But he added, โ€œEspecially 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. Heโ€™s 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 payโ€ฆ He can catch you, make you pay and knock you out.

โ€œHeโ€™s just so talented. Heโ€™s the smartest guy that Iโ€™ve fought.

โ€œHe had the level. He will become better and better with time. I think heโ€™s got what it takes to become a superstar. Heโ€™s 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

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