Terence Crawford vs. Raymundo Beltran: Live Stream, Odds and Predictions
It’s safe to say that challenger Raymundo Beltran (26-6-1, 17 KO) is going to have his hands full Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska.
It’s one thing going up against the undefeated WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford (24-0, 17 KO) and all his athleticism and speed, but it’s another thing entirely to do it in front of Crawford’s hometown fans. There is a lot that Beltran will have to overcome if he wants to take home the title of lightweight champion.
Here is a look at all the essential information for the fight:
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When: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska
TV: HBO
Live Stream: BoxNation (subscription required and region restricted)
Odds: Terence Crawford -625, Raymundo Beltran +400, via Odds Shark as of Friday morning at 11 a.m. ET
As mentioned, the crowd is going to be something of a factor. Crawford’s first title defense came in Omaha against Yuriorkis Gamboa, and the energy from the crowd helped Crawford overcome a slow start and take control of the fight from the fourth round until he stopped Gamboa in the ninth.
Crawford knocked Gamboa down on multiple occasions, much to the crowd’s delight, and unleashed a clinic of athleticism, speed and impressive footwork to announce to the boxing world that he was a dominant force in the lightweight division.
That relentless attack style is going to be an issue for Beltran for a number of reasons. For one, Crawford boasts a formidable reach at 70 inches (per Boxrec) that will allow him to keep Beltran at a distance and block any critical offenses.
While the reach advantage will help on the defensive side of things, Crawford’s technical skills and overall footwork are more impressive than Beltran’s. Crawford will look to unleash his signature and speedy jab to control the flow of the match, and that aggressiveness is exactly what the crowd will want to see.
Don’t overlook Beltran, though, because he is a bruising fighter who can absorb a number of punches (which he will need to do against Crawford) and then counter with powerful blows of his own.
The issue for Beltran is more that Crawford is the better technical boxer, and this one could go the distance because of Beltran’s ability to absorb blows.
That means Crawford’s overall skill advantage will ultimately determine the judges' verdict.
Guy Docetoni of Heavy.com outlined a plan of attack for Crawford against the powerful Beltran, which focused on establishing himself early (which would certainly provide some momentum in front of a raucous crowd):
"Crawford should try to come out strong and make a statement early in the fight, as Beltran usually takes a couple of rounds to warm up. Throughout the fight he should work his jab, doubling and tripling it up to keep Beltran outside and disrupt his rhythm. He must keep his distance at all times and be careful not to be drawn into the brawler’s fight.
Beltran is an excellent counter-puncher. So when getting off first, Crawford should be quick to use his foot-speed and upper body movement to avoid counters.
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Another factor in this fight is the fact that they both share a common opponent in a battle for the WBO lightweight title.
Beltran got the first shot at Scotland’s Ricky Burns overseas and virtually dominated the proceedings. He broke Burns' jaw, knocked him down in the eighth round and left little doubt who the winner of the fight should have been. The problem is, the judges seized on that little doubt and awarded Burns with a controversial draw.
The fact that it was in Burns’ home country made the outcome all the more questionable.
Beltran noted that the title should be his, via Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com:
"It should be mine but it’s not. I’m more focused on the fight that’s in front of me right now, so what happened in the past is in the past and they didn’t give me the [WBO] belt.
That’s already in the past, so, right now, it’s about what’s going to happen on Saturday night. So I’m more focused on that night. But I’m focused on getting what truly belongs to me, and to really get it, and that’s the belt.
"
As for Crawford’s fight against Burns, he took control in the fourth round and manhandled Burns. While Beltran was the clear winner in his bout, Crawford left zero doubt in dominating fashion and was given the victory in a unanimous decision.
From there, Crawford became a boxing star in the making and will likely move up from his current weight class with a win over Beltran.
While Beltran is more than capable of dealing with Crawford’s aggressiveness and then countering with attacks of his own, the champ's technical skill advantage and the energy from the home crowd will be too much in the end.
Crawford is just the better and more athletic boxer who will look to establish dominance early and ride it from there to another victory.
That beautiful zero in the loss column for Crawford won’t change Saturday.
Prediction: Crawford in a unanimous decision.
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