Terence Crawford vs. Hank Lundy: Winner, Recap and Reaction

Terence "Bud" Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs) successfully defended his WBO super lightweight title with a fifth-round technical-knockout victory over Hank Lundy (26-6-1) in New York on Saturday.

Crawford had no problem dispatching the confident and brash Lundy. As he does in most fights, the 28-year-old champion switched from orthodox to southpaw on multiple occasions to gain an advantage and favorable punching angles.

Before the stoppage, he had taken control of the first four rounds of the fight. Lundy was game, but he didn't have the length or speed to get to Crawford consistently.

In the fifth round, a one-two combination that Crawford punctuated with a hard straight left hand hurt Lundy. The challenger wobbled slightly, and Crawford immediately went in for the kill.

Another hard left hand sent Lundy to the ropes and onto the canvas. As he fell, Crawford peered over referee Steve Willis' shoulder and taunted his foe as Lundy tried to get to his feet. Lundy got up, but the Crawford barrage was only beginning.

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The challenger attempted to withstand the storm, but he could not. Willis eventually jumped in to stop the bout, and Crawford had his second consecutive title defense. Crawford again teased his wounded foe as Willis hugged Lundy to protect him from more damage.

Why was the normally mild-mannered Crawford so nasty toward Lundy?

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The two men had been trading barbs throughout the pre-fight hype, and as Crawford said, per Top Rank Boxing, the trash talk started long before they even signed the contract for the fight:

When it was over, the two men seemed to show their respect for each other.

Lundy played the villain role well, but when it was time to perform, he came up short. He'll likely go back to the group of 140-pounders who are professional fighters but not contenders.

Like Lundy, Crawford's last opponent, Dierry Jean, also tried to get in the champion's head before the bout. It didn't work for either man, so perhaps the next opponent will try a more respectful approach.

Crawford's next challenge could come from any one of the top 140- or 147-pound stars. He said he wants to face Manny Pacquiao next, per Mitch Abramson of The Ring, but the Filipino legend may not fight again after his April 9 bout against Timothy Bradley Jr.

HBO's Max Kellerman thinks a former Pacquiao sparring partner could be next in line for Crawford:

Ruslan Provodnikov doesn't have the skills to match up with Crawford, but his seemingly impenetrable chin and massive punching power could make him a tough opponent for the champion. Would the 28-year-old Crawford stand and try to become the first man to stop Provodnikov, or would he box and move similar to the way Chris Algieri did when he defeated the rugged Siberian?

It would be an interesting bout and a solid precursor to a fight with Pacquiao, should he decide to continue his career.

For now, Crawford has added another impressive victory to his resume as he moves closer to a bout that can make him a household name in the sport.

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