David vs. Goliath - Bud Crawford vs. David Avanesyan

Background: On December 10, 2022, from CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, its native son and WBO welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, vs. David Avanesyan.

Avanesyan, 34, is a Russian of Armenian lineage living in England.

There’s a lot of talk about why this is a great fight, but it’s not. It’s a great opportunity for Crawford to dominate, dismember, and stop a hand-picked game opponent. Think the 1980s 49ers. 

If you love wipe-outs, rather than nail-biting cliffhangers between defensive specialists, this fight is for you. Hey, I like wipe-outs.

Dudes have a look at this video featuring David vs. Josh Kelly. Go to 1:40, in the link just below, (then go wherever else you like in the video, LOL). 

Notice how Avanesyan is front-foot-heavy. By having so much weight on his front foot, it’s hard for him to protect his head (among other things). His opponent smacks him around, etc. Notice Avanesyan’s round-house punches - and undistinguished footwork, and poor head movement, and dig his mediocre record. 

Tell me exactly why you think this will be a competitive fight. The link is here: 

Avanesyan is tough and aggressive - he came back to stop Josh Kelly and deserves high praise for being a fearless pro working his trade.  

Fighters Grades: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

David Avanesyan: C C C- C C- B- B Total: C (2.2)

Terence Crawford: A A-A B C+ A A Total: B+ (3.6)

Reality Check: Bud Crawford is a streaking fighter. I mean it. 

Say you have a sales job and you’re on fire, closing two a day; you’re on a streak. Or you’re a surgeon who’s nailing the heart transplants or an IRS agent who’s opened up ten successful collections a month. You’re on a roll.

Bud is on fire. He’s streaking. Today’s “fight infrequently era” where his tremendous talent and timing – as long as the streak lasts, will result in certain victory. I don’t think we know nearly enough to declare him a historically great fighter. Why? He simply doesn’t fight enough. A million dudes are explaining why he doesn’t, so I won’t add to that pollution with an opinion.

Avanesyan’s poor movement is tailor-made for Bud–barring some overnight decline or the very real factor of “the geometry of boxing” to quote again Larry Merchant’s brilliant observation. Unless Avanesyan’s angles are right to negate Bud’s, this isn’t a close contest. But hey – a lesser fighter having weird angles that befuddle a champion has happened. I sure don’t see it as a possibility here.

Goliath (Bud) will quickly decide whether to fight right-handed or southpaw or both and will befuddle David from the off.

He’ll probably draw blood, and cause swelling, too. If Crawford is undertrained, he might take a counterpunch or three, but his crazy angles and anticipation mean he can stop poor David pretty much from Round five, forward.  

I also don’t think, thank God, Avanesyan will wimp out ala Kambosos vs. Haney (boo, hiss) and try to box with the boxer. I think Avanesyan will sell out and come into Bud, who will chop him up. All that front-foot weight means David is a sitting duck.

Fight and Prediction: This one will show us if the aging Mr. Crawford has declined at all. If he has, he still wins easily. If he hasn’t, this will be – pick a sports dynasty. A wipe-out, where the excellence of one fighter comes at the expense of the lesser boxer. Guess which one that is? 

I also think Avanesyan will never falter, stay brave and mega-tough, and do his best. He won’t box with the boxer!

Terence Crawford KO-TKO David Avanesyan, 8.