Welcome to Fightful.com's live viewing party of Terence Crawford vs. John Molina. The fight originally was for Crawford's WBC, WBO, The Ring, and lineal light welterweight titles, but Molina missed weight and so, he cannot win the titles tonight. We'll be bringing you recaps and full, round-by-round coverage of the HBO main card as well as an extensive recap of the Joseph Parker vs Andy Ruiz fight, which was done earlier in the day in New Zealand, all three fights being broadcasted on HBO.
You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Here is the main card:
Terence Crawford defeated John Molina via TKO, round 8, 2:31
Raymundo Beltran defeated Mason Menard via KO, round 7, :55
Joseph Parker defeated Andy Ruiz via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 115-113) to win the vacant WBO heavyweight world championship
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN CARD
Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz Jr: Vacant WBO heavyweight world championship fight: The fight starts off very evenly matched with both men taking their turns landing their combinations. The bigger man, Parker, was utilizing the jab to set up combos and counter punches while Ruiz was busy using stiff hooks. While both men seemingly the same amount of punches, Ruiz was landing the stronger punches in the early going.
About halfway through the fight, Parker's jab is starting look like it is doing damage on the smaller Ruiz and after six, there was still no clear indication of who was ahead in the cards. The two men are not exactly producing an unentertaining fight, but there was nothing to get overtly exciting about. Each man has had his fair share of punches put in.
Parker is winning the middle portion of the fight after Ruiz was the one who had gotten into his opponent's head earlier in the fight. Parker is moving across the ring and taking his time to use the jab effectively. Ruiz is getting back into a better groove, connecting better on his jabs and hooks to Parker's face.
The end of the fight is still very close and both men had been connecting on their jabs and stiff hooks and it's almost a toss up on how the fight goes. The cards prove that with how close the score was. The fight wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Against other world-class fighters such as Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko, Parker still does not hold up to that standard, at least not yet.
Official Result: Joseph Parker defeated Andy Ruiz Jr. via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 115-113) to win the vacant WBO heavyweight world championship
Raymundo Beltran vs. Mason Menard
Round 1: Menard starts off utilizing the body punches a lot and is moving around in the middle of the ring. Beltran gets a few hooks connected to the head of Menard, but Menard has been the more active boxer in the opening three minutes.
Fightful scores round 1 for Menard 10-9
Round 2: Menard comes out pumping a stiff left jab. Beltran lands a sneaky looping counter right hook. Beltran steadily stalking Menard and lefts his hands go once he gets Menard backed up. Another good counter left lands for Beltran. Now Beltran lands two good jabs. Beltran digs hard body shots to both sides. Beltran's experience showing early.
Fightful scores round 2 for Beltran 10-9
Round 3: In between rounds, Menard's corner was yelling at him for boxing well in that second round. Beltran just looks like he's much calmer in the midst of a firefight than Menard, who looks much more tense. Beltran targets the body again as Menard gets a shot to the head off. Beltran's shots look to be having a much stronger effect than Menard's. Nasty three punch combination to the body and head lands for Beltran and he is in control of the fight now.
Fightful scores round 3 for Beltran 10-9
Round 4: Beltran continually lands counter body shots on Menard, then follows it up with some more. Beltran bulls Menard to the ropes but the referee calls a break once they get there. Now Menard is back on the ropes and Beltran is landing hard shots on the body over and over again. Menard tries to break Beltran's forward momentum by putting a few punches together but it's too late to win this round.
Fightful scores round 4 for Beltran 10-9
Round 5: Starting off the round, Beltran lands a hard left jab to the body, then feints another only to land a hard left hook instead. Beltran continues to push Menard back and it looks like Menard is showing signs of distress. Beltran is really starting to take it to Menard and beat him up a little. Beltran appears to have a small cut on his face but it's hard to say if it came from a punch or a headbutt.
Fightful scores round 5 for Beltran 10-9
Round 6: Menard is not looking good in these past few rounds and the corner is asking if can go on. Beltran comes out walking Menard down as Menard throws punches just to try to keep Beltran off of him. it's not working. Beltran attacks the body with well placed and calculated shots. Beltran assaults Menard along the ropes to end the round.
Fightful scores round 6 for Beltran 10-9
Round 7: Raymundo Beltran ends this fight less than a minute into the round with a wicked left hook to Menard's jaw. With the way the last few rounds have gone, it was almost inevitable this would happen.
Official Result: Raymundo Beltran defeated Mason Menard via KO, round 7, :55
Terence Crawford vs. John Molina: If Molina wins, Crawford's titles are vacated.
Round 1: Molina starts off a little too cautious, perhaps concerned about Crawford's speed. Crawford lands a good right hand. Crawford taking his time but it's already clear he can land whenever he wants to. Crawford looks like he's trying to walk Molina into a big shot as Crawford utilizes his far superior footwork. Crawford turns southpaw and lands a straight left hand immediately.
Fightful scores round 1 for Crawford 10-9
Round 2: Crawford comes out using lots of lateral movement, boxing circles around Molina. Molina, can't keep up with the footwork. Molina comes for a little recklessly and walks into a hard shot. Crawford lands three more hard shots on Molina. Molina has barely landed a punch so far in this round. Crawford is winning this fight in the early going.
Fightful scores round 2 for Crawford 10-9
Round 3: Crawford pokes Molina with three clean jabs. Molina lands a looping right hook which catches Crawford's attention. Crawford uses more lateral footwork to get Molina to follow him, then walks him right into a hard left hand. Crawford picking off Molina before he can really get started but Molina is trying to make a fight of it.
Fightful scores round 3 for Crawford 10-9
Round 4: Crawford continues with the punishment and Molina's face is very red. Molina has not been doing well at all in this fight and it's almost sad to watch at this point, considering there are almost no stakes outside of Crawford potentially losing his titles.
Fightful scores round 4 for Crawford 10-9
Round 5: Crawford continues to use a lot of lateral movement that Molina just can't keep up with. Crawford peppers Molina with jabs. Molina looks like he has some blood in his mouth. Crawford lands a hard left hand to the body. Crawford is landing whenever he wants to. Molina throws wide hail mary shots which whiff. More hard body shots land clean for Crawford. Molina is starting to get busted up.
Fightful scores round 5 for Crawford 10-9
Round 6: Crawford repeatedly throws lefts uppercuts on Molina. Crawford again digs two uppercuts to the body. This is actually getting a little sad, Molina can't cope. Crawford lands everything, but Molina is still hanging tough (credit to him for staying in this fight despite no longer being able to win the titles). I don't expect this fight to go on much longer. Molina keeps coming, though, but he's just walking into more punishment as Crawford lands vicious blows.
Fightful scores round 6 for Crawford 10-9
Round 7: Just more of a beating. Crawford lands more power punches as Molina basically responds with nothing. It's not competitive and Molina isn't looking good. Molina hasn't looked like any one punch has had him ready to go.
Fightful scores round 7 for Crawford 10-9
Round 8: Crawford relentlessly assaults Molina in the corner until he collapses and the referee immediately stops the fight. No surprise as Crawford gets to keep his light welterweight title belts.
Official Result: Terence Crawford defeated John Molina via TKO, round 8, 2:31
