Crawford vs. Porter betting odds, preview, and pick

Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter collide in a huge welterweight showdown on Nov. 20 in Paradise, Nevada. Let's break down this eagerly anticipated bout, beginning with the latest betting odds.

Crawford ready for his big moment

Crawford can finally silence his critics should he defeat Porter, the toughest opponent he has faced in some time. Though Crawford won his first title at lightweight, he comes into this fight having stopped his previous eight opponents and has taken considerably less damage than Porter over the years.

A notoriously slow starter, Crawford often gives away the first few rounds to get a feel for his opponent’s strategy before making adjustments. While beating Porter would be an achievement in of itself, the big question is if Crawford can put his excellent finishing skills to work and become the first man to stop the former champion.

Porter needs to disrupt Crawford’s rhythm

Porter’s aggression and athleticism makes him an interesting foil to Crawford’s methodical approach. His awkwardness and conditioning ensures that Crawford will be on his toes for the entire bout, and his activity can win rounds if Crawford can’t match his output.

Because Crawford is a natural counter puncher, Porter should abstain from his usual approach to throw Crawford off. Porter can be his own worst enemy at times, as he tends to smother himself by often punching out of position.

Crawford will deliver a dominant performance

One thing that hurts Porter’s chances is the recent trend of him fading late in fights. He’s been in a lot of rough fights over the past few years, and he’s been hurt and dropped late in his more recent bouts. Crawford seldom wastes energy, and will be ready to chop Porter down when the moment arises.

If anything, Crawford might be able to force Porter out of his game plan early by starting out stronger than usual. Once Porter feels he needs to fight his way out of a deficit, that’s when Crawford will take advantage of Porter’s charges and hit him with debilitating counter shots.

The big question here isn’t if Crawford wins, but if he can stop Porter. It isn’t out of the question, especially because Crawford won’t carry a wounded Porter across the finishing line if he feels he can get him out of there. Expect Crawford to put forward an impressive performance, stopping Porter in a competitive fight that becomes one-sided by the 10th round.

Boxing free pick: Crawford