Making an emphatic statement after a tense pre-fight face-off, Terence Crawford removed all doubt against one of his biggest recent rivals.
Fresh from his stunning WBO welterweight championship success against Australian star Jeff Horn, unbeaten finisher Terence Crawford had also unified the crowns previously against Julius Indongo.
And matched with a bitter enemy during his first defense of the WBO welterweight crown, Nebraska pugilist Crawford turned the tide just before the end of their clash in dramatic fashion.
Going down in history as one of his most infamous wins, Crawford almost kicked off their fight the day beforehand, however.
Terence Crawford scrapped with Jose Benavidez Jr. during tense weigh-in
The night before their infamous showdown for the WBO welterweight crown, the 2018 super fight between Crawford and Jose Benavidez Jr. threatened to spill over outside of the ring.
Meeting on the stage in native Omaha in front of a partisan crowd, Crawford was shoved by Benavidez Jr. during their face-off, before swinging meanly with a huge right hand, which was evaded.
The following night, however, Crawford was forced to the twelfth round for the first time since his win over Andrey Klimov in 2013.
But rubber-stamping his supremacy against the brash Benavidez Jr. — Crawford exploded with a massive right uppercut, just moments after the Californian beckoned him forward with an ill-timed taunt.
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Knocking Benavidez Jr. to the canvas with just under a minute remaining in the fight, Crawford forced an eventual finish at the ropes, with the challenger just about making it to his feet for a standing eight count.
However, this would come just years before another controversial moment from Crawford’s gleaming career in the ring.
Terence Crawford caused post-fight row with win over Shawn Porter
Three years after his win over Benavidez Jr., the Nebraska native was pitted against decorated megastar Shawn Porter in another defense of his WBO welterweight crown.
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And making his mind up to retire after the clash, regardless of the result against Crawford, Porter was forced to the canvas twice in the tenth round against the champion — before slamming the canvas with his gloves in frustration.
Pulled from the bout and further punishment by his father, Kenny, Porter argued with his father and coach in the corner in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.