It was recently announced that WBO welterweight champions Terence Crawford (37-0) will face former world champion Shawn Porter (31-3-1) on November 20th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The fight will headline an ESPN+ pay-per-view event.

The fight was ordered by the WBO in late July with a purse bid scheduled for September 2nd.  The purse bid was delayed until September 14th when both sides requested a delay in hopes of coming to terms.  A deal between Top Rank, Crawford's long-time promoter and TGB, who represents Porter, was made just before the September 14th deadline.

With Errol Spence out indefinitely after having surgery for a detached retina, Crawford versus Porter is one of the biggest fights that can be made in the deep welterweight division. It is expected to draw a lot of interest among fans and also among other professional prize fighters.

Multi-division champion Leo Santa Cruz, who fights under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, was recently asked for his thoughts on the fight. Like many observers, he expects a close fight.

"Porter is a fighter that comes to fight all the time. He puts on the pressure and is on top of you, breaking you down. I don't know if Crawford has faced a fighter like that who will keep pushing and pushing you. It is going to be a great fight for Porter and Crawford. They are both one of the best. I think it will be a really close fight and whoever pushes it the most is going to take it," Santa Cruz told Fighthype.com's Rainbow Alexander.

Crawford was last in action in November when he demolished faded former champion Kell Brook in 4 rounds.  Porter last fought in August, 2020 when he pitched a shutout against Sebastian Formella over 12 rounds in Los Angeles. 

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