Terence Crawford to make welterweight debut

Unbeaten Terence "Bud" Crawford will challenge WBO champion Jeff Horn in his welterweight debut at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on June 9.

Crawford (32-0, 23 knockouts), from Omaha, Nebraska, became the undisputed junior welterweight champion last August when he stopped Julius Indongo in the third round. He became the first 140-pounder to unify all four major world titles.

Horn (18-0-1, 12 knockouts) from Brisbane, stunned the boxing world when he rallied to win a unanimous decision over eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in a nip-and-tuck battle in front of a record-setting crowd of 51,000 at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in July 2017.

He last fought in December when he stopped Gary Corcoran in the 11th round to defend his WBO title.

"I cannot wait to get back in the ring on June 9 and win the WBO welterweight championship," Crawford said.

"Jeff Horn and his team better be ready because they are going to see a bigger, stronger, and more powerful Terence Crawford. I am going home with that belt."

Crawford's trainer Brian McIntyre added: "We are excited to be fighting at MGM Grand and attempting to win another world title in a higher weight class, the welterweight division, which is stacked with talent.

"We are looking forward to fighting a really aggressive and determined fighter in Jeff Horn. June 9 will be another great night for Team Crawford in Las Vegas."

Horn, a 2012 Olympian said: "Defending the world title successfully a second time is a must.

"Crawford is a very talented fighter and deserves his accolades. I will be on a mission to prove the doubters wrong.

"Obviously, I am a very competitive guy who works really hard to achieve his goals. Crawford is a brilliant boxer, but I am coming to win, and I will win. Crawford's trash talk has only inspired me that much more to shock the world once again."