Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan Odds & Predictions

• Unbeaten Terence “Bud” Crawford is huge favorite in his upcoming bout with Amir Khan
• Crawford is a genuine pound-for-pound contender
• Britain’s Khan is brave, but out-gunned

Another claimant to the throne of boxing’s best pound-for pound performer takes center stage when Terence “Bud” Crawford defends the WBO welterweight crown against Amir Khan on Saturday, April 20th at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The undefeated Crawford is rated as a wide -2000 favorite to extend his record to 35 straight victories.

Terence Crawford vs  Amir Khan Odds

*Odds taken 04/16/19

Khan Takes on Unlikely Missions

Although Britain’s Khan has been willing to take on unlikely missions and huge odds in the past, he has not succeeded. He is therefore a +900 underdog.

https://twitter.com/ImagesThruRopes/status/1117378997216784385

Now he is 32, and with four defeats on his record, former Olympic silver medalist Khan is given as little chance as when he stepped up two divisions from welterweight to middleweight and was brutally stopped in the sixth round by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2016.

By contrast, Crawford is regarded as being at the top of his game at 31.

Crawford vs Khan Tale of the Tape

Very Little Hope of an Upset

Anyone prepared for a highly-calculated bet could earn some kind of pay-out by swallowing these short odds because the fight business is simply not countenancing any idea of an upset victory for Khan.

Three of Khan’s four setbacks have come in round six or earlier.

The smarter move, however, would be to take the -200 offer that the contest will finish in under nine and a half rounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI_JzPkeJ-Q

Khan is +175 to last beyond that time – although three of his four setbacks have come in round six or earlier.

Crawford Possesses Power, Speed and Superb Defensive Skills

Crawford’s skillset matches hard punching power with rapid hand speed and superb defensive skills.

Countdown to #CrawfordKhan premieres tonight on @ESPN 2 at 10PM ET pic.twitter.com/IYLBrJltqq

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 14, 2019

Along with an ability to switch quickly from southpaw to orthodox, these abilities have won him a ranking with ESPN as the planet’s second best pound-for pound fighter behind the Ukrainian light-weight Vasyl Lomachenko.

The Ring magazine ranks things the same way.

Khan Lost  Titles Amid Controversy

Crawford has held multiple world titles in three divisions while Khan has not worn a global belt since he lost the IBF and WBA junior welterweight championships in a controversial points defeat by Lamont Peterson in Washington in 2011.

You ready for me NYC? #imready pic.twitter.com/GZzdGSVwkf

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) April 9, 2019

Crawford’s first world title was the WBO lightweight crown which he won by defeating Scotland’s out-matched Rickie Burns with a wide points win in Glasgow in March 2014.

He made two successful defenses against Yuri Gamboa and Raymundo Beltran to earn the accolade of being named 2014’s Fighter of the Year by both ESPN and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Crawford Unified All 4 Major World Titles by 2017

Once he stepped up to junior-welterweight, he unified all four major world titles by 2017.

First came a sixth round TKO defeat of Thomas Dulorme in April 2015 in Arlington, Texas, which captured the WBO junior-welterweight title.

'My wife will kill for me this but I have to say yes'

Amir Khan admits victory over Terence Crawford would top his New York wedding day https://t.co/U1JWcSX9kn pic.twitter.com/STT8A8ZpHM

— Mail Sport (@MailSport) April 15, 2019

After two defences, the WBC version of the championship was added with a unanimous decision victory against previously unbeaten champion Viktor Postol of Ukraine in Las Vegas in July 2016.

Following two further defences of both titles, the crowning moment came with a stunning third round knockout victory against Namibia’s previously undefeated IBF and WBA titlist Julius Indongo at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska in August 2017.

He then became a three-weight world champion by stopping Australian WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn in round nine in Las Vegas in June last year.

Khan recorded significant wins against Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah, and Paulie Malignaggi.

Crawford has since made one defense with a tough and impressive 12th round stoppage of the previously unblemished Jose Benavidez junior in Omaha, Nebraska in October 2018.

Khan reigned as WBA super-welterweight champion between 2009 and 2011 and also won the IBF belt in 2011, recording significant wins against Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi along the way.

2 Year Layoff after Stunning Defeat by Canelo

After a defeat by Peterson in 2011, he lost his subsequent fight against Danny Garcia the following year.

There was a layoff of almost two years after the brave but emphatic defeat by Alvarez in 2016. But Khan returned to easily beat Phil Lo Greco with a first round knockout in April last year.

He suffered an unexpected knockdown by lightly-regarded Samuel Vargas in his most recent date last October.

"If I win, my legacy will be cemented and I could walk away from the sport as a hero, as a legend." @amirkingkhan

15 years on from his 2004 Olympics silver medal, what influence has Amir Khan had on the next generation of boxers?

Read 👉 https://t.co/M4H5CZ4m0h #GetInspired pic.twitter.com/nSTfiXNKCe

— BBC Get Inspired (@bbcgetinspired) April 16, 2019

Although he recovered to defeat the Colombian on points, the incident highlighted a tendency to recklessness and erratic defense which has followed Khan throughout his professional career.

He is back in tandem with trainer Virgil Hunter for the clash with Crawford, but it is highly unlikely to make a difference on the night.

Pick: Crawford Under 9.5 Rounds  (-200)