LAS VEGAS — Terence Crawford put the welterweight division on notice in a major way.
Crawford, one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound performers and already a winner of world titles in two weight classes, aimed to make a big impression in his first fight in the talent-rich 147-pound division that several of the sport’s best call home and did so by utterly dominating Jeff Horn.
Crawford punished him in a one-sided fight and stopped him in the ninth round to win a world title in his third division on Saturday night in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card before 8,112 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs), who came out immediately in a southpaw stance, caught Horn (18-1-1, 12 KOs) with a hard left hand in the first few seconds of the fight to knock him off balance. Crawford’s speed advantage was evident immediately in a round Crawford appeared to win easily.
Horn had a big contingent of fans who chanted “Horner! Horner!” for the Australian, but they couldn’t fight for him as Crawford continued to land in the second round, including a straight left hand down the middle that rocked Horn.
Crawford was in total control in the third round, landing right hooks, straight left and hands and clean jabs that rocked Horn’s head back. Horn, who suffered a small cut over his right eye in the fourth round, had no answers for anything, and it didn’t get much better.
Crawford, meanwhile, looked like he was having fun. He stuck his tongue out and wound up as he nailed Horn with heavy punches, especially straight lefts, in what was easy work.
When Horn bulled Crawford to the ropes in the sixth round, Crawford got away after landing a left uppercut that stunned Horn.
In the eighth round Crawford, who is adept at switching stances, turned right-handed and continued to find a home for his punches. He had Horn in big trouble as he lashed him with crushing punches that probably would have put opponents away when he fought in the smaller junior welterweight and lightweight divisions. But Horn sopped up the punishment and showed a great chin to take the shots.
Crawford continued to pound him in the ninth round, landing two right hands and a left that hurt him badly and dropped him. He got up quickly but Crawford was all over him. As he blasted him with both hands, referee Robert Byrd jumped in to stop the fight at 2 minutes, 33 seconds.
Crawford ran to the ropes and climbed a ring post and drank in the cheers from the crowd as he pumped his fist.
The welterweight division was on notice.