Terence Crawford to fight Thomas Dulorme for the vacant WBO light welterweight title
WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs) will fight Puerto Rico's Thomas Dulorme (22-1, 14 KOs) for the vacant WBO light welterweight title on April 18 at the University of Texas, Arlington, Texas.
American Crawford gets the chance to win his second world title at a second weight class following big wins at lightweight against Ricky Burns, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Raymundo Beltran.
Dulorme has won six fights in a row, since he was stopped in the seventh round by Argentine fighter Luis Carlos Abregu in October 2012, and will have a size advantage as he is the naturally bigger guy having fought many of his fights in the welterweight division before moving down in weight.
However, it may not count for much against the more skilful Crawford, who feels ready to conquer fighters at 140 pounds.
"I will be stronger and more powerful at 140. I always aim to be the best fighter in any division I'm in," said Crawford.
"This fight is going to be fun. I can already tell. For one, he thinks he is going to be the bigger, stronger guy in the ring, which I don't believe. He's not. Come fight time I will show everybody. I will be in control. It's going to be a great fight, and I look forward to getting my hand raised at the end."
Dulorme said :"I have seen Terence Crawford fight and have studied him very well and I know his weaknesses and his strengths. He is a good boxer, but I am more than capable of winning this fight. I am very motivated for the opportunity of winning a world title, and I will not let my fans down and will take this belt back to Puerto Rico."
The winner will likely defend the title against former WBO champion Chris Algieri or fight the winner of Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse, who fight at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, also on April 18.