Robert Byrd will referee the Terence Crawford vs. Jeff Horn Fight This Saturday (Photo: Premier Boxing Champions)
By Chris Robinson
It’s fight week in Las Vegas, as undefeated, two-division world champion Terence Crawford will be moving up in weight to challenge Jeff Horn for his WBO welterweight title. The Crawford vs. Horn match will take place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be aired on the ESPN + App starting at 9:30 p.m./ET.
The third man in the ring for the Crawford vs. Horn duel will be longtime Vegas referee Robert Byrd. Byrd’s most recent fights that he has officiated have been James DeGale’s victory over Caleb Truax in their rematch at the Hard Rock on April 17, and a recent Mayweather Promotions’ show, where he worked the fights of LaDarius Miller and Maurice Lee in separate bouts.
The judges appointed for the Crawford vs. Horn showdown will be Australia’s Adam Height, Nevada’s Burt Clements, and Italy’s Guido Cavalleri.
Horn (18-0-1, 12 KO’s) will be looking for the second defense of his title that he won by defeating eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in a huge upset this past July in his native Australia. Crawford (32-0, 23 KO’s), however, is the big betting favorite heading in given his vast edge in skills and ability.
Oscar De La Hoya (130 lbs, 135 lbs, 160 lbs), Miguel Cotto (140 lbs, 147 lbs, 154 lbs), Jorge Arce (108 lbs, 115 lbs, 122 lbs), and Fernando Montiel (112 lbs, 115 lbs, 118 lbs) are the only fighters who have captured WBO crowns in three different divisions, and Crawford will be looking to add his name to the list this weekend.
Chris Robinson can be reached at CRobinson@hustleboss.com