Terence Crawford questions Fundora-Hadribeaj stoppage on TNT’s The Fight

“I didn’t agree with the stoppage at all. The bell rung before the punch landed,” Terence Crawford said on TNT and DAZN’s The Fight after Sebastián Fundora’s victory over Ermal Hadribeaj.

Crawford was working alongside Tim Bradley Jr. and Shawn Porter at the studio desk Saturday, October 17, with Todd Grisham hosting. Their post-fight discussion examined the finish to Fundora’s WBC super welterweight title defense at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Hadribeaj went down near the end of the 12th and final round, got back to his feet during Thomas Taylor’s count and was stopped by the referee. Crawford disputed the timing of the punch and Taylor’s decision to end the fight after the challenger stood up.

Crawford said Hadribeaj’s corner had tried to enter the ring and was instructed to stay out by the referee.

“The man got up. He deserved to go to the final bell,” Crawford said.

Bradley also criticized Taylor, while describing the referee as one of the best in the business.

“Just like a fighter, just like a coach, just like a judge can have off nights. And I feel like he had an off night tonight,” Bradley said.

Porter separated his concern about the stoppage from Fundora’s work to secure the win.

“He threw the right punches. He followed up, did what he had to do, and he got the victory,” Porter said.

When the discussion turned to Fundora’s performance, Bradley wanted more adjustments. Crawford also identified a missing right hook, saying Fundora would need that punch against opponents such as Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Crawford directed a separate criticism at Hadribeaj’s corner. He said the challenger was working to keep Fundora off him and needed a chance to rest his legs between rounds.

“You see him putting his feet on the ropes to try to get his legs some rest, and you still don’t bring the stool in to get this man off his feet,” Crawford said.

Asked by Grisham what positive he took from Fundora’s night, Crawford credited the champion with completing his assignment.

“When in doubt, get the win. Look better in the next fight,” Crawford said.