The fight starts at 7 PM EST / 12 AM GMT+1. The main event is scheduled for 10:30 PM EST, although that time is tentative depending on what happens with the undercards.
Based on what we’ve found, you’ll be able to live stream Crawford vs. Benavidez using the following services:
- ESPN (US)
- ESPN+ (US)
- TSN (Canada)
- RDS (Canada – French)
- ESPN Deportes (Mexico and South America)
- BoxNation (UK and Ireland)
There may be streams available in other countries around the world as well. Additionally, if you’re traveling from the US or UK to another country, you may still be able to watch one of the available sources by using a VPN to bypass geographic content restrictions.
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When you stream live video online, you take on several risks. Not only can your ISP see and potentially throttle your video streaming speeds, it can also collect and sell your user data. Additionally, not all streaming sites you use are safe. Even official streaming sources can be hacked, let alone third-party options offering up unofficial streams.
And with most sports streams, geographic content blocking will be in effect. Most sports sites will block incoming connections from those outside of their service area. Even if you have a legitimate account, you may be blocked.
To hide your connection activity from your ISP, hackers, and websites blocking connections, you’ll need an effective tool. Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, provide protection against data skimming and content blocking by securing your connection through a private data tunnel.
We’ve tested dozens of VPNs and found ExpressVPN works best for sports, especially boxing. If you want to watch Crawford vs. Benavidez with the best possible streaming quality or abroad, we recommend connecting to a US or UK server through ExpressVPN.
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The upcoming fight between Crawford and Benavidez is set to be broadcast primarily in the US and UK. You may still be able to connect from other sources, but here are your best options to watch in those two countries.
United States
In the US, the Crawford vs. Benavidez fight is solely an ESPN event. As such, you will need access to ESPN in order to watch.
You will require more than just the core ESPN channel, however. ESPN is broadcasting the undercard fights exclusively on their ESPN+ streaming network, while the main card and co-main card fights will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN2.
ESPN+ is a standalone service that won’t give you access to ESPN2, but you can purchase the light streaming service for $4.99 per month. ESPN also offers a 7-day free trial for the service.
For ESPN2, you’ll have a much wider range of options. ESPN2 is available through a large number of cord-cutting internet TV services. Most of these services also offer 7-day free trials, meaning you can easily sign up before the fight, tune in, and then cancel without any penalty or consequence.
The following internet TV services offer ESPN2 as part of their packages:
- YouTube TV: 60+ channels for $40 per month
- Sling TV (Orange): 30+ channels for $25 per month
- Hulu with Live TV: 50+ channels for $39.99 per month
- USTVnow: 23 channels for $19.00 per month
- PlayStation Vue (Core): 70+ channels for $49.99 per month
- HDHomeRun Premium TV: 45 channels for $34.99 per month
- DirecTV Now: 65+ channels for $40 per month
There may be others floating around the web as well. Note, however, that many seemingly low-cost IPTV services, such as Area 51 IPTV or Kodi Solutions IPTV, may carry those streams, but are not services we recommend. They typically cost under $10 per month and come with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of channels, but have notable security and privacy risks, among other issues.
Canada
TSN and RDS (for French speakers) are the Canadian arms of ESPN. As luck would have it for Canadian boxing fans, both will also have the Crawford vs. Benavidez welterweight fight. TSN/RDS recently released a standalone streaming service, called Direct, that allows sports fans to access multiple channels online. TSN2/RDS2 should hold the fight, similar to ESPN2 in the US.
United Kingdom and Ireland
BoxNation is the go-to source for UK and Ireland residents when it comes to many boxing matches. This holds true for Crawford vs. Benavidez. You can watch the entire fight card, including the undercard and main fight, on BoxNation for just £12 per month (sadly, no free trial) as a standalone service. You can also bundle it in with other TV services, such as BT TV or Sky, among others.
Mexico and South America
It’s rare that US or UK-based boxing matches are readily available south of the US border. But seeing as Jose Benavidez is of Mexican origin and ESPN has a sports channel offered directly to Spanish speaking populations in the region, it’s no surprise that they’re offering up the stream on ESPN Deportes.
The entire fight card will be available in countries where ESPN Deportes is available. Spanish speakers in the US will also have access to ESPN Deportes through some of the cord-cutting services mentioned above, including Sling TV.
We strive to bring the best information to the audiences that want it. While conducting research, we realized that the Crawford vs. Benavidez fight is highly anticipated in the Phillippines. While we searched around for options, it appears that there are no official streaming options available for Filipinos hoping to catch this landmark fight.
As boxing is extremely popular in the Phillippines, the anticipation for this fight comes as no surprise. If you’re traveling to the Phillippines from the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, or any South American country where ESPN is available, you should be able to connect in with a VPN and access to one of the streaming services listed above.
Terence Crawford is set to defend his welterweight title against challenger Jose Benavidez on Oct. 13, 2018. The undercard fights will start streaming at 7 PM EST, with the main card fight coming 3.5 hours later at 10 PM. The fight will go down at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, which despite the name is actually an arena, not a hospital.
For those interested in more than just the main fight, the entire fight card consists of the following matchups:
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- Keeshawn Williams vs. Ramel Snegur: Welterweights
- Jose Valenzuela vs. Hugo Rodriguez: Junior Lightweights
- Steve Nelson vs. Oscar Riojas: Light Heavyweights
- Ismail Muwendo vs. Andre Wilson: Lightweights
- Mike Alvarado vs. Robbie Cannon: Junior Welterweights
- Carlos Adames vs. Josh Conley: Junior Middleweights
- Shakur Stevenson vs. Viorel Simion: Featherweights
- Terence Crawford (defending champion) vs. Jose Benavidez Jr. for WBO Welterweight Title
Considering this is an absolutely loaded fight card, you’ll probably want to make sure you have your streaming source acquired early and your popcorn, snacks, and drinks ready to go for the entire 4-hour event.
The two boxers have already shared some “fighting words” with each other leading up to the fight. Yet their media spat has not been nearly as intense as most MMA fighters or even other boxers. That includes stunning examples such as McGregor and Khabib, whose out-of-ring bad blood eventually led to a significant brawl after the fight was already over.
Both boxers are coming into the match with spotless records. Crawford has a 33-0 record with 24 KOs, while challenger Benavidez has 27-0 record with 18 KOs. Crawford announced on social media that he’d be more than happy to give Benavidez his first loss, also stating:
“This fight is the fight he has been calling for, and now he will get the chance to see what it’s like to be in the ring with a real champion.”
Some have called Terence Crawford the most skilled boxer currently in the sport. In an April 2018 article on Boxing.com, Paul Magno called Crawford “the all-around best fighter in the world”. His biggest complaint? Crawfords promoter, who Magno claims had failed to give Crawford the exposure he deserves.
This can be compared to Benavidez, whose record certainly speaks for itself. Nevertheless, after getting shot in the leg in 2016 and nearly losing his life due to blood loss, Benavidez went through a lengthy recovery process that left many sports observers in serious doubt as to whether he’d be able to enter the boxing ring again. Beating the odds, Benavidez not only returned to the ring earlier this year in his fight against Matthew Strode, but he also walked away with a win, maintaining his perfect record.
Taken together, predictions for who will win are all over the place. For many, Crawford’s stance as one of the best boxers currently in existence, plus his stunning win and KO record, make him an obvious pick for sports gamblers. And although Benavidez proved he still has fight left in him against Strode earlier this year, those two years away from the ring due to a serious leg injury may take their toll when pit against a fighter with Crawford’s caliber.
The majority of online betting activity seems to agree with that assessment. According to aggregate betting averages on Oddschecker, 60 percent of bets are currently going to Terence Crawford for the win.
In fact, betters are so secure in their thinking that none are betting on a draw, which is unusual. Betting odds change frequently, however, so how people are feeling about the fight may move in either direction leading up to when all new bets are cut off.
Many sites will offer betting opportunities, but you may be blocked from betting depending on where you’re traveling. If you’re looking to bet while traveling abroad from your home country, we recommend checking out our guide on the best VPNs for sports betting.
