Spence vs Crawford LIVE: ‘Bud’ produces masterclass before sealing stoppage win

Next up: Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford. Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet go head to head. Two undefeated world champions finally get it on. This fight is five years in the making, and finally, tonight in Las Vegas, it is happening.

Two judges call the fight 114-113 each way, but the third calls it 115-112 the way of Cruz, who looks more relieved than delighted. He knows he came through a real battle there. Cabrera, to his credit, applauds and walks away waving to the crowd.

Cabrera took the heavier punches through the fight, but Cruz had several quiet rounds and also had that point docked for using his head. I’d expect this to be tight on the judges’ scorecards but we’ll see any moment...

They touch gloves and begin round 12 like everything’s on the line. Cabrera seems energised simply by getting this far and he is bouncing on his toes trying to show that he’s finishing on the front foot. Cruz is still swinging but his left hook hasn’t landed flush for a few rounds, and there are more wayward punches here too.

A good fight – what is it they say about styles? – and it goes to the cards.

This has been an interesting fight. The American Cabrera seemed to have the measure of his opponent in the first couple of rounds, but the middle rounds were dominated by the Mexican Cruz, who unleashed some hammer blows. Cabrera hung in there, though, and he’s finishing confidently. Another positive round for the taller man Cabrera – Cruz seems tired – and there’s only one to go.

Cruz wanders back into the contest forgetting he has a towel on his head, and he’s called back to his corner to remove it. That’s another level of focus to be completely unaware. Cabrera decides to come forwards, sensing he might need to show the judges he can offer more than shuffling and jabbing from range. A tricky round to call – Cruz didn’t offer much.

At the bell, a roar goes up in the crowd as the camera trains on Errol Spence Jr waiting in the wings.

Cabrera bounces out of his corner and lands a good body shot early in round nine. He is hanging in well despite the barrage from the Pitbull. The face is bloodied though, and Cruz continues to be the main aggressor – yet another left hook gets through and does some damage. This fight is close going into the final three.

Cabrera wears a couple of violent left hooks early in round eight, but then comes a potentially important moment – having already been warned earlier in the fight, Cruz is docked a point by referee Thomas Taylor for using his head. It seems to infuriate Cruz, who unleashes hell in the final 30 seconds – Cabrera just about survives but he’s teetering.

Cruz lands another right hand over the top and then a series of body shots, and Cabrera’s hit-and-move tactics are failing to keep him safe. But as the round goes on, Cabrera comes forwards and probes much more positively, to the point where he might even have won the round. Even so, he takes a big left counter-hook which snaps back his head towards the bell.

After seven rounds, this one must be close on the scorecards.

Round six is a brutal one for Cabrera, who is absorbing some heavy punishment... up until the referee stops the fight to tie up some of his loose binding. He needed that little break, but it is hard to see how he gets back into this fight.