Boxers pick their winner of Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford
Pro boxers, active and retired, shared their thoughts and predictions for the upcoming super-fight between welterweight kings Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford, set to take place on Saturday, July 29 in a SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
See what the boxing experts had to say about Spence-Crawford below:
Canelo
"I think Crawford, he's a smart fighter."
Deontay Wilder
"I have to go with Errol Spence, ya know. Errol is my guy. He's always supported me through thick and thin. When you have love and support from somebody like him and continue to do so, no matter what, you must return the love. And that's what its all about, win, lose or draw, you got to support who you support, I follow my heart on all things and my heart is with Errol and his heart is always with me. I have nothing against anyone else, against Terence, I wish the best for him, but, in that fight, I got to go with my guy, Errol Spence."
Andy Ruiz Jr
"I kind of feel that Crawford has that style that is difficult. He can box around, he can move around. He can be lefty as well, if he wants to. I'm running for Crawford."
Ryan Walsh
"Bud has the style edge and is more adaptable. Spence will be big, strong, methodical and dangerous. I feel Bud's ability to go southpaw will be a huge factor on why he wins this fight. He is the more complete boxer.
"Bud on points in a great fight!
Kell Brook
“I’m very excited for this fight. It’s a massive fight and for No.1. I actually put both these guys up as pound-for-pound in all the divisions and they’re going to go after it.
“It’s the small margins that will decide this fight. It will come down to who has prepared the best.
“I think Errol brings calculated pressure and will go to the body. He will be the bigger guy in the fight. Crawford has to be sharp and use the entire ring and pick his shots at the right time and make Spence work when he doesn’t want to work. He has to be very clever and get the rounds and break him down over the fight.
“I think Terence is a very sharp and snapping puncher and Errol has a more grinding and thumping kind of power. That’s the difference I see in the two. We’re talking about two star fighters and it’s going to come down to a very small margin and they’re going to have to bring every part of their game to get a victory.”
Shawn Porter
“This is an outstanding fight because they both have an A+ in every box.
“The one narrative is Terence Crawford can do more things in the ring. He has more tools in his toolbox. Errol Spence is the most fundamentally sound boxer in the world. Both fighters have the ability to make adjustments, be aggressive, fight off the back foot, and counterpunch. We are going to see three different strategies from each fighter, maybe even four or five different game plans. Both of these guys have to have both in order to win the fight.
“The calculated pressure from Errol has to be something that he sustains for the entire fight. Errol has a really tight defense and keeps his hands at home. If he’s not punching, his hands are up. With a guy like that, you have to find openings. Those openings are usually there when that punch is being released. Punch when he’s punching. Be accurate and be that sharpshooter.
“Terence never got uncomfortable in his fight against me. He never showed me that there was anything unsettled within his heart or mind. I pride myself on making fighters uncomfortable. Never once did I see Terence uncomfortable.
“I don’t have a pick. I don’t know who is going to win this fight. Both guys have basically everything needed to win, from power to speed. I truly don’t think anyone can look at this fight and say, ‘That guy is going to win,’ because there are so many outcomes and possibilities.”
Carl Froch
"Crawford has that slight extra gear and is that little bit more special. Crawford beats Spence, but it is a 51% – 49% fight, nothing in it."
Andre Ward
"I'm not leaning towards anybody, I can make an argument or both guys, it's really to close to call and that's how we know we got a mega-fight on our hands."
Tim Bradley Jr.
"My money is on Crawford. Crawford's counter-punching is fast, quick, can switch lefty and righty. Can hit him with the right hand, imagine Crawford hit him with that right hand? Bang! He gon' feel it."
Dmitry Bivol
"I would say Crawford is the favourite because of his speed, movement, and reflexes. Spence is the bigger guy in the ring and also has great ring IQ, but in my opinion Crawford is the most complete fighter of all right now."
Oscar De La Hoya
"I think Crawford is going to do a number on him. Stylistically, he is more diverse, he has better technique, and he moves around more.
"I love Spence, he's a great fighter, but Crawford is… he knows how to change it up, switch it up."
Bernard Hopkins
"Both been sort of idle, I say this fight right now being a pick'em.
"I'm leaning more towards Spence based on his style, but Crawford is live, anxious, ready to prove to world, to prove to the naysayers, everybody… I believe Crawford got the bigger chip on his shoulder. I think Spence is the most talented one out of the two. But that won't be all it for this fight to be won or lost by either guys."
Zab Judah
"That's the fight! That's our Leonard-Hagler, that's our Tyson-Holyfield. That's our big fight of today and everybody wants to see it.
"Them both my guys, they both left-handers, they both southpaws, you know 'Bud' goes back to right-handed too, but he's dynamically a left-hander.
"I would say I am going with the left-hander!"
Ace Adam
"I’m going with Crawford. I think people are sleeping on Bud. He is an all-round boxer, he can box, fight in close and fight on the outside, also has power on his side. I think he is going to give Spence a lot of different problems."
Arijan Goricki
"My pick is Crawford by stoppage in the ninth round. I don't think that Spence is 100% back from his car accident and that will affect him."
Picks
Errol Spence Jr: 2
Terence Crawford: 6
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