Top trainers pick their winner of Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford
Top boxing trainers provided their expert thoughts and predictions on the forthcoming mega-fight between welterweight champions Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford, all set to take place on 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:
Calvin Ford
"That's a coaches dream right there!
"Like I said again, Spence is the bigger guy, he been in that weight class for a long period of time. The question I ask people, throughout both of their careers which one has been hurt in their careers, since they been fighting, and then we'll know who is the winner, that's the answer."
Abel Sanchez
"I think Spence does.
"Won't stop him, but I think he'll control him from the outside. His jab will be significant and, whether 'Bud' goes with the left or right hand, I think Spence will deal with it easily.
"It's a smaller guy against a bigger guy who is younger and a little more spirited and that's why I think Spence wins.
"'Bud' can be a little too passive in some of the fights and I think Spence will take advantage of that."
Rodney Crisler
"I held the body pad for both of them guys and Errol hit hard to the body and Terence is crafty to the body. Terence knows how to get in there. The thing about Terence Crawford, he the type of guy that don't give up, you know, I think Errol will have to kill him in order to beat him. I think Terence Crawford is gonna stand there and gonna work with him and give him everything that he wants. The thing about Terence is that he can go both ways, and I saw something in Errol when he fought Ugas and Ugas caught him, I mean he was really hurt and I think if Terence can get him like that, he'll finish him."
Teddy Atlas
"I'm going with Crawford. I wouldn't be shocked if Crawford hurt him late in the fight."
Floyd Mayweather Sr.
"If I would have bet it any way, it would have been on Spence. He's a banger, man. He ain't no defensive fighter, not like that he take punches."
Bones Adams
"I like Crawford in that fight.
"It's kind of like a 50-50 fight to tell you the truth. I can see Spence winning cos he's bigger, stronger, but then also I can see Crawford being slick and catching him with the right hand, cos there's a dog in that boy and I like that."
Kofi Jantuah
“As of now I think Spence, he fought a lot of elite fighters in his career, but skillwise I think Crawford is one of the best right now but he hasn't really been tested or put into a postion where by he has had to dig deep to win a fight.
“So, right now, if I'm picking, I'll go with Spence, based on his background.”
Frank Stea III
“I got Terence Crawford by clean stoppage. There's no other way, I've been saying this for years, Terence is just that good.”
Virgil Hunter
“The fight can’t come soon enough. I’m excited, especially to get both men at their peak. Both men seem hungry and ready to go. I expect an epic night.
“Errol has a grind-it-out, that go-get-you mentality. It doesn’t make sense to go against what works. In this fight, it’s not what I’m going to do to you. The fighter that wins will be the one who’s not going to let the other fighter do what he wants to do.
“I had the fortune to spend one day in the gym with Terence. His physical strength is underrated. The way he is genetically built, the way he has stayed in the gym for his entire career and has never gotten out of condition, brings a snap to his punch. He was a wrestler early on, and I’ve watched him tussle with big guys and get them down to the ground. He is built from the feet up with his physical strength. He can generate a lot of power.
“I like Errol and the way he fights. At some point that grind out style will slow up as you age. Errol has admitted that he has had a lifestyle that wasn’t always good. That does damage to the internal organs that is irreversible. Errol’s determination and drive are A-plus. Who can stop the other guy from doing what he wants to do is going to be a factor in this fight.
“The first four rounds are going to determine how the rest of the fight is going to go. Both men understand that they have to get the respect of the other fighter real quick. The key for Terence is to stop Errol from what he wants to do and hurt him. The key for Errol is to keep grinding. He is going to have his momentum accelerated and make it very difficult for Terence.
“I will be more settled on a pick during the week of the fight. I’ll be watching the mentalities and attitudes of the fighters, particularly on their skills. The Las Vegas heat and the rehydration process are going to be factors. I would have to be subjected to each fighter’s mental makeup over a period of time to see the concentration and mental fortitude to be able to make a pick. I’m just going to enjoy the fight.”
Stephen Edwards
“Crawford doesn’t have a lot of holes in his armour. One thing I was able to see in his fight with Shawn [Porter] and Kell [Brook] is that, for some reason, Terence is a little bit of a slow starter. They were able to get a lot done in the early rounds. So, I would really be conscious of that. [Terence] is one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. The one thing about him is if you can get to him early before he adjusts.
“With Errol, he’s a snowball fighter who, once he gets his rhythm, comes forward and can walk you down behind that southpaw jab. One thing I would be worried about in this fight is letting Errol get his rhythm and establish that hard southpaw jab. That’s the first thing I would address if I was in Terence’s corner.
“The other thing would be counter attacking Errol’s body punching. Errol hits you to the body all night long and kind of wears you out. Besides Shawn, I’ve never seen someone go to Errol’s body all night long. I notice the small things and I’ve noticed Terence wears his trunks kind of high. I’ll be curious to see how he can overcome Errol’s grinding body shots.
“Terence is the puncher in this fight. Not that he punches harder than Errol, but he can hit you with shots that Errol doesn’t hit guys with. Errol kind of beats you down with his power, while Terence hits you on the money with shots you don’t even see. I would have Terence punch with him. Terence is really gifted where he can keep his eye on the target, punch with guys, and land clean shots. I don’t think he’s the hardest puncher I’ve ever seen as far as one-punch knockouts, but he has that ability to hit you while you’re punching with shots you don’t see. He doesn’t have to load up on it. It’s like a fast-snapping shot.
“Errol boxes going forward. When a guy boxes going forward he doesn’t get the same accolades as the guy who’s throwing a lot of smooth moves like a Pernell Whitaker or Floyd Mayweather, or even Shakur Stevenson. I think people use the word basic as an insult, but it’s not an insult, it’s a compliment. [Errol] is not fancy. He doesn’t show a lot of fancy moves and he doesn’t do a lot to avoid punches. But that doesn’t mean he’s not boxing. He keeps it simple.
“I think it’s a 50-50 fight. Errol does things in a subtle way. Against Mikey Garcia he fought a conservative fight and literally won every round. He got criticism for it because he didn’t knock the smaller man out. But he totally undressed him and outboxed him, so he does have that in his game and it could show up that night of the fight.
“I don’t have a pick right now. That’s the honest truth. I think we’re going to have the Fight of the Century. I wouldn’t be surprised if both guys hit the canvas. It’s so close and so many little things in the gym matter. I’m objective and have relationships with both teams. I really don’t have a pick right now. I just think it’s going to be a great fight.”
Picks
Errol Spence Jr: 3
Terence Crawford: 2
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