Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr are finally set to face on July 29 in Las Vegas after years of false alarms and failed talks.
The fight is a hardcore boxing fan’s dream, and will crown the first four-belt undisputed welterweight champion – something Crawford has done at super lightweight before.
A man who hopes to one day be challenging for those titles has made his prediction.
Speaking to Behind The Gloves, Conor Benn said he was leaning towards Crawford to do the business – and was keen to point out it wasn’t bias stemming from a back and forth with Spence surrounding his failed doping tests.
“I know me and Spence have had our words, but that aside I think he’s a great fighter, a great talent. He’s accomplished a lot in the sport of boxing.
But not being biased, I would lean towards Crawford. I would probably say eighth, ninth, tenth – around then.”
The bookmakers agree, although theirs is a slight margin as well. Spence, for what it’s worth, isn’t paying attention to predictions against him, and believes it could be ‘a one-sided ass whooping’ in his favour.
Both men are undefeated and fearsome punchers, and it will be a shock to the system for boxing fans to see either lose.
As for 26-year-old Benn, he’s made it clear the he wants to challenge for top honours, and is currently ranked number six in the WBC’s table.
Before he returns to the ring, he first intends to go through a formal hearing process with UK Anti-Doping, but there has been talk of him pursuing a fight overseas with Keith Thurman (WBC number one) to elevate his ranking.