Finally the historic undisputed welterweight title clash between American duo Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford is just days away. Ahead of the blockbuster event, here are predictions from some of boxing’s most high-profile figures…
Eddie Hearn – Crawford Knockout
“Great fight, I am going for a Terence Crawford stoppage.
via Seconds Out
Dmitry Bivol – Crawford
“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.”
Carl Froch – Spence
“Crawford’s a little bit older and has more miles on the clock, so I think I’m switching. I’m going Errol Spence to rip the script up.”
via talkSPORT
Oscar De La Hoya – Crawford Decision
“I’ve got Crawford. I think he’s a little more elusive. I mean Spence is amazing, I promoted him for most of his career, I thought he was going to be the next Sugar Ray Leonard.”
Mike Tyson – Crawford
“I’ve said Crawford, but it’s really a pick ’em fight and I’ll be happy either way.”
via ESNews
Ryan Garcia – Spence Decision
“He’s just gonna do what he does. Put that pressure on him, start getting to him in the later rounds. It’s gonna be a good fight but I think Spence is obviously gonna win. By decision, unanimous. But we’ll see.
Terence is a bad man too, but I got Errol for sure.”
via Fight Hub TV
Gervonta Davis – Spence
“Errol. I know for sure. Imagine we in a gun fight, right? And I got a metal shield, and the opposite person got a glass shield. Who gonna come out on top?”
“[It doesn’t matter] how much he run around, once them hands get on him it’s gonna slow him down … Ain’t no ‘if’ – he gonna touch him.”
Carl Frampton – Crawford
“I’m just edging Terence Crawford to find a way, I think he’s a bit of a genius, I think he’s an unbelievable fighter.”
via Boxing News
James Toney – Crawford Knockout
“I see a late round stoppage – knockout! Spence has never dealt with anyone who’s just as fast as he is and who hits harder than he does. I love Shawn Porter, but Crawford beat the breaks off him.”
via Mill City Boxing
Freddie Roach – Crawford
“I have Crawford.
He goes out there with his game plan, he might turn southpaw in the first or second round. But he carries through. I like him a lot, I think he’s one of the best fighters in the world today.”
via Fight Hype
Paulie Malignaggi – Spence
“I think Errol’s too big and the natural size is going to be a bit too much for Terence to deal with.
We’ll see how it plays out. I think Terence is more versatile and he’s actually my number one guy on the pound for pound list. I think Errol wins the fight, but I think Terence is the more complete fighter.”
via WCS
Kell Brook – Crawford
“They’re both great fighters, but I’d have to lean towards Crawford, he’s been more active than Spence, who has been in a big car crash, he’s not really been active like Crawford.”
Shawn Porter – Crawford
“If I had to bet my life on it, if I had to put money on it, a lot of money on it… I’d put my money on Terence Crawford.”
Jermell Charlo – Spence Round 6
“Absolutely! That [Spence] is my guy, I’ll put down a solid $25,000. I really don’t like to talk to crazy with the betting, but I’ll bet $25,000 and have fun, enjoy my night in Vegas.”
“He’s trained too hard to lose, he’s the best in the game right now at 147 – nobody’s rocking with him. Round six!”
via 210 Boxing & Fight Hub
Tim Bradley – Crawford Knockout
“I think his job is to frustrate the c**p out of Spence, he’s going to get him acting overly aggressive and he is going to run him into something. That is why I see Crawford by stoppage.”
via Fight Hype
Lennox Lewis
“Gonna be a crackin fight! Slight edge to Crawford for me but hard to call in advance.”
Tony Bellew
“With Crawford, you just see a fighter who is always at his best and always finds a way to deal with whatever is in front of him. He’s my pick to win and I don’t think it’ll be close or controversial but both fighters have a lot going for them, Crawford just a little more, and that’s why I pick him.”
via DAZN
Spence and Crawford will go toe-to-toe on Saturday night, with U.K. fans able to watch the card from midnight via TNT Sports Box Office.