The fact that people inside boxing are so evenly split over who wins in the much-anticipated match-up between welterweight kings Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr is a testament to what a great fight it is.
Abel Sanchez, however, is firmly in the Spence camp.
Out of Big Bear, California, Sanchez has guided Kazakh wrecking ball Gennady Golovkin through much of his fearsome rein at middleweight, and was in his corner for the first two fights with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
The Mexican-American has also worked with former cruiserweight world champion, Murat Gassiev, as well as welcoming heavyweight contender, Joe Joyce, to his mountain-based camp for a period.
He explained to Fight Hub why he thinks Texan Spence will take a points win over Nebraskan Crawford when the two meet in their undisputed welterweight clash in Las Vegas on July 29.
“He won’t stop [Crawford] but I think he will control him from the outside.
[Spence’s] jab will be significant, and whether ‘Bud’ goes with a right or left hand 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 Spence wins.
Bud is sometimes a little too passive in some of his fights and Spence will take advantage of that.”
Spence has come out to say he believes his fight with Crawford will be on a level with Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao back in 2015 in terms of box office, but more of a war between the ropes.
Like Sanchez, undisputed super welterweight Jermell Charlo is backing Spence for the win when the two 147lbs talents come to blows in what people are hoping might well be the fight of the year.