The announcement of Errol Spence Jr versus Terence Crawford has the boxing world buzzing – and former six-weight world champion turned promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, has made his prediction.
After many false alarms, the two undefeated superstars have finally agreed to a fight that will crown the first four-belt champion in the welterweight division.
De La Hoya himself had the WBC 147lbs title – currently held by Spence – after a victory over Pernell Whittaker in 1997, and expressed his excitement to FightHype.com at the division’s modern elite facing off.
“I love the fight. Look, people will say it’s four years too late – no, it’s prefect timing. Both guys are undefeated, both guys seem like they’re on top of their game … Finally the best is fighting the best at welterweight which makes me happy.”
Onto his prediction, and De La Hoya gives it to Crawford, believing the Omaha native has more in his locker than Spence.
“I do favour Crawford, that’s my personal opinion. Just by styles. Errol Spence was under Golden Boy for many years and we promoted most of his early fights. His one-dimensional style obviously has been working for him till this day, but I think that Crawford can maybe dissect him, slowly but surely.
Crawford’s arsenal is much more extensive. More versatile. He’s got great footwork. he’s got the punches in bunches. He throws combinations. I might be wrong, but that might be a little too much for Spence.”
He also pointed to Spence’s time out of the ring – which, at the time of the fight, will be one year and three months – as a potential contributing factor to defeat.
“From my experience, having long lay offs is not good for a fighter. Look at what happened with Ryan [Garcia] – he didn’t take the tune up. Whenever I would fight somebody who didn’t have a tune up before hand, I would beat easy and knock them out cause your reflexes are not the same.”
Spence and Crawford will lace up and face off on July 29 in Las Vegas in what will undoubtedly be a highlight of boxing’s calendar year.