Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford will face off on July 29 in Las Vegas to crown the first four-belt undisputed welterweight champion.
The two titleholders – Spence the WBA, IBF and WBC, Crawford the WBO – finally put pen to paper after years of failed talks. What they’ve signed is being regarded by many as the best fight in boxing today.
Given the fact that both are undefeated and have risen through the ranks relatively comfortably, even the most outspoken pundits in the sport are finding it a tough fight to call.
Keith Thurman – who is a former unified champion in the same division – spoke to Fight Hub TV about the match-up. Whilst he didn’t pick a winner, he did warn Crawford that he’s never been hit by a true 147 pounder.
“Spence is the biggest guy. Crawford has never been hit by a true welterweight. I know he fought Porter, but the way Porter has been fighting during his career since I knew him in the amateurs. To be a 12 round fighter, he took away the exertion of being a one-punch knockout artist.”
“These are some powerful punches coming from the bigger, stronger man. I know that neither one of them have gotten their chin clipped. I’m just waiting to see who hits who first. They’re both defensive, but they’re not perfect. “This is a game of inches. These are minute details that separate these great fighters.”
Whilst Spence is a career-long welterweight, Crawford has fought his way up from lightweight, through super lightweight to where he is now.
He has won world titles in all three divisions, and believes that any size advantage Spence might have will be inconsequential come fight night.