ERROL SPENCE VS. TERENCE CRAWFORD PPV PRESS CONFERENCE, PREDICTIONS, BETTING ODDS & WEIGH-IN
Las Vegas Showtime Welterweight Explosion! Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (July 28th, 2023)– Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. will finally meet for the unified World Welterweight title on Saturday night, July 29, 2023, at-T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the scheduled 12 round main event of a four bout Showtime Pay-Per-View card.
The world southpaw champion Crawford, age 35, 39-0 with 30 knockouts, Omaha, Nebraska, and the southpaw world champion Spence, age 33, 28-0 with 22 knockouts, Desoto, Texas, will fight for the 147 pounds welterweight division bragging rights. Referee Harvey Dock will be the man in the middle.
Crawford is a complete fighter, while Spence has had injuries to overcome. That being said, in a no-holes barred bout, Crawford is predicted to win by majority decision in a highly technical bout with no knockdowns. Crawford and Spence will each take home 10 million dollars. Crawford is the odds betting favorite. Bud has stopped 10 consecutive opponents inside the distance. Bud switches from southpaw to orthodox stance and back, using superior head movement, and double and triple jabs mixed with power shots. The greatest danger of fighting Bud is his superior hand speed and counterpunching ability, combined with a two inches of reach advantage Bud will use to his superior advantage.
Spence will have to do the Rocky Marciano, and get inside immediately to break Bud down by landing a mix of jabs and power shots inside of a telephone booth. Spence remains more so in the southpaw mode, and to win, he will also have to switch off style and stances to confuse Bud if Spence can do it. Far different than Pacquiao versus Floyd, Spence has youth on his side. If Spence can drag Bud into the later rounds and Bud tires, Spence could stop. Bud has not, to this point, shown training or discipline weaknesses, meaning Spence would have no out jab Bud and outwork him. If Spence fights the right kind of give and take technical bout, the bout could emerge as a 12 round majority draw, with one card drawing, and the other two cards going in both directions, one for Crawford, and one for Spence.
The bout will be clean, and could feature a great deal of throw a punch or two, and do the tango holding, which could mean an extraordinarily busy night for referee Harvey Dock. A knockdown is possible, and if it happens late in the bout, the fighter scoring the knockdown, will, as Naoya Inoue did last weekend to Stephen Fulton, will likely close the show to earn the stoppage in a war bound to be close on the scorecards. Ring generalship could dramatically affect control of the ring and affect the scoring. The bout could get nasty, just the fans want it. The bout is very much structured like a Howard Cosell classic, as both Crawford and Spence are the big names of the moment in the lower weights, followed by Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson. If Crawford versus Spence has a controversial ending, a rematch will likely be in the works in a few months, almost as fast as the late World Middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson’s immediate titular rematch with Randy Turpin.
Crawford versus Spence took a while to put together. Spence’s injured left eye form sparring required a retinal reattachment operation, and in this bout had better not be a factor. When Sugar Ray Leonard beat the late World Middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Leonard had come off retinal reattachment surgery. The facts remain Spence is medically cleared for this bout, but it will not be the same Errol Spence Jr. as before the surgery in a mega bout like this. Without the eye injury, Spence could have been the betting line favorite.
Crawford is a -160 favorite (risk $160 to win $100), while Spence comes back at +135 in the latest Errol Spence Jr. versus Terence Crawford odds from the Caesars Palace Sportsbook. The over/under for total rounds completed is 10.5, with the ‘Over favored at -270, and the ‘Under’ is priced at +210.
As it stands, the odds favoring Bud Crawford are the closest Bud has confronted his entire career. Bud last fought in December 2022, while Spence has been inactive 15 months. Age and inactivity could be a factor. However, in this bout, the fighter’s game plans are the key to victory, given both combatants have extraordinary talent, and Spence could win this bout if he sets the tempo and gains control of the ring early, something no fighter has done against Bud Crawford to date.
Undercard Predictions at T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas
Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz Win 12 Giovanni Cabrera, Lightweights
Mexico’s Cruz will defend his WBC Silver Lightweight title against the 21-0 Cabrera. The vacant WBO Latino lightweight title is also at stake in this title opportunity crossroads bout for the winner. Cruz has gone the 12 round distance with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in a 2021 WBA Lightweight world title bout, no small feat given the ferocious ability of Davis to finish his opponents 27 times in 29 fights to the canvas knocked out the hard way.
Nonito Donaire Win 12 Alejandro Santiago, Bantamweights
For Vacant World Boxing Council World Bantamweight title
Donaire, age 40, 42-7 with 28 knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of the Philippines, has been hot and cold, and hopefully still has a good title bout left in his arsenal. Santiago, 27-3-5 with 14 knockouts, Tijuana, Mexico, who has a good record, lost a majority 10 round decision to Gary Antonio Russell in 2021, definitely has a puncher’s chance, depending on which version of Donaire shows up Saturday. Could be a silent sleeper thriller of a bout.
Yoenis Tellez Win 10 Sergio Garcia, Super Bantamweights
5-0 Cuban Tellez does battle with Spain’s dangerous 34-2 ex-European champion Garcia.
Spence vs. Crawford Takes Place This Saturday, July 29 on SHOWTIME PPV in Premier Boxing Champions Event from
T-Mobile Arena In Las Vegas
Click HERE for Photos from Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Click HERE for Photos from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
LAS VEGAS – July 27, 2023 – Undefeated boxing superstars Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford faced off Thursday at the final press conference before they meet to crown the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era this Saturday, July 29 headlining a SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
To kick off the main event portion of the press conference, legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson conducted a coin toss to determine which fighter would walk to the ring last on Saturday night. Crawford won the toss and can now decide whether he would like to walk to the ring last, or be introduced last once in the ring.
The press conference also saw pay-per-view undercard fighters face off before their respective matchups on the telecast beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The pay-per-view will see hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and undefeated contender Giovanni Cabrera battle in a WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator that serves as the co-main event, future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire take on Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship, plus top prospect Yoenis Tellez duels Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in the telecast opener.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Man Down Promotions, TBC Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from T-Mobile Arena:
ERROL SPENCE JR.
“I’m gonna win because I’m the better fighter. I’m better physically and mentally. I’m more durable. I’m gonna break him down and break his will.
“It would mean a lot to be undisputed. It would mean that I’m one of the greatest welterweights to ever lace up a pair of gloves.
“He’s gonna find out that my skills are superior. He’s talented, but when we talk about what my coach teaches, he’s gonna see that I have great offense, defense and stamina. It’s more than just talent.
“This is gonna be legendary. Make sure you tune-in. This is gonna be an old school fight. It’s gonna be iconic. You’re gonna want to buy this fight. You’re getting your money’s worth.
“People are gonna talk about this fight 30 or 40 years from now when you talk about legendary fights. They’re gonna talk about this fight the same way they talked about the ‘Four Kings’ era. There’s gonna be an amateur 20 years from now watching our fight on YouTube and saying man, I want to be in a fight like that.
“Everyone knows it’s ‘Strap Season’. I want to thank my parents, because they blessed me with the resiliency to get through a lot of stuff in life. Make sure you order the fight on SHOWTIME PPV. I guarantee you I’m gonna put on a great show. Bring your seasoning on Saturday night, because we’re gonna have a crawfish boil. Bring that hot sauce too.
“I guarantee you it’s gonna be nothing but fireworks from start to finish.”
TERENCE CRAWFORD
“I don’t go in there looking for the knockout, I go in there looking for the win. If he gets out of line he’s gonna be the next one going down.
“Everyone knows what time it is. I’m ready and he’s ready. We’re gonna have a fish fry come Saturday.
“He’s gonna find out the same thing that everyone else finds out. He’s gonna say that on TV I look one way. In the ring he’s gonna be seeing three of me.
“They say he’s the big bad wolf, but come fight night we’re gonna find out if he’s all that he says he is. He’s gonna have to show me.
“Everything about me is better than Errol. When you look at what I do in the ring, it’s better than what he does. Come fight night, I’m going to prove every doubter wrong. I’m going to show that I’m the best fighter in the world.
“This is the Terence Crawford era. When you look at my body of work in each weight class, you can’t deny that. This is my era. I’ve never had a close fight. I’ve never had a fight where people thought I lost. I’ve looked spectacular every time.
“This is what we do every time we come out. That talking can turn bad real quick. Support your fighter, and let’s come together and make this event a success.”
DERRICK JAMES, Spence’s Trainer
“There’s no more talking. Nothing else to say. My chant is, it’s time to eat. It’s time to make it happen. We’re tired of talking. It’s time to go. Show time.
“It takes a lot of fortitude, discipline and focus to win fights like this. Errol has that. He knows his time is on Saturday. We made this happen. We took every belt and beat champions to get here.”
BRIAN “BO MAC” MCINTYRE, Crawford’s Trainer
“We’re here now y’all. There’s nothing else to say. He can’t hide anymore. It’s time to take care of business. It’s time to go to work.
“We’re gonna find out who the best man is. I respect them for what they’ve done. We’ve been here before. You’re trying to get here. I can tell you how it is to be undisputed. Sit back and watch.”
ISAAC CRUZ
“I’m going to come out on Saturday and prove my worth. I’m going to show why I deserve a rematch with Gervonta Davis.
“I’m coming here to do my job and send a clear message. I’m not overrated, I’m worth every penny. I’m here to show everyone what I can do inside the ring.
“Let’s see who eats whose punches and who can withstand the most. I am going to eat Cabrera up.
“I’m a real Mexican fighter and I’m gonna show everyone what I can do once again on Saturday night.”
GIOVANNI CABRERA
“I’ve beaten more unbeaten fighters than most in boxing history. If you look at Cruz’s first 20 fights, most of those opponents were not good at all. I believe that I’ve earned my spot here and that I’m going to take the win.
“I’m 21-0 for a reason. Everyone I know has tried to take my head off and I’ve picked every single one of them apart.
“I want to represent Chicago and my Mexican blood. I’m here to give it my all, put my soul on the line and make sure I don’t regret anything.
“I hope he’s hungry; he’s going to eat a lot of punches. I am coming here to eat ‘Pitbull’ tacos.”
NONITO DONAIRE
“I gambled in my last fight, and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Going into this fight, I just have to show everyone that I’ve still got it. I’m doing it for me now and to show what I’m capable of. I love the sport and I’m grateful that I’m getting the opportunity.
“The power at this age is so much more potent. I put so much more into it. Not just emotion and experience, but I put every essence of a man into this.
“I have to give big respect to my opponent, he’s never been down. But I’m the type of guy where if I see the opportunity, I’ll take it. There’s nothing more satisfying than a knockout.
“I don’t really look into the extra stuff. I have a bigger vision ahead of me. I want to become undisputed. That’s the only thing that I haven’t done in boxing. I’ve gotten lots of accolades, but never been undisputed. That’s my biggest purpose and that’s why I’m still fighting.
ALEXANDRO SANTIAGO
“In 2018 when I fought for the title, I was young. That fight is in the past. Through hard work, discipline and having a great team, I was able to grow. I’m way more mature now. I came here to become a world champion.
“All respect to Nonito. But on Saturday night people all over the world are going to get to know me and see what I’m capable of. I’m gonna put on a show for everyone watching.
“I have a fire inside of me. I want to make this dream come true. It’s not just about the objective, it’s about the journey. I’ve enjoyed how I’ve gotten here. My son was born two months ago, so this goes out to him and my family. It makes me want this even more.”
YOENIS TELLEZ
“This is just about taking advantage of a great opportunity given to me. We put experience to the side, because I just have to do my job and focus on winning.
“I promise that you’re going to see another Cuban fighter with championship potential. You’re going to see someone who’s skill is rising fast. The fans are going to see something they will definitely enjoy.”
SERGIO GARCIA
“I would have done the exact same thing he did. I’m not in a position to underestimate anyone. I have to win this fight to get what I want. What he does is his business.
“I’m going to show you what I can do. I don’t have to promise anything. I’ve trained so hard and you’ve seen that I’m the kind of fighter who leaves it all on the line. I’m going to give the fans the show they deserve and let the chips fall where they may.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“I’ve been in this business over 35 years and I haven’t been this pumped up in a long time for a fight. This is spectacular and as good of a matchup as you can get.
“We have the two best fighters in the world, both unbeaten world champions and just so talented. It’s gonna be an all-out war from start to finish.
“When you look at the skills of each fighter, everything is so equal. Everything is so close between them. It’s gonna come down to who wants it more. It’s about mental toughness and who can dig down the deepest. There will be a new undisputed pound-for-pound champion on Saturday night.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, SHOWTIME Sports
“We are in the business of helping to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Saturday night is exactly that. It’s not a boxing match or a television show. Calling it those things doesn’t do it justice. A fight of this magnitude with these stakes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Spence vs. Crawford Betting Odds:
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