It’s a setup to the fireworks display on fight day.
The undisputed showdown between welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr. and Terrence Crawford is arguably boxing’s most highly awaited bout this year. They are clearly two the best fighters in their division, and perhaps from a pound-for-pound standpoint as well.
Also adding to the excitement is the promise of witnessing a firefight between a couple of guys who clearly dislike each other. On Tuesday, a press conference for the high-stakes, 147-pound collision was held in Los Angeles wherein the combatants displayed their disdain towards one another.
It all started when Crawford said that a victory over Spence will solidify the former’s status as the best boxer of his generation.
“That would solidify me as the greatest fighter of this era,” the WBO welterweight titlist claimed.
The strong statement didn’t sit well with Spence who currently owns the WBC, IBF, and WBA 147-pound belts. The 33-year-old slugger immediately countered by saying that his rival has yet to fight a big name in the sport.
“Definitely not, man. I’m not going to lie, Top Rank has the best matchmakers in the business,” Spence retorted.
“You ain’t fought nobody, man. You haven’t beaten anybody,” he added.
As Spence tried to drive his point home, he made mention of similar opponents whom he and Crawford have faced in former titleholders Shawn Porter and Kell Brook. That’s when things nearly got out of hand.
“Shawn Porter said he didn’t train [against Crawford] like he should,” Spence divulged.
At that juncture, Crawford was visibly upset. As a result, he disrespectfully called out Spence for not being able to stop Porter like he did.
“Are you butthurt that I got the stoppage, you butthurt?”
Spence brushed off the insult and proceeded to downplay the Omaha fighter’s win over Brook.
“Even Kell Brook, he was already broken [when you fought him],” he said, referring to Crawford's 2020 fight against a 34-year-old Brook. Recall that Spence, meanwhile, knocked out the British pug in their own match that happened three years earlier.
In the end, Bud Crawford kept it direct and fired a warning shot at his nemesis.
“You’re going to be broken, July 29. You’re going to be broken.”
The fight on July 29 is actually taking place by the morning of July 30 in the Philippines. Mark your calendars, boxing heads.
(GM)