2023-07-28 10:18:16
Undefeated Americans Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford will be looking for history on Saturday in Las Vegas, where one of them could become the first man to win the undisputed world welterweight title by unifying the belts of the four major federations boxing. Spence Jr, WBC, WBA and IBF world champion, has a record of 28 wins (including 22 knockouts). Crawford, holder of the WBO belt, has a record of 39 successes (including 30 by KO).
Crawford, a former world lightweight champion who later unified the super lightweight division, remains on a streak of 10 straight knockouts, including seven in his first seven fights at welterweight. “It will be even nicer to win the title of undisputed champion for the second timesaid Crawford, 35, upon arriving in Las Vegas this week.
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Long-awaited showdown
The Nebraska native kicked off his welterweight journey by stopping Manny Pacquiao winner Jeff Horn in 2018 for the WBO title. In his last bout, Crawford knocked out David Avanesyan in the sixth round in December. No opponent has managed to take him after 12 rounds for more than six years.
His success against Avanesyan paved the way for the long-awaited clash against Spence Jr, who had to treat a torn retina. Because of this, he had canceled a scheduled fight with Pacquiao in August 2021.
The 33-year-old then punished Cuban Yordenis Ugas with a 10th-round technical knockout in April last year. It was Spence’s second comeback from injury, the first coming in 2019 after a car accident sidelined him for several months.
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“Fireworks”
Legendary trainer Freddie Roach is one of those who have been waiting a long time to see the two meet. He gives Crawford the lead, “more completebut underscores Spence Jr’s flawless run against a stronger slate of opponents.
The latter has put forward this element to contradict the experts who make him the outsider. He had thus crossed the Atlantic to stop the Briton Kell Brook in the 11th round and seize his IBF title in 2017. In 2019, he won the WBC belt thanks to his victory over Shawn Porter. “Every belt that I got, I took it from somebodysaid Spence.
«I beat champion after champion. The guys with the belts have a lot more reason to fight“. Spence Jr also insists he’s simply better than Crawford, and he’s set to prove it on Saturday. “I am the best fighter. I’m better physically, mentally… I’m tougher than him. My skills are superior».
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«It’s the Terence era «Bud» Crawford»
Crawford, predictably, disagrees. “Terence Crawford is the best fighter in the world today, and that’s how it is“said the person concerned Thursday during the last pre-fight press conference.
«It’s the Terence era «Bud» Crawford“, he added, considering to be the best boxer in all categories. “When you look at all of my work and every weight class I’ve been in, there’s no denying that this is my era.».
Spence intends to lay him down on Saturday in a fight he thinks the fans will talk about “in 30 or 40 years». «I guarantee there will be nothing but fireworks from start to finish“, assured the native of Long Island.
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