By Dan Ambrose: Errol Spence Jr revealed his ultimate game plan today for his mega-fight against Terence Crawford on July 29th, saying that he will “break him physically & mentally” to produce the victory.
Crawford is the favorite with the oddsmakers, but those people are basing that on his wins over sub-level opposition, which is largely all he’s fought his entire career.
Spence doesn’t think Crawford will be able to hold up under the power & the steady pressure he will put on him.
It’s going to be interesting to see if Crawford can hold Spence with his shots because he’s got an excellent chin, and he’s not going to stay outside and be fearful of coming forward.
We haven’t seen Crawford in any wars during his career because a lot of the guys he’s fought have been contenders ranked near the bottom at 10 to 15.
When Crawford fought ex-champion, they were old & shot like Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan, and Yuriorkis Gamboa. Whether Crawford can hold up against a non-shot world champion will be fun to see.
We’ll see if he can or not. WBO welterweight champion Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) will stay on the outside, focusing on throwing pot shots, hoping to neutralize the high-volume offense of Spence.
We could see Crawford using the same approach that Teofimo Lopez did in his fight last Saturday night against Josh Taylor. In other words, Crawford will attempt to stay outside and hit Spence with punches while he’s coming in.
Crawford will use more movement and will look to tie Spence up on the inside to keep from getting worked over at close range.
Spence expects Crawford to fight
“He’s definitely going to try to fight. If you know Terence Crawford’s mentality, he’s definitely going to try to fight. He’s definitely going to put on a great show and do the best of his ability,” said Errol Spence Jr to the media on Tuesday’s kick-off press conference with Terence Crawford for their July 29th showdown.
“If you know his mentality, I just feel like, I’m just a superior fighter. I feel like I’m going to break him physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and everything.
“Man, everybody is too light in the a** for me. Everybody is a counter-puncher. Danny Garcia is the best counter-puncher in the world. He’s got high-light reel-type counter punching, especially with his left hook. I canceled that out so I’m not too worried about it.
“I got a long amateur pedigree where I fought a lot of guys that were great counter-punchers. That never stopped me before. I think Terence is faster than him and quicker than him, but I think Danny is a great counter-puncher.
“This is a legacy-defining fight, us fighting each other. If this fight didn’t happen, it would have probably been a dent on our legacies. I feel like this fight happening; it’s already great for our legacies.
“This is the type of fight that will probably be talked about 20 or 30 years from now. I think the next two generations will go back and watch Errol Spence and Terence Crawford. The same thing is going to happen with us. People are still going to compare us to the next two generations,” said Spence.
Errol won’t be reckless
“I stayed down. He let the negotiations fall,” said Errol about Crawford. “He fought Avanesyan [last December]. For us to drop our egos and our pride to get on Facetime and talk to each other to try and make this fight happen, that means a lot. It means he wants to make the fight, and I want to make it. We’re bringing it back with the top guys fighting each other.
“I’m blessed to be here. You’ve got to take things for what they are. I got a happy life, and I feel good. I’m taking care of them. I’m still blessed to be able to do things I love, like boxing.
“After my car crash, eye surgery, and things like that. When you’re young, you think you’re indestructible, and I thought I was indestructible. This is how you take care of your family; this is how you feed your village.
“So you know, I’m saying respect like that; it basically turned me around and got me focused and got me on point. I heeded the warning, and I’m back on my path. So I just got to stay focused, dedicated, and hungry.
“I ain’t knocking on nobody’s door. I kick them down. So I ain’t knocking on nobody’s door to get no one. I’m just kicking it straight in.
“I’m not a reckless fighter. I don’t go in recklessly. I’m not going to go out my character and try to prove something or just go crazy and get caught because I want to put on a show for everybody.
“For me, it’s about staying focused and staying on point and making sure I do the right things so I can come out with the victory. But you know, for me, I feel like our mentalities are ones that we want more.
Spence plans on breaking Terence
“When somebody gets caught with a good shot, or somebody gets hit, we’re both going to want to get back,” said Errol. “So that’s going to turn it into a real fight, especially when we start trading. So it’s going to be a great fight, but I can’t tell you how it’s going to come out. I’m not going to come out going crazy, and I don’t think he’s going to come out going crazy, either.
“I’m just going to break him. That’s how I take the wheel. Like you said, I’m super stubborn, and the body can only take so much, and the mind can only take so much too.
“So he’s really going to have to show not only his greatest. He’s going to show his legendary status come fight night because I’m in the breaking business. I’m going to break him physically and mentally. so we’ll see if he can take it,” said Spence about Crawford.
