By Dan Ambrose: Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford met today for the final press conference, and surprisingly, most of the heated energy came from their trainers, Derrick James & Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, as they argued back & forth, taking the spotlight away from the champions.
Final press conference quotes
Terence Crawford: “I’m ready; he’s ready. We’re going to have a fish fry come Saturday. You got to calm down because things can get real sticky real quick, and then people will say, ‘This is what we do every time we come out.’
“Social media, my a**. Listen, just like you talking, it can turn deadly real quick on both sides. So why not support your fighter? You ain’t got nothing wrong with that. Let’s come together and make this event a success instead of everyone saying each time we get together; it’s always shooting & violence. I wish Errol and his people the best.”
Errol Spence Jr: “It’s strap season. I guarantee you that I’m going to put on a great show and a great performance. Make sure you bring your seasoning on Saturday night because we’re going to have a Crawfish boil his a**, and bring the hot sauce too.
“You already know that BoMac is going to have the seasoning too. He’s going to be right there with his a** after the fight.”
Brian Custer: “Derrick James, you already produce an undisputed champion. You’re going for another. Can you give us some insight about what it takes to win fights of this magnitude, especially with so much on the line?”
Derrick James: “It takes a lot of fortitude, a lot of discipline, and I think that Errol has that, and it’s not different than Jermell. On Saturday night, it’s going to happen. We waited. We made this happen. We took every belt. He just had to hold his title and fight nondescript opposition.
“We beat champions to get here.”
Custer: “Brian Bomac, you already produced an undisputed champ. Now you’ve got the opportunity to kind of mk history to be the first male to do it in another weight division.
“You’re going up against obviously a phenomenal fighter and also a trainer of the year, but if you’re victorious on Saturday, what does that say about Briaan Bomac Mcintyre as a trainer?”
Derrick James: “It says he has three other people helping him.”
Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre: “It’s funny. Ain’t no more hide. You can’t hide no more, Derrick. I respect you for what you’ve done in the game, but you’ve never gone up against me or my staff. Remember something. We’ve been here before. You’re trying to get there. I can tell you how it is to be undisputed. You can’t tell me s**t. Sit back and watch this. I promise you something.
Derrick James: “They got to make a new weight for you, super heavyweight. What the f**k are you talking about?”
Bomac: “All thaat s**t you talking. It don’t mean nothing. Those two brothers have to get in the ring. Alright, shut the f**k up.”
Derrick James: “Yes, mam.”
Custer: “This is going to be one heck of a fight. EJ, no matter where I go, no matter where you go, they ask the same question. ‘Who is going to win this fight?’ So, Errol Spence Jr, can you tell everybody why Errol Spence will win on Saturday night?”
Spence: “You asking bogus questions. I’m going to win because I’m the better fighter. Physically, mentally, it doesn’t matter. I’m more durable than him. Like I said, I’m going to break him down, and I’m going to break his will.
Brian: “Bud Crawford, same question. Will you tell the boxing public why Terence Crawford will win on Saturday night?”
Crawford: “Everything about Terence Crawford is better than Errol Spence Jr. When you look at everything I do in the ring, it’s better than Errol Spencee Jr. So come right night, I’ll prove each and every one of the doubters wrong once again that Terence Crawford is the best fighter in the world today.
“That’s just what it is. I’m not talking any credit away from Errol. He’s a great fighter, he’s good at what he do, but when you compare him to Terence Crawford, there’s no comparison. I’m just a better fighter.”
Brian: “Errol, you told me even as an amateur, you had one dream, one goal, and that is to make history and be the first undisputed welterweight champion of the world, especially in this era. Floyd, Manny, neither one of those great fighters accomplished it. If you accomplish that and get a victory on Saturday, what does that say about Errol Spence Jr?”
Spence: “I don’t remember telling you that because my goal was to get some money, especially when I was in the amateurs. Me winning this, it’ll mean a lot, it’ll really mean a lot. It would mean that I am one of the greatest welterweights ever to lace up a pair of gloves.
Brian: “Bud, we already mentioned that if you win this fight, you join Clarressa Shields as the only fighters to become undisputed in two weight divisions. You become the first male. If you’re victorious on Saturday, what does that say about Terrence ‘Bud’ Crawford?”
Crawford: “Like I said before, this is the Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford era. When you look at the body of work that I’ve done and each weight class that I’ve been in. 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 never had a fight where I didn’t look spectacular in.
“Given my body of work, and that’s against every person they put in front of me. So given my body of work and for how long I’ve been doing it for, yeah, this is the Terence Crawford era, since Floyd Mayweather retired and Andre Ward.”
Brian: “EJ, you can look at a fighter, watch their videos and go to their fights and watch their fights. But it’s not until you get in the ring with somebody that you find out a lot about a fighter.
“What is Bud Crawford going to find out about Errol Spence Jr that he hasn’t seen on video, or maybe he didn’t notice when he went to one of your fights? What is he going to find out about EJ on Saturday night?”
Spence: “That my skills are superior. My coach is the trainer of the year. He teaches sound fundamentals, he teaches basics, and that’s what he’s going to find out. I do have great defense. I do have great offense, I do have great stamina. I have all the above. I just don’t have talent.”
Brian: “Bud, what is Errol Spence Jr going to find out on Saturday night?”
Crawford: “The same thing that everybody else finds out. He’s going to come in there and say, ‘Damn, I kind of underestimated this guy. On TV, he looks one way, but in the ring, I saw three of them. It’s all good. He got the fundamentals; he’s got the durability; he’s got the size; he’s got the stamina; he’s strong.
“He’s the big, bad wolf, but come right night, we’re going to find out. All that he says he is, he’s going to have to show it.”
Brian: “Bud, this will be your eighth fighter at welterweight. Seven of them have been stopped. Will Errol Spence Jr get stopped on Saturday night?”
Crawford: “I always tell everybody that I don’t go in there looking for a knockout. I go looking for a win, but if he gets out of line, he’s going to be the next one down.”
Spence: “I’ve been getting out of line my whole life, so you’re going to have to do what you’re going to have to do.”
Crawford: “S**t, I’m about to have to take my belt off then.”
Spence: “You’re going to have to do what you’re going to have to do.”
Crawford: “I’m going to do it.”
Spence: “You’re going to need more than a belt. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not a kid. You’re going to need more than a belt. I ain’t one of your kids.”
Crawford: “I’m going to treat you like one.”
Spence: “Alright, we’re going to see.”
Crawford: “We’re definitely going to see.”
Brian: “Errol, one of your monickers is ”Man Down.’ This is for the undisputed welterweight title. Will you stop Terence Bud Crawford on Saturday?”
Spence: “Put him in the dirt.”
Crawford: “You ain’t putting nobody in the dirt.”
Brian: “Bud Crawford, what can you guarantee us when you step in the ring with Errol Spence Jr on Saturday night?”
Crawford: “I can guarantee you fireworks. I can guarantee you that. I’m 120% ready, ready for whatever he brings to the table. He says he’s going to break me. Let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Brian: “Errol Spence, what can you guarantee when you step in the ring with Terence Bud Crawford?”
Spence: “This is a legendary old-school fight. This is going to be an icon type of s**t. I guarantee you’re going to want to tune in to this fight; you’re going to want to buy this fight.”
