By Chris Williams: Max Kellerman believes ‘Crawfish‘ Terence Crawford could be heading towards oblivion against the ‘Big Fish’ Terence Crawford this Saturday night in their $84.99 war on Showtime PPV.
Kellerman feels that the fight could get way out of hand early, with Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) falling quickly behind 4-1 against Spence and needing to try and rally while taking withering fire that he’s not designed to take.
To get back in the fight, the 36-year-old Crawford, who is getting on in years, would need to change his DNA from that of a safety-first boxer to becoming a slugger, forcing him to march into the teeth of the ‘Big Fish’ Spence.
It’s going to be harsh in the trenches for an older fighter like Crawford, especially given that he’s never faced a guy as rugged, powerful & versatile as Spence during his long fifteen-year career.
Crawford can’t fall behind early
“The tough thing for Crawford is Spence has a very high work rate, and we’ve seen Spence win behind a jab & defense on a world-class level. He’s also a real hard hitter and very aggressive,” said Max Kellerman to K.O. Artist Sports.
“Against Spence, you might have to knock him out because if Terencee turns around and messes around, he could be down 4-1 after five rounds and not against a guy that is looking to survive. Against a guy that is looking to beat you up.”
Spence’s high-volume punching = Nightmare for Crawford
“You’re going to beat Spence, right? Wait a minute. He’s a high-volume puncher, who can also box and beat you behind a southpaw jab at distance with defenses & footwork,” said Kellerman to Secondsout about what Terence Crawford is up against fighting Errol Spence Jr.
If Crawford is going to stand in the trenches with Spence to try and out-shoot him, he’s not going to last long in that type of firefight.
Crawford has a fragile mandible, and with his thin, bird-like neck, Terence’s head will be whip-lashing around with each huge shot Spence lands on Saturday night.
How long can Crawford last in the trenches against Spence? Well, Chris Williams gives the Omaha, Nebraska native six rounds before he’s reduced to fish bait and torn apart by Spence.
“He [Spence] has a great chin and a very high work rate. There’s mustard on all those shots, head & body. How do you beat that guy? Well, Sugar Ray Leonard figured it out. Crawford is the type of dude to figure it out, and I think that’s why he’s a slight favorite, maybe.”
The problem is, Crawford isn’t Sugar Ray Leonard. You can throw that comparison by Kellerman out the window. In fairness to Kellerman, he probably hasn’t watched Leonard’s old fights recently because Crawford fights nothing like him.
Obviously, Spence is a much different fighter than the guys that Sugar Ray beat during his career.
“I don’t know that people think he’s going to beat Spence no matter what. I think it’s a 50-50 fight, but if there’s a slight favorite, maybe it’s Crawford,” said Kellerman.
