When Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 29th, the winner of this matchup of undefeated superstars will become the first undisputed welterweight world champion in the four-belt era. Spence vs. Crawford joins Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns, Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez, Felix Trinidad vs. Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, as a generational matchup of two popular stars whose dynamic and aggressive styles should produce an instant classic.
At their first in-person meeting since the fight was announced, Crawford said, “This is definitely a legacy fight and a fight that should be talked about everywhere. This is an old school type of fight. All the greats have fought each other and that’s what we’re doing for this era.” Here is what else Crawford and his trainer had to say Tuesday from The Beverly Hills Hotel:
TERENCE CRAWFORD
“Y’all are going to witness greatness. We measure greatness by eras. July 29th, I’m going to show everyone why this era is the Terence Crawford era.
“I’m so excited that we’re here today and that we got this fight done. I’m excited for the fans. I have a gift for each and every one of y’all, because I love the fans. Without the fans, there’s no us. I’m going to give you all a gift with the presence of the two of us on July 29th.
“He calls himself the big fish. What happens when you take the fish out the water? You suffocate him.
“A win shows that I’m the greatest fighter of the era. No man has captured undisputed in two weight classes. That solidifies me as the greatest fighter of this era.
“I’m gonna gut him and feed him to everyone that eats fish in here. If he’s a big fish, we’re gonna have enough for everyone, with potatoes on the side. We don’t smoke over here, we go hunting for fish fillet.
“People after this fight are gonna say that Bud Crawford is special. I can assure you that. He’ll give me my respect after the fight after I whoop that ass.
“I can guarantee that everyone is gonna witness something special. Errol doesn’t like to back up. I’m the type of fighter where you push me and I push even harder. We both have big hearts and like to fight. It makes for a great action-packed fight. July 29 is gonna be a great night for boxing.”
BRIAN “BO MAC” MCINTYRE, Crawford’s Trainer
“I’m so glad these fighters stayed the course and got this fight made. They’re going to show the world who the best fighter is. That really tells you about each fighter’s character.
“We’re gonna show you the best fighter in the world on July 29. It will be us. Don’t miss it. I promise you. I know Spence is coming and Derrick is gonna do a damn good job training him, but it doesn’t matter.
“Terence is the better fighter and the world knows that. If you just look how he goes about his business, there’s no playing around with him. He comes to get you out of there. Once he hurts you, that’s a wrap.
“Errol is a damn good fighter. He accomplished a lot in the game and I tip my hat to him and to Derrick. But the real fighters know who’s gonna win this fight.
“I promise you from the bottom of my heart, that we’re going to walk away victorious.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“This is as big as it gets. The best two fighters in the world, both in their prime and both undefeated world champions. This is not just a mega fight, it’s bigger than that. It’s a generational fight. It's an instant classic that you’ll remember for years to come. Legacies will be determined on July 29.
“Not only is Errol one of the best fighters in the world, but he’s a boxing miracle for what he’s gone through. He’s also box office gold. His last fight generated a massive live gate at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and he’s proven he sells outside Texas. Now he’s coming to do the same in the boxing capital of the world of Las Vegas.
“There’s no more talk about who’s on what side of the street; on Saturday July 29, ‘Bud’ Crawford will be in one corner and Errol Spence Jr. will be in the other corner. When the fight is over, there will be one man standing in the center of the ring with his hand raised and all four belts. He will be the new undisputed pound-for-pound king of boxing.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President of Showtime Sports:
“This is a fantastic time to be a boxing fan, with big fights and top fighters against top fighters. These fights are happening more regularly and there’s one place where they’re happening more often than anywhere else, and that’s Showtime and Showtime pay-per-view.
“Together with PBC, we’ve delivered the strongest schedule in the sport. This year through July we’ve scheduled 17 big-time boxing events. It’s probably the strongest run of fights we’ve had in the 37 year history of Showtime Boxing.
“We’re thrilled to be delivering this once in a generation fight. This fight speaks for itself. Two of the best fighters in the sport fighting to make history. If you were going to create the perfect fight, it would look a lot like this. Two of the best and most skilled fighters in the sport, two fighters with knockout power, and all-action fan friendly styles. This fight is so evenly matched that the betting odds are almost dead even. We’ve got history on the line, and fighters who’ve overcome adversity and with big and enthusiastic fan bases.
“This fight has all the elements boxing fans could wish for. And it’s all in one fight. We’ll see you on July 29.”
