Jeff Horn predicts Errol Spence will suffer same fate as he did against Terence Crawford
Undefeated pair Errol Spence and Terence Crawford are considered generational greats already – so who becomes king? Jeff Horn knows better than most which way will it will go.
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Already billed as the most significant fight since Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao in 2015, this weekend’s superbout between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford will crown a new king of boxing.
And Australian legend Jeff Horn can only see it going one way.
“I think Crawford will win, he’s a better boxer and a smarter boxer,” Horn said.
“He’s got more ring smarts, and his awkwardness is going to play the difference in this fight.
“He’ll just break him down and get the victory.”
Horn knows better than most, having shared the ring with Crawford in 2018 for the WBO welterweight title.
Crawford was supreme, winning every round and stopping Horn in the ninth.
He brings that same belt into this undisputed championship bout against Spence, who owns the other three major welterweight titles; the WBC, WBA and IBF.
After years of back-and-forth with no definitive outcome, many felt this fight would never eventuate.
In the end, Crawford broke free of his contract with promoters Top Rank, and signed a three-fight deal with giants PBC, who promote Spence.
And because they’ve each signed rematch clauses, it seems inevitable a second fight between the pair will happen regardless of the result on Sunday (AEST).
But the winner will be the top dog of the sport.
Both men feature in the top five pound-for-pound rankings of every reputable outlet and analyst, both are undefeated, and considered generational greats already.
But Horn, now retired, believes a similar fate awaits Spence as what he encountered at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“When I fought Crawford, it did feel like he was very good, because he knew exactly what I had to do for the victory, fighting in his backyard, I was at the end of my contract with Top Rank, I needed to put on a good display to beat him,” Horn said.
“I thought I had to stop him to win, he knew that, he used that to his advantage to draw me on to his punches.
“Now I think Spence has got the same mindset. He thinks he’s a bigger, stronger guy than Crawford, he’s going to come forward and try to hurt him, and that’s not a good idea against someone like him who is so smart.
“If I didn’t rush him, if I just took my time and didn’t rush it might’ve been a bit better, but I felt like I couldn’t potentially wait for the shot, because the shot might never come with a guy like Crawford, I had to rush it to try to get the victory.
“I think these guys might be on a more even playing field.
“When you think you can use your size against Crawford, it’s not the case – he’ll use it against you.
“His ability to switch, he can fight southpaw, he can fight orthodox, he can throw good punches off both hands, that’s his advantage.”
Crawford, aged 35, has a record of 39-0 (30KO), while 33-year-old Spence is 28-0 (22KO). They’ve each disposed of the best of the rest in the division, and the time has come to determine who truly is the best welterweight of this century.
“This is a fight that’s been marinating, this is greatness that you’re going to see on July 29,” Crawford said.
“I’ve been preparing my whole life for this moment. Moments like these don’t come often, and this is my time.
“July 29 I can assure you, you’re gonna walk away and say, ‘Terence Crawford is special.’ You’re gonna mark me down as one of the greatest of all time.
“I rise to the occasion when I have the odds stacked against me. I’m a fan of Errol, but this is business. I see myself beating him. I’ve visualised it numerous times before.
“I like to go fishing. Everyone knows that’s my hobby. They’ve all been caught before. Every last one of them. I got a big enough hook for Errol. We actually already caught him, and we’re reeling him in right now.
“Being undisputed is gonna mean everything to me. July 29 you’re gonna see a Terence Crawford that you’ve never seen before. Errol may bring the best out of me.”
Spence, who was lucky not to be killed in 2019 when he drunkenly crashed his Ferrari and was flung several metres from the car, breaking his teeth but miraculously escaping with no broken bones, believes he will “break” the unbreakable.
“This is the biggest fight in boxing,” Spence said.
“When you look at your styles, and know our mentalities, you know neither of us are gonna want to break. I feel like someone is gonna break on fight night.
“I’m ready to show people that I’m one of the best welterweights of all time. Don’t miss this fight. Because I’m gonna show everyone why I’m breaking people.
“I’ve done everything that I said I was gonna do. The last thing left to do is beat Terence Crawford. He’s a great fighter, but I’m gonna break him and show everyone why I’m the best fighter in boxing, period.
“All the titles I took, I took them from the champions. You line ‘em up, I’m gonna knock ‘em down. It doesn’t matter what happens, I get the job done.
“He can show what he wants to show. He might go on and do his thing after I beat him and prove he’s an all-time great. But he can stop that nonsense because I’m winning on July 29.
“We have to show these other fighters that there are rewards in taking risks. The best have to fight the best.”
The fight will be shown live on Foxtel’s Main Event on Sunday from 10am for $39.95.
‘There’s bad blood’: Why Tszyu is so invested in Crawford v Spence
– Brendan Bradford
Tim Tszyu has declared he’ll be the “face of boxing” by this time next year, and wants to fight either Errol Spence or Terence Crawford – who meet in a world title blockbuster this weekend – to help him make it happen.
Tszyu has a fight lined up in Australia later this year – possibly against interim WBC champion Brian Mendoza – but is eyeing up even bigger fights after losing out on a showdown with Jermell Charlo.
Charlo will move up two weight classes to fight the current face of boxing, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in September, and Tszyu has added both Charlo and Canelo to his hit list as he plots world domination.
“Mark my words, next year I will be the face of boxing,” Tszyu said on Wednesday. “I used to chase belts, but belts are more for legacy.
“It’s the opponents now, the highlights, the stuff that will live forever.”
Which is where Crawford and Spence come in. Specifically Spence.
Tszyu is tipping Crawford to take Spence’s IBF, WBA and WBC welterweight titles, but he wants Spence to win.
Why?
“Our history. We know each other and our teams know each other,” Tszyu said. “I want to get my hands on him.”
The bad blood goes back to last year, when Spence was outspoken in saying Tszyu would lose to Terrell Gausha.
Tszyu scored a decision win, and has never forgotten it.
“I want Spence because there’s bad blood, and that’s what I want. It’s an itch,” he said. “It’s something to wake up to, wanting to take someone’s head off.
“It’s just his comments – I’ve never commented back – but I want to get one back.
“(It started) with Terrell Gausha. He bet on Gausha, he lost his money. He bet on (Tony) Harrison, he lost his money.”
Under the WBO’s rules, the winner of Crawford-Spence can move up a weight division and automatically become mandatory for the belt at super-welterweight.
Tszyu will likely be elevated to from interim to full WBO world champion when Charlo fights Canelo, making a bout against Crawford or Spence more than just a pipe dream.
While he’d rather settle his bad blood with Spence, Tszyu predicts Crawford to take the win this weekend.
“Crawford wins,” he said. “Crawford, 12 rounds. I reckon he outsmarts him.
“I think Spence is a tough challenge. He’s a big boy for the weight, but Crawford’s a touch smarter.”
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