Spence and Crawford collide in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Picture: Getty)
The boxing world will come to a standstill on Saturday night as Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford finally meet in the ring.
Viewed as one of the biggest fights in recent memory, IBF, WBA and WBC champion Spence takes on WBO king to crown an undisputed welterweight champion – and arguably, the best fighter on the planet.
The two have been on collision course ever since Crawford unified the light-welterweight belts and moved up to 147lbs to join Spence, with both men undefeated having beaten the very best their division has to offer.
Here, some of the biggest names in boxing past and present give their predictions ahead of fight night.
Mike Tyson – former heavyweight champion
‘I’ve said Crawford, but it’s really a pick ’em fight and I’ll be happy either way.’
Verdict? Crawford win
Tyson (just) leaning towards Crawford (Picture: Getty)
Manny Pacquiao – former eight-weight world champion
‘Crawford has that advantage against Spence. It depends how they prepare for the fight. I don’t think [it ends in a knockout]. it’s gonna be a 12-round decision.’
Verdict? Crawford win
Oleksandr Usyk – reigning IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight champion
‘It’s a great fight. I like Terence. He’s a great boxer. I think Terence wins. That’s my opinion.’
Verdict? Crawford win
Amir Khan – former two-weight world champion and Crawford opponent
‘I’ve got Terence winning that fight, unanimously. Not by stoppage, because Spence is a tough and tricky fighter. He just breaks down a fight so easily, does Crawford.
‘I remember, even with the speed I had and throwing combinations, he was making me miss by inches. Then he’d lean back and catch me every time. He’s so precise and his timing is on point. He’s probably one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen, he reminds me a bit of Andre Ward.’
Verdict? Crawford win
Khan admits he couldn’t get near Crawford in their 2020 fight (Picture: Getty)
Deontay Wilder – former heavyweight champion
‘I got to go with Errol Spence on it. Errol is my guy I follow my heart in all things, and my heart is with Errol, and his heart is always with me. I don’t have anything against anyone else or against Terence. I wish the best for him, but in that fight, I got to go with my guy, Errol Spence.’
Verdict? Spence win
Ryan Garcia – super-lightweight contender
‘I feel like Errol is just going to do what he does. He’s going to put that pressure on him and start getting to him in the later rounds. It’s going to be a good fight but I think Spence is probably going to win by unanimous decision. Terence is a bad man, too. But I’ve got Errol.’
Verdict? Spence win
Garcia backing Spence to get the job done (Picture: Getty)
Eddie Hearn – Matchroom chief
‘I am going for a Terence Crawford stoppage.
‘I think they are both unbelievable. I just look at two things. Number one, I think Errol has had more wear and tear over the years, from the car crash and from tough fights. I also think Terence Crawford is unbelievably mentally strong in fights. He’s a little bit of a sicko going into fights.
‘I’m not sure if he stops him, but I think he wins and I think he could stop him. Sometimes you make these big fights, and they’re cagey for six or seven rounds and it might be like that.’
‘But if it catches fire early, I think he’ll stop him.’
Verdict? Crawford win
Kell Brook – Former welterweight champion and opponent of both men
‘It is very deep tactically, it’s the best of the best here,’ Brook continued. ‘Crawford can naturally switch hit between southpaw and orthodox so comfortably that you can’t read it. It shows how special he is. He comes at odd angles and he’s such a good finisher.
‘He doesn’t punch as hard as Errol Spence but at this level, that doesn’t mean everything. Look at Floyd Mayweather, he made it look easy against Canelo. It is down to the IQ. There are only small percentage margins between these two and we’re going to find out who’s got that advantage.’
Verdict? Undecided
Spence beat Brook in his hometown of Sheffield in 2017 (Picture: Getty)
Jermell Charlo – undisputed light-middleweight champion
‘He’s trained too hard to lose, he’s the best in the game right now at 147 – nobody’s rocking with him. Round six!’
Verdict? Spence win
Frazer Clarke – heavyweight contender
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‘I did have Spence for a bit but I think Crawford is just that bit more versatile, capable of adapting to anything he is faced with. I can see Spence enjoying a good start but I think Crawford eventually gets control and can begin picking him off to just nick it.’
Verdict? Crawford win
Result: Spence 3-6 Crawford
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Everyone has got their opinion…
