Unbeaten Americans Errol Spence and Terence Crawford will go head-to-head in what’s being billed as the possible fight of the decade as they battle for boxing history on Sunday.
And Aussie star Tim Tszyu believe it’s Crawford who will triumph in the bid for undisputed middleweight supremacy — even if he hopes it goes the other way.
BOXING | SUN JULY 30: Unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. will take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
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Already, there have been suggestions that the man who gets crowned undisputed welterweight king will then move up to Tszyu’s division — and the Aussie has promised to be waiting.
Asked for a prediction, Tszyu told foxsports.com.au’s Nick Walshaw: “Crawford wins.
“Crawford over 12 rounds, outsmarts him.
“It’s a tough challenge, he (Spence) is a big boy for his weight, but I think Crawford is just a touch smarter.
“But I’m hoping it’s Spence so I can get my hands on him.“Just because of our history with each other.
Read more of what Tszyu had to say here and follow all the action live blow.
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TOP REPORTER SHUT OUT OF FIGHT
ESPN’s most esteemed boxing reporter had his credential rejected for the most significant fight of the year.
The New York Post has learned that Showtime and Al Haymon’s PBC blocked Mike Coppinger from covering Saturday night’s blockbuster fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
The reasoning for blocking the credential was not immediately clear.
Coppinger declined to comment for this story.
A source with knowledge of ESPN said the network “went deep to the mat” to try to get PBC to reverse its decision, but its efforts were unsuccessful.
The source added that Stephen A. Smith will be contributing coverage from the fight.
A source with knowledge of Showtime said the decision to block Coppinger’s credential was made by PBC.
The Post has reached out to ESPN, Showtime and PBC for comment.
This is not the first time there has been a controversy involving an ESPN talent and boxing credentialing
In 2015, then-ESPN host Michelle Beadle and then-CNN host Rachel Nichols did not receive credentials for a Floyd Mayweather fight (though Beadle was apparently credentialed after she’d already headed home).
FIGHTERS MAKE WEIGHT
Both fighters made weight Friday for their long awaited and highly anticipated welterweight world title unification showdown in Las Vegas.
“We’re about to make history,” Crawford told fans at T-Mobile Arena, where the two will battle to become the first undisputed welterweight champion of boxing’s four-belt era.
“When I become undisputed in two world-class weight divisions,” it’s going to be great,” added Crawford, the World Boxing Organization champion who weighed in at 146.75 pounds (66.56 kg).
Spence, the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion, weighed in on the limit of 147 pounds.
Spence, who brings a record of 28-0 with 22 knockouts to the bout, promised a “big show” — a day after he vowed to break Crawford down and “break his will.” Crawford, who owns a record of 39-0 with 30 knockouts, is a former lightweight and undisputed light welterweight world champion who has won all seven of his fights at welterweight by knockout.
BOXING | SUN JULY 30: Unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. will take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
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He’s insisted in the build-up to the fight that his ring legacy is secure, but Spence had made no secret of the fact that beating Crawford — and securing the undisputed crown — would be a validation.
“I feel like if I didn’t fight him, his name would always leave a stain on just my name, and if he didn’t fight me, my name would always leave a stain on his name, no matter if he wanted to say it or not,” Spence said this month.
Spence will get his chance on Saturday — after coming back first from extensive injuries suffered in a 2019 car crash and again from a detached retina that scuppered a planned bout with Manny Pacquiao.
Crawford said Spence has it all to prove.
“They say he’s the big bad wolf, but come fight night we’re going to find out if he’s all that he says he is,” Crawford said. “He’s going to have to show me.”
FULL CARD (coverage from 10am AEST)
Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence — Undisputed welterweight title
Isaac Cruz vs Giovanni Cabrera — lightweight title eliminator
Nonito Donaire vs Alexandro Santiago — acant WBC bantamweight title
Sergio Garcia vs Yoenis Tellez — Junior middleweight