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'Crawford will box Spence's Ass off' - says Freddie Roach before Spence vs Crawford
Legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach is eagerly anticipating the highly anticipated Spence vs Crawford welterweight world title fight in Las Vegas. Both fighters are undefeated belt holders and considered among the best in the world. When asked if the winner of this Spence vs Crawford bout would become the pound-for-pound number one, Roach didn't believe it would reach the same level as the Sugar Ray Leonard era but acknowledged that both fighters are exceptional in their own right.
“No because it’s not like in the Sugar Ray Leonard era yet, I don’t feel, but they are great fighters.”Roach then shared his breakdown of the Spence vs Crawford fight, favoring Crawford to come out victorious. He praised Crawford's boxing skills, mentioning how he adapts and switches stances in the early rounds to assess his opponent before employing an effective boxing strategy.
“Errol Spence is probably a little bit of a better puncher, but I like Crawford to win the fight. He’s a very, very good boxer, he knows what to do, and in the first, second and third round he’ll make a couple of switches, you know, southpaw, righty, just to get a feel for his opponent, then he’ll decide what he’s more comfortable with then from that point on he’ll box his a** off. He’s a great boxer.”Crawford playfully confronted Roach about calling him a "bum" at a recent boxing event, to which Roach jokingly responded that he sometimes forgets his name amidst so many great fighters.
“It’s funny, I sat with him at the Hall of Fame dinner recently and he said to me, why do you call me a bum sometimes? He said, I’m the greatest fighter out there, and I said, ’cause sometimes I forget your name! “It really depends on is it the right time or the wrong time, because he has to make that move when it’s available then he can take advantage of it. If he does that correctly, like he usually does, he will have success. But if he doesn’t Spence will be all over him with big punches. He can knock you out with one punch also. The best thing about this fight is it’s two of the best fighters in the world fighting each other. This is what will keep boxing going”Regarding Crawford's edge, Roach highlighted his versatility and ability to capitalize on the right opportunities. However, he also warned that Spence's power could be dangerous if not handled correctly. The Spence vs Crawford fight has generated immense excitement due to the matchup of two top-tier fighters, and Roach believes it will be a bout that keeps the sport of boxing alive. With both fighters having strong support, it's evident that the Spence vs Crawford matchup is evenly matched. Even Spence himself believes this fight will be talked about for decades to come.