The champions – Spence the WBA, WBC and IBF, Crawford the WBO – have blitzed through the 147 pound ranks with only each other left to face to put a full stop on their case for the best of a generation.
Following years of failed talks, the two bypassed the business of it all and got on the phone. The fight was made, and it goes down this weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
So a pick ’em fight? Not according to ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. In a moment captured by Boxing Social, the former undisputed heavyweight champion known simply as ‘The Baddest Man on The Planet’ scoffs at it being ’50/50.’
“I want to say Crawford… Why everybody say it’s 50/50?”
Asked if he thinks Crawford can get the stoppage, he said:
“Crawford can stop anybody. I’m not saying he’s going to, but he can.”
Tyson has previously backed Crawford to win, but said that it’s not going to be easy. He sides with the bookmakers on that, with ‘Bud’ entering the ring a slight favourite over Spence.
The winner on the night will leave the arena as undisputed champion, but a two-way rematch clause ties them into the rivalry in the future should the loser want to run it back.
There are reports that the winner decides the weight, and it’s known that Spence is keen to move up to 154lbs soon.
Fans won’t complain if there’s a second fight, especially if the action under the lights is as technical, explosive and impressive as expected.