Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford odds, picks, PPV: Our expert analyzes the boxing match of the

May 2024 · 5 minute read

The best welterweight boxers in the world — Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) and Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) — will finally fight on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Crawford is the current favorite, at -160 against Spence’s +120 (you can check current odds here).

There will be four championship belts on the line, with Spence owning the WBC, WBA and IBF belts, while Crawford is the WBO title holder. One will walk away as the first four-belt undisputed welterweight champion. According to various reports, each fighter will take home at least $10 million.

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This fight features two undefeated boxers in the prime of their careers going up against each other. We had Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao in 2015, but both fighters — after a series of false starts — were past their prime when that fight happened (Mayweather was 38; Pacquiao 36). 2017’s Golovkin-Álvarez was highly anticipated, but also featured a 35 year old GGG. This might be the biggest boxing match since Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury battled in 2018.

Crawford is the smaller of the two fighters, as he started his career at super lightweight before moving to welterweight. There’s been some talk about Spence possibly moving up a weight class after this fight. Despite being smaller, Crawford has a longer reach by two inches.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford

Odds from BetMGM. 

BoxerOddsRounds

Terence Crawford

-160

Less than 11 (+175)

Errol Spence Jr.

+120

11 or more (-250)

When: Saturday, July 29

Where: T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas

Start time: Main card starts at 8 p.m. ET. The main event is expected to start around 11 p.m. ET.

PPV Information: Showtime PPV will show the fights in the United States for $84.99. TNT Sport will carry the fight in the UK for £19.95. In Canada, FITE.tv will air the first for $63.99.

Expert Picks with Eric Kelly

Eric Kelly is a four-time national boxing champion, an alternate for the 2000 U.S. Olympic boxing team and a trainer:

Kelly helped me understand the fight, its significance in boxing history, and made his predictions for the fight.

DeWitt: How excited are you for Saturday night’s fight?

Kelly: This is pugilistic valor. This is going to be a great chess match. Their egos are at a high. You’ve got two undefeated welterweights in their prime, fighting for an undisputed and the first in the four-belt era. First time in this era that there will be an undefeated welterweight champion.

Spence has the better jab and better body attack. They both have good power. Spence has great timing. So does Crawford. They’re both ring generals. Crawford is more versatile…and has a great mean streak. It’s two prime undefeated fighters for the united welterweight championship of the world.

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I can’t wait. This is going to be good. Trust me. I don’t want to go to a party, I want to go home and sit by myself, order the PPV and ingest everything that’s going on. No distractions.

DeWitt: What will you be watching the first few rounds of the fight? 

Kelly: I’m looking for two things: I’m looking at that jab, who is touching that jab and the foot placement for the first few rounds. I don’t think either one will open up early. Watch the matchup for foot placement. It’s their foot placement, and whoever has their feet where they need to control the real estate.

If someone opens up early, that will be Crawford because he’s a very passionate fighter and that can play against him. I’m not saying it will, but it can play against him. He gets emotional, and he gets caught up in situations he gets caught. He puts his heart before his brain. You can’t do that with a fighter like Errol Spence.

If I was Terrance Crawford, I would stay orthodox for as long as I can and let him do what he does best, and I’m going to be on my A game.

DeWitt: Do you think this fight will go all 12 rounds?

Kelly: It could be anywhere from eight rounds to 12. It isn’t going to be under eight rounds. That’s how crazy it is going to be. I think this will end by stoppage before it is finished, but we’ll get eight or nine rounds at least.

I know that Errol can stop Crawford, and I know that Crawford can stop Eroll. I don’t see this going the full 12 rounds.

DeWitt: Time for your prediction

Kelly: I think that Terrance Crawford will win the fight, and it’ll be by stoppage. I think Crawford will be the undisputed champion after Saturday night.

DeWitt: You’ve outlined these are two great fighters in their prime. What’s the X-factor that has you predicting Crawford to win? 

It’s all about lifestyle when you have two undefeated fighters like these guys. Elite, Grade A fighters, it all boils down to who lives a better life and who’s more dedicated in their career. For me, that’s Crawford and the way he has stayed focused and dedicated to his craft.

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DeWitt: Will we see a rematch no matter what happens Saturday?

If there’s not a stoppage, there will be another fight. If there is a stoppage, what are we doing a rematch for? There’s no need for a rematch. I think it’s going to be a stoppage. It warrants a rematch if there isn’t a stoppage.

(Top photo of Terence Crawford: Steve Marcus / Getty Images; in-line photo; Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)

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