Main-Event Spence and Crawford Make Weight, The Undercard Is Also Set

Spence vs. Crawford will see unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, July 29 in a highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV clash from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera in a 12-round WBC and WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire battles Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. Kicking off the telecast is top prospect Yoenis Tellez dueling Spanish contender Sergio Garcia in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

Errol Spence Jr 147 vs. Terence Crawford 146.75

(undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO welterweight title)

Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz 134.5 vs. Giovanni Cabrera 134.25

(WBC, WBA lightweight eliminator)

Nonito Donaire 117.25 vs. Alexandro Santiago 117.5

(WBC bantamweight title)

Yoenis Tellez 155.5 vs. Sergio García 155.5

Steven Nelson 167.75 vs. Rowdy Legend 166.75

José Salas Reyes 121.5 vs. Aston Palicte 123.5

Venue: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

Promoter: TGB Promotions

TV: Showtime PPV

ERROL SPENCE JR. VS. TERENCE CRAWFORD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND PHOTOS

(Photos from Esther Lin/SHOWTIME)

Undefeated boxing superstars Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford faced off Thursday at the final press conference before they meet to crown the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era this Saturday, July 29 headlining a SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

To kick off the main event portion of the press conference, legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson conducted a coin toss to determine which fighter would walk to the ring last on Saturday night. Crawford won the toss and can now decide whether he would like to walk to the ring last, or be introduced last once in the ring.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Man Down Promotions, TBC Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from T-Mobile Arena:

ERROL SPENCE JR.

“I’m gonna win because I’m the better fighter. I’m better physically and mentally. I’m more durable. I’m gonna break him down and break his will.

“It would mean a lot to be undisputed. It would mean that I’m one of the greatest welterweights to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

“He’s gonna find out that my skills are superior. He’s talented, but when we talk about what my coach teaches, he’s gonna see that I have great offense, defense and stamina. It’s more than just talent.

“This is gonna be legendary. Make sure you tune-in. This is gonna be an old school fight. It’s gonna be iconic. You’re gonna want to buy this fight. You’re getting your money’s worth.

“People are gonna talk about this fight 30 or 40 years from now when you talk about legendary fights. They’re gonna talk about this fight the same way they talked about the ‘Four Kings’ era. There’s gonna be an amateur 20 years from now watching our fight on YouTube and saying man, I want to be in a fight like that.

“Everyone knows it’s ‘Strap Season’. I want to thank my parents, because they blessed me with the resiliency to get through a lot of stuff in life. Make sure you order the fight on SHOWTIME PPV. I guarantee you I’m gonna put on a great show. Bring your seasoning on Saturday night, because we’re gonna have a crawfish boil. Bring that hot sauce too.

“I guarantee you it’s gonna be nothing but fireworks from start to finish.”

TERENCE CRAWFORD

“I don’t go in there looking for the knockout, I go in there looking for the win. If he gets out of line he’s gonna be the next one going down.

“Everyone knows what time it is. I’m ready and he’s ready. We’re gonna have a fish fry come Saturday.

“He’s gonna find out the same thing that everyone else finds out. He’s gonna say that on TV I look one way. In the ring he’s gonna be seeing three of me.

“They say he’s the big bad wolf, but come fight night we’re gonna find out if he’s all that he says he is. He’s gonna have to show me.

“Everything about me is better than Errol. When you look at what I do in the ring, it’s better than what he does. Come fight night, I’m going to prove every doubter wrong. I’m going to show that I’m the best fighter in the world.

“This is the Terence Crawford era. When you look at my body of work in each weight class, you can’t deny that. This is my era. I’ve never had a close fight. I’ve never had a fight where people thought I lost. I’ve looked spectacular every time.

“This is what we do every time we come out. That talking can turn bad real quick. Support your fighter, and let’s come together and make this event a success.”

 

DERRICK JAMES, Spence’s Trainer

“There’s no more talking. Nothing else to say. My chant is, it’s time to eat. It’s time to make it happen. We’re tired of talking. It’s time to go. Show time.

“It takes a lot of fortitude, discipline and focus to win fights like this. Errol has that. He knows his time is on Saturday. We made this happen. We took every belt and beat champions to get here.”

BRIAN “BO MAC” MCINTYRE, Crawford’s Trainer

“We’re here now y’all. There’s nothing else to say. He can’t hide anymore. It’s time to take care of business. It’s time to go to work.

“We’re gonna find out who the best man is. I respect them for what they’ve done. We’ve been here before. You’re trying to get here. I can tell you how it is to be undisputed. Sit back and watch.”

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert Make Friendly Wager On Spence vs. Crawford Fight

Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert made a friendly wager on Wednesday ahead of the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship showdown between Dallas-native and unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Omaha-native and WBO Welterweight World Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, taking place this Saturday, July 29 on SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  

Mayor Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) tweeted on Wednesday, “.@OmahaOfficial, how about we raise the stakes of the #SpenceCrawford showdown with a friendly wager? If @terencecrawford wins the undisputed welterweight title on July 29, a Texas-styled title belt from @WildBillsDallas is yours! @ShowtimeBoxing @PremierBoxing.”

“I love a friendly wager and am eager to watch what is sure to be a competitive match between two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport,” added Mayor Johnson. “Dallas is home for Errol Spence Jr., and I admire his incredible talent, grit, and determination.”

 Mayor Stothert agreed to the wager and confirmed she will send Mayor Johnson an assorted box of prime cuts of meat from Omaha Steaks if Spence wins the fight.

“We look forward to cheering for our hometown champ Terence Crawford in his bout against an equally talented opponent,” said Mayor Stothert. “His investment in Omaha's B & B Sports Academy demonstrates his commitment to our community and will serve as an inspiration for our youth.”

 Mayor Johnson has been a long-time supporter of Team Spence, as he and Spencer’s trainer Derrick James, a world-renowned professional boxer and trainer, were introduced years ago by a mutual friend and have been friends ever since.

 “We both grew up in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, and today we do a lot of work together in support of that organization,” said Mayor Johnson. “Most recently, we rented out an entire movie theater and took dozens of kids to see Creed III, where they also met Errol Spence Jr. and Anthony Joshua. It was a great night.”

ERROL SPENCE JR. AND TERENCE CRAWFORD MAKE GRAND ARRIVALS IN LAS VEGAS AHEAD OF SHOWTIME PPV SUPER FIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT

Fight week officially kicked off Tuesday as undefeated boxing superstars and pound-for-pound greats Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford made their grand arrivals at MGM Grand before they meet this Saturday, July 29 headlining a SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Spence and WBO Welterweight World Champion Crawford will face-off Saturday night in a much anticipated clash to crown the first undisputed 147-pound champion of the four-belt era, with the winner likely to emerge as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter. Both fighters spoke to the historic nature of the fight in front of a large throng of fans at Tuesday’s grand arrivals.

"It would be a dream come true to become the first welterweight undisputed champion of the world in the four-belt era,” said Spence. “I watched all the great fighters as a kid. Now, I get to have my moment.

"I want the bright lights and the glory… He's in his prime. I'm in my prime. We are the two best fighters in the welterweight division. The winner of the fight on Saturday night will be the best fighter in boxing." 

"It's going to be even sweeter to win the undisputed championship for the second time,” said Crawford, who previously was undisputed at 140-pounds, and who can become the first man to become undisputed at two weights with a win on Saturday.

“That's why we take the chances we take. That's why we fight the way we fight. This is a fight that the world's been craving.

 "My name is already up there with the all-time greatest welterweight fighters. It's just a matter of going out there on Saturday and putting the cherry on top and furthering my legacy."