Deontay Wilder, former heavyweight champion, has made his pick for the upcoming welterweight bout between Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) and Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs), slated for July 29th. In a clear show of loyalty, Wilder is throwing his support behind IBF/WBA/WBC 147-lb champion Spence. The ex-champ cites Spence’s battle-hardened experience and consistent comfort in face-to-face, blow-for-blow exchanges as key factors in his prediction.
Wilder, in an interview with Fight Hub TV, expressed his loyalty to Spence, stating, “I got to go with Errol Spence on it. Errol is my guy. He’s always supported me through thick and thin, and when you have that love and support from somebody like him and continue to do so, no matter what, you must return the love...Win, lose, or draw; you got to support who you support. I follow my heart in all things, and my heart is with Errol, and his heart is always with me.”
While he doesn’t hold anything against Crawford, Wilder’s support for Spence is unwavering. Despite Crawford’s undefeated record at welterweight since his 2018 move to the category, Wilder sees his evasion of heavy hits as a drawback. In comparison, Spence’s toe-to-toe fighting style and enduring stamina stand as solid positives. Nevertheless, Wilder points out that Spence's slower hand speed and below-average mobility could work against him, not to mention his somewhat leaky defense.
Regardless of the outcome, fans can expect a rematch later in the year. Both Crawford and Spence won’t want to miss out on the financial rewards a second fight would generate. As Wilder noted, the fighters won’t be able to make the same amount from any other bout in their division, and the 154-lb category they might move into next year has only one big name - Jermell Charlo. Given Charlo’s infrequent bouts, maintaining popularity in this division could prove challenging.
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