Shakur Stevenson, in an interview with Fighthype, boldly predicts an eleventh-round knockout by Terence Crawford in his title unification fight against Errol Spence Jr. tonight. Crawford, who boasts an unbeaten record, is Stevenson’s close friend, further intensifying his conviction of Crawford’s impending victory over the reigning IBF, WBA, and WBC champion Spence.
Stevenson acknowledges that a knockout would require Crawford to engage in a toe-to-toe battle with Spence. Crawford’s knockout prowess isn’t defined by jabs or long-distance single shots, as evidenced in his recent fight against Shawn Porter, which ended in victory only because Porter’s father made the decision to stop the fight. However, Stevenson remains unflinchingly confident. “Crawford is ready. He’s ready,” he declared, dismissing any doubts about Crawford’s preparedness to face Spence. When asked for his prediction on the fight, Stevenson proclaimed, “Crawford by knockout. Eleven.”
Stevenson also voiced his support for Crawford’s southpaw stance as a tool to counter Spence’s jab, arguably his strongest attribute. “Take away Spence’s best attribute. His best attribute is his jab. If he takes away his jab, it’ll be an easy night. I think either way, he can take away his jab, but honestly, when Bud turns southpaw, he can get the job done. So I like him being southpaw,” Shakur stated. Both fighters are undoubtedly ready, and as Stephen A. Smith of Showtime remarked, the fight is “the most hype for a fight since Mayweather-Pacquiao,” setting the stage for a thrilling night of boxing.
Image Credit: Top Rank