Joe McNally believes Terence Crawford has the edge over Errol Spence because of what he perceives to be his superior ring IQ and technical ability.
The biggest fight of 2023 is to be staged on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the 35-year-old Crawford and Spence, 33, contest the undisputed welterweight title.
That both fighters are undefeated and so evenly matched has contributed to not only the significance of their fight but, so far, the inability to determine a strong favourite, but McNally – the trainer of, among others, Josh Taylor, who previously targeted a fight with Crawford – told ProBox TV: “That is a superstar fight. It’s a magnificent fight.
“For me, Spence is a solid, all-around operator. He doesn’t do nothing particularly special. He’s got a nice, high, and tight guard; works well; good fundamentals; good jab; solid left hand.
“And I think Crawford is the more polished all-around fighter. Down to his IQ; and his game.”
Spence, unlike Crawford – who turned professional at lightweight – is a career welterweight who has already spoken of moving above 147lbs.
“I think size-wise it’s not gonna be too different,” McNally added. “Crawford’s a big boy; Spence is big, but my money’s on ‘Bud’ Crawford to come through on it through a points decision. Definitely.”
