Terence Crawford Reveals He Made Decision To Box Errol Spence Jr. As A Southpaw In The Locker Room
Terence Crawford says he made the decision to box Errol Spence Jr. as a southpaw in the locker room before walking out.
“I made the change to fight southpaw in the back dressing room. I was like, ‘How should I come out?’” Crawford said to Joe Rogan (h/t BoxingScene). “I just had that chip on my shoulder to go head-on with the bull and just go fight him. I was like just box. And then I was remembering he hadn’t fought too many southpaws before. And then on one of the occasions, he got hurt really badly by a hook. I was like, ‘I’m coming out southpaw and we’re going to box’ just to start off.
“But at the same time, I’m going to get my respect out of the gate. I’m not going to be doing all of that moving. The plan was never to move … He ain’t no terminator. I was going to be right there in front of him like I always do. I was going to make him miss and make him pay and I fought my fight. I feel like that was the key to the victory because he wasn’t used to fighting southpaws,” Crawford added.
Terence Crawford fighting southpaw ended up paying dividends as he went out and stopped Errol Spence Jr. in the seventh round. It was a one-sided beatdown and although Crawford looked good fighting southpaw, he says he won’t be doing it every fight.
“I think it’s depending on the opponent [if I feel comfortable and better fighting orthodox vs. southpaw]. I feel that I am equally great in both stances. I’m very powerful from both stances. I hit just as hard with my left – probably even harder with my left – than my right,” said Crawford. “I look at it like you can go nowhere – you’re trapped. You move to your left, I can cut you off and go southpaw. You go to your right, I can cut you off and go orthodox. In the end, it’s great that I can pack a punch in both hands as well. A lot of people, when they switch, give up something. When I switch I gain something in both stances that I probably don’t have in the other stance. It’s great for me.”
Despite being dominated, Errol Spence Jr. did trigger the immediate rematch clause to face Terence Crawford again.
Do you think Terence Crawford will beat Errol Spence Jr. in the rematch?