Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. did little in the way of trash talking ahead of their mega fight Saturday for the unified welterweight title. Instead, both combatants insisted their performance would make a bold statement in the 12-round boxing main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card got underway at 8 p.m. ET, while the Crawford vs. Spence fight time is approximately 11:30 p.m. ET on Showtime PPV. All four major belts are on the line, and the winner will become the first unified welterweight champion of boxing's four-belt era. In media appearances throughout the week, Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) and Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) praised each other's skills and accomplishments, while also predicting their own dominant victory. Spence brings the WBA, WBC and IBF crowns to the table, while Crawford's WBO belt is at stake.
Crawford is the -150 favorite (risk $150 to win $100), while Spence comes back at +125 in the latest Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford odds from Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under for total rounds completed is 10.5, with the Over favored at -270 and the Under priced at +200. Before making Spence vs. Crawford picks, make sure you check out the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Peter Kahn.
Kahn is a true boxing insider who has his finger on the pulse of what's going on inside and outside of the ring. He has managed numerous world champions and currently manages 20 fighters through his company, Fight Game Advisors. Kahn recently won the 2022 Boxing Writers Association of America Cus D'Amato Manager of the Year award and was named to the 2023 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame.
Kahn is uncanny when it comes to picking fights. He is an astounding 40-13 on his last 53 SportsLine boxing picks, returning nearly $4,000 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed him has already seen massive returns.
Now, with Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford in sight, Kahn has studied the matchup from every angle and released confident picks for the fight. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford preview
The winner will become the first unified champion of the four-belt era, but only Crawford can become the first unified male champion in two divisions. Claressa Shields has accomplished the feat in women's boxing, at middleweight and super welterweight.
Crawford became the unified light welterweight champion in August 2017 with a third-round knockout of Julius Indongo. He then moved up a weight class and took the WBO welterweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of Jeff Horn in June 2018. He has since defended the belt six times.
In numerous media appearances this week, Crawford said being recognized as the best welterweight of his generation means a lot to him, along with the potential to ascend the coveted pound-for-pound rankings. He's currently No. 3 by Ring Magazine, the noted authority for this honor.
"This is the Terence Crawford era. When you look at my body of work in each weight class, you can't deny that," Crawford said. "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."
If there's an edge in coaching and preparation, it could belong to Spence, whose coach has become renowned as one of the brightest minds in the business. Derrick James is a former professional boxer who recorded a record of 21-7 as a super middleweight.
James encountered Spence in 2008 when the current three-belt welterweight champion was competing in an amateur event. He offered to help the young boxer improve his fundamentals, and their relationship blossomed from there.
In addition to Spence, James' client list grew to include super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo, former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and former interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia. The coach is often widely praised by his boxers for being integral to their success, and Spence echoed this refrain numerous times in the lead-up to the fight.
"He has the boxing world in his palms," Spence told the media this week. "Everybody wants to train with him. Everybody wants to work with him."
Last year, James was named Trainer of the Year in a vote by the Boxing Writers Association of America. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford picks
Kahn likes the Over 10.5 rounds at a price of -270. He's also locked in a strong money-line pick and a prop that returns nearly +200. You can only see those selections at SportsLine.
Who wins Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford, and which plus-money prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Peter Kahn's best bets for Saturday, all from the boxing specialist who has netted his followers a profit of nearly $4,000, and find out.
