Errol Spence Jr. is completely unaccustomed to being a betting underdog entering a professional prize fight.
The unbeaten IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion isn’t offended, though, that Terence Crawford has opened as a slight favorite to beat him in their 12-round, 147-pound title unification fight July 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In fact, Spence seemed to expect that to be the case when he was asked about Crawford’s status as the favorite during their press conference Tuesday at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Spence figures that the physical setbacks he has endured over the past 3½ years contributed to Crawford opening as the favorite over him.
“Nah, I don’t pay attention to it,” Spence told Showtime’s Brian Custer, who moderated the press conference. “I mean, that’s a good thing. I mean, everything I been through throughout these two, three years, I mean, I should be the underdog. But, I mean, it is what it is, man. A lotta people’s the underdog and they wind up winning. That’s why it’s a bet.”
Spence referred to the dental damage, bruises, cuts and scrapes he sustained during a one-car accident in October 2019, as well as surgery to repair his torn left retina in August 2021. The DeSoto, Texas native’s eye injury happened while Spence sparred to get ready for his fight with Manny Pacquiao.
The 33-year-old Spence overcame those serious issues to remain undefeated (28-0, 22 KOs), but he’ll also end a 15-month layoff when he encounters Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) in their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event. Spence hasn’t fought since he stopped Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas (27-5, 12 KOs) in the 10th round of their unification fight in April 2022 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Nevertheless, Crawford couldn’t resist the opportunity to needle Spence when Custer asked him about being the underdog.
“They know what’s gonna happen,” Crawford said of the opening odds. “That’s why.”
BetMGM (-140/+120), Caesars Sportsbook (-135/+115) and FanDuel (-128/+100) all listed Crawford as less than a 2-1 favorite to beat Spence in their fight for Spence’s three titles and Crawford’s WBO belt. Unless their fight results in a draw or no-contest, the Spence-Crawford winner will become boxing’s first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.