Terence Crawford doesn’t simply just win. It’s almost like he can’t go about his business in the ring mundanely. Instead, Crawford usually puts on a show. He constantly switches stances, flashes some fancy footwork, and, at some point, often scores a highlight-reel-worthy knockout.
Over a decade in the game and no one has come close to figuring Crawford out. Derrick James, however, has immured himself in a room with nothing more than a big TV screen and countless footage of Crawford. On July 29th, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, James will attempt to put together a coherent game plan that will lead Errol Spence Jr. to victory.
Although both have locked up spots on virtually every pound-for-pound list, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) is viewed as the more dynamic and adept fighter. James, by and large, doesn’t have an issue with those sentiments. But why should Spence’s rudimentary set of skills be viewed as a bad thing? According to James, Spence’s bland, yet consistent style of attack, has always been the kryptonite of fighters such as Crawford.
“What people are enamored with is the show, the flare,” said James to YSM Sports Media. “But the basic skills and technique beats glamor and show every day of the week.”
The fundamentals that James has drilled into Spence’s head on a daily basis have led to a unified title reign at 147 pounds. Crawford though, seemingly at the top of his game, isn’t able to pinpoint a single attribute that the Dallas native has over him.
Trash talk and innocuous threats aside, James is anxious for July 29th to arrive so he can prove Crawford and his naysayers wrong. When asked if Spence’s less flashy style will be enough to earn him the victory, James gave a succinct answer.
“Without a doubt.”