Via Jim Calfa: Chris Algieri says the way Terence Crawford has developed in the heavyweight division puts him on par with three-belt champion Errol Spence Jr. As such, Algieri says Spence-Crawford is a “50-50 fight” in his mind. now.
Algieri feels that Spence’s eye injury and car accident negates any advantage he has over 35-year-old Crawford (38-0.29 KO). If it weren’t for injuries and spills, Spence clearly has an advantage over Crawford.
“Obviously it was a very interesting battle and one of the biggest that could be made. Possibly the biggest fight,” Chris Algieri told Fighthype about the fight between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford.
“I have always said that I support Spence in the fight. But Crawford was able to do the job he did in the welder weight class and really evolved into the weight class.
“It became a 50-50 fight in my mind, and I’m really curious to see what the lead is like. That’s the kind of fight I’ll go through with my gut feeling. It’s not there yet. It must be close to night combat.
“Crawford is such an anomaly given the fact that he can fight both ways. Yes, yes. If it doesn’t work for his orthodox stance, he’ll switch to Southpaw. I think he will be better against the mainstream Spence. Who knows?
“That ability to convert and still be effective and more, is sometimes your real trump card. Crawford is hard to read, and that’s what makes him so dangerous.
“He’s the type to grow as the rounds go on. He is selective about everything and is constantly analyzing. But Spence puts too much pressure on you, making it difficult to think and analyze.
“He is [Errol Spence] Enter right through the front door. The guy is like a destroyer. He shoots and has a lot of power. He is physically very strong and very large for the weight class. I believe he will be the greater man.
“I think you have to look at the battles where Spence has a hard time,” Algieri said when asked what advice he would give Crawford to beat Spence. “The battle with Shawn Porter, and I hate comparing wars. I hate doing math boxing.
“Crawford was able to stop Porter, but Porter caused Spence trouble. It doesn’t really work like that. Anyone who knows boxing doesn’t work like that. But that capriciousness Shawn can use to keep Spence out of constant pressure can actually be beneficial.
“His in and out. He was really nice,” Algieri said of Spence. “He comes from a great amateur background. So he has that style when he has traction. He was much harder to hit than he thought.
“He just needed such a good punch that he didn’t care. He comes over to begin his offense. But if he doesn’t want to be hit, he doesn’t get hit. Look at the fight with Mikey Garcia.
“I’ve been saying that ever since I fought him [Spence]. I was really impressed with his boxing abilities, and the fight with Mikey Garcia showed the world that he can really fight. Mikey is one of the best boxers for a long time.
“So for him to go out and box the boxer, I think that opened up a lot of people’s eyes. In terms of timing, this could have helped Spence a little more, but other than that, Spence was in a car accident; he injured his eye.
“So I don’t know,” Algieri said when asked if Spence was catching up with 35-year-old Crawford at the wrong time. It comes down to leveling the playing field on where they are time wise.
