Kell Brook says he is leaning towards Terence Crawford to overcome Errol Spence Jr in their welterweight undisputed title showdown in Las Vegas.
Brook is one of two common opponents of Spence Jr and Crawford, who fight in the most highly-anticipated clash of the year on July 29, with the other shared foe being Shawn Porter.
Crawford, 35, defended his WBO crown with a sixth round knockout of David Avanesyan in December, whilst IBF, WBA ‘super’ and WBC titlist, Spence Jr will have been inactive in over a year by the time he steps into the ring at the T-Mobile Arena, having last fought in April 2022 when he halted Yordenis Ugas.
‘The Special One’ believes the activity of ‘Bud’ will prove pivotal in seeing him dethrone the 33-year-old Texan, five weeks on Saturday.
“It’s a fight where I’ve been in with both of them and it’s a funny one because I could get this wrong, the reason being that styles make fights,” the 37-year-old told Boxing Social in association with Free Bets.
“A positive for Spence is that he is a natural southpaw and I think that may cause Crawford some problems.
“But, I’m going for Crawford to win that fight, he’s a switch-hitter, he’s like a surgeon in there, very precise, great finisher and he is a great fighter.
“They’re both great fighters, but I’d have to lean towards Crawford, he’s been more active than Spence, who has been in a big car crash, he’s not really been active like Crawford.
“There is only small percentages in it, but I do lean towards Crawford in that fight.”
Brook lost his IBF welterweight world title in a bruising 11th round knockout loss to Spence Jr in 2017 and was blown away by Crawford in four rounds in a bid to win the WBO belt in 2020.
The former world champion, who retired after beating bitter rival Amir Khan, admits that Spence Jr has the edge in power between the pair.
“I think that Spence has probably got the stronger dig, stronger puncher in there,” he added.
“But Crawford is very surprising, he catches you by surprise and they’re the shots that can knock you out. He’s got some pop as well.
“It’s hard to split them, yeah he is stronger is Spence, but Crawford is more of a surgeon.
“He’s more precise, he’s more cute, accurate, switch-hitting, but don’t get me wrong they’re both unbelievable, pound-for-pound greats, as well.”
