Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. recently sat down with Fight Hub TV to discuss the highly anticipated bout between Terence “Bud” Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., set for July 29th
“It’s a fight we all need to see. Crawford has the highest IQ in boxing and Spence has height and strength on him,” Jones explained. However, in his opinion, these factors are not decisive in their own right, creating a battlefield of complexities that each fighter will need to navigate.
Drawing from his years in the ring, Jones analyzed the strategy Crawford might employ: “Terence’s got to box, be smart.” The question begs to be asked then, how does this intelligence-based strategy contend against Spence’s physical prowess?
Balancing Strength and Strategy
Height and strength can definitely help Spence, according to Jones. “It’ll all depend on how well Crawford can take his punch.” Thus, it seems that the heart of the battle rests not merely in the physical, but in the blend of physical and intellectual warfare. “Crawford has to make complex adjustments,” Jones added, driving home the point that boxing IQ could hold the key to this encounter.
Jones suggested a potential game changer for Spence: “If Crawford’s adjustments become a problem, that makes it a bit easier for Spence.” The ability to adapt mid-fight and to alter strategies in response to the opponent’s maneuvers is a crucial part of high-level boxing.
Despite his vast experience and in-depth knowledge of the sport, Jones did not venture to predict an outcome. He did affirm, however, that this could be a “wild, damn furious decision.”
Finally, as we dove into other matchups, Jones touched upon the recent Devin Haney vs Vasyl Lomachenko fight, saying, “It was a great night. But I thought Lomachenko was going to take the belt from the champ.”
