July 29th will see the long-awaited coming together of the welterweight division’s premier fighters. It is a fight that has almost taunted boxing fans over the years, who have clamoured for one simple thing - the best vs the best.

Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford is exactly that. They sit atop a 147lb division that has not really had a distinct number one since 2015. The man in question? Floyd Mayweather. 

Now, this is of course incomparable to the size of the events Mayweather used to have us bleary-eyed Brits up until silly o’clock waiting for. Then again, in the UK, general boxing conversation rarely stretches beyond the heavyweight prattle. 

But in our own boxing fantasy land, this is colossal. 

Not only will it determine who will be crowned ‘undisputed’, but it holds weight when it comes to boxing’s mythical pound-for-pound hierarchy. 

Both men have always been represented in the experts’ lists. Crawford, as a three-weight world champion - one weight undisputed - has been a mainstay in recent years. Spence, with the standout wins amongst the division, has sat prominently too. 

The pair have, however, despite their accomplishments, been frowned upon for circling each other. Since Crawford’s arrival at welterweight in 2018, this fight has been the one to make. 

Instead, Crawford has chopped away at the division’s contenders, most recently showcasing his skillset on ‘multi-cultural subscription platform’ BLK Prime. It felt like the crest of the Spence-Crawford despondency, as it came just 86 days after another breakdown in talks between the two. 

For Spence, his last outing came a whole 13 months ago. A tenth-round stoppage of Yordenis Ugas does back up what is a reasonable resume for a unified champion. 

It is a journey that hasn’t come without trouble, either. 

An October 2019 car crash had Spence in intensive care, at one point fearing for more than his boxing future. Miraculously, he returned to the ring 14 months later. 

In 2021 another setback, as he suffered a retinal detachment in his left during sparring, just weeks before his scheduled bout with Manny Pacquiao. A huge blow for Spence ahead of what would have been the biggest fight of his career. 

To put long into short, this is a pair not rehearsed in the art of a mega fight. 

Yet the exceptional weaponry they possess make this a fight of the highest calibre. 

Spence’s aggression, behind a high guard and a ramrod jab, makes him a horrific prospect to be stood in front of. His intelligent footwork and head movement may not be the most recognised of his attributes, but allow him to utilise his counterpunching ability.

Crawford is more of a master of the sweet science. Can you hit him with one shot? Maybe. With two? Pfft. His majestic movement, matched with his consistent volume of shots from both the southpaw and orthodox stance, make him a terrifying puzzle. 

This really is one for the ages. 

Both men are ready to make history. Both men are ready to break their own ceilings. Both men want to knock the other out. 

One of these two has made a promise they cannot keep. 

Oscar Bevis