There is a slight sliver in the set of skills that separates Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. 

Both Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs), Spence (28-0, 22 KOs), and their camps have indicated that fortitude, grit, and determination will likely be the determining factor for who’ll eventually walk away victorious when they meet July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Showtime pay per view. 

“I think everything is a key point in the fight. You got my jab, you got my movement, you got my counterpunching ability. My brain and the way I think, all around,” Crawford told BoxingScene.com and other reporters. “What separates me from him is my mentality, the way I think, my ring generalship, my counter ability.

“Our styles match up really well. You have one fighter that loves to come forward and be an action-packed fighter. You have one fighter who loves to move, counter, and stand in there toe to toe. So it makes for a great fight.

“I'm training for everything so I don't get caught with anything that's unexpected so we don't have any surprises.”

Crawford and Spence have been tied to a fight ever since Crawford stepped into the division in 2017 and secured the WBO welterweight title with a win against Jeff Horn. 

During a recent media workout in Las Vegas, the three-division champion Crawford said the Spence fight and battle for undisputed welterweight supremacy means everything to him. 

"This puts the cherry on top of my career. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and I can’t wait to get it on," said Crawford. 

“The welterweight division has had a lot of great fights in the past and this will be another one. There’s a bright future for the division as well with a lot of great talent coming up. It’s still a hotbed for the sport."

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.