Carl Frampton exclusive: ‘History-making’ Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford fight is ‘one for the ages’

In one of the most eagerly awaited bouts in boxing, the Americans will battle it out at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 29 with all four major belts at stake.

Spence Jr – who currently holds the WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight world titles – has a 28-0 record to protect but faces a formidable opponent in Crawford who has a pro record of 39-0 with 30 knockouts.

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, two-time world champion Frampton believes that the winner of this “history-making” fight could argue they are the best pound-for-pound fighter.

“Some people may say [Oleksandr] Usyk depending on how his fight goes with [Daniel] Dubois as well,” Frampton said. “There are a few fighters you can make an argument for.

“But the winner of Spence-Crawford – and I suppose how they win as well, if it’s a dominant performance from one guy – then you’ll probably have to say they are the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

“This fight is history-making. It’s one for the ages. You talk about the Four Kings and [Roberto] Duran, [Thomas] Hearns, [Marvin] Hagler and [Sugar] Ray Leonard all fighting. You’re going back to that type of fight… this is a monstrous fight.”

Boxing fans will also be treated to an all-British blockbuster between Liam Davies and Jason Cunningham on the same date, also live on TNT Sports.

The Telford International Centre will host the fight between British, WBC International and European champion Davies (13-0) and WBO International champion Cunningham (32-7).

There is plenty at stake, including four major titles, and Frampton feels the reward for the winner could be a world title fight.

“Yes, the winner can go on to fight for a world title,” said Frampton. “It would be difficult for the loser, especially if it’s Cunningham just because of the stage of his career that he’s at.

“There’s no love lost. I think it’s a really interesting fight. Liam Davies actually really surprised me in how he beat a fighter I used to train with, Marc Leach – I didn’t think he would have beaten him, and he beat him really convincingly. So he’s a very good fighter.

“He’s younger. I’d say he’s probably the favourite in the fight. But Cunningham’s a good fighter, a really good fighter. He pushed Mick [Michael] Conlon reasonably close, who hasn’t won a world title but came very close once anyway and he’s going again against [Luis Alberto] Lopez.

“But Cunningham is someone who I don’t imagine he’s expected to get to the stage of his career where he’s at and be talked about having a chance of maybe fighting for a world title at some point. He’s done it the real hard way but he’s a real throwback fighter as well.”

Frampton added: “[It will be a] quality, quality fight. I’m kind of leaning towards Davies on that one.”

Meanwhile, on August 26, boxing fans will be glued to TNT Sports when Oleksandr Usyk puts his WBO, WBA (Super) and IBF titles on the line against Daniel Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland.

Dubois – who holds the WBA (Regular) belt and is the mandatory challenger in the bout – comes in as the underdog despite boasting a record of 19-1 as a professional.

Frampton said: “He [Dubois] has a chance. He does have a chance. I think you look at Usky’s performances in heavyweight – take the couple of AJ [Anthony Joshua] wins out of the equation – and they’ve been okay. He didn’t look great against [Derek] Chisora. Chisora won a number of rounds in that fight which a lot of people didn’t think he would do.

“AJ, I think he was a little bit cautious in his approach to the Usyk fight. Look, Usyk is a big favourite. I love to watch him, I love everything about him. He’ll not knock Dubois out – I don’t think anyway – with one shot, he’ll have to hit him a lot to try and force a stoppage, which he could do.

“But Dubois is that powerful and that athletic that he could be 11 rounds behind and into the 12th round, and it only takes one shot, and it only has to land once to knock Usyk out. It could happen, but there is a favourite in the fight and it’s definitely Usyk.”

“I think that Fury probably beats them all,” he said.

“Disappointing that a lot of these other fights are being made and Fury is fighting an MMA fighter in Francis Ngannou. A bit of a shame, I think anyway. But I would still have to say that Fury is the No. 1 heavyweight on the planet.”