Trainers for Errol Spence Jr., Bud Crawford throw verbal jabs at one another before megafight
In the final press conference before the long-awaited megafight between Terence "Bud" Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., their respective trainers traded verbal jabs at their teams and one another.
After Crawford's trainer Brian "Bomac" McIntyre shouted out his team, he began jawing with someone unseen on camera – presumably from Spence's camp – as he went to sit down. Right afterward, Spence's trainer, Derrick James, took the podium, lobbed a joke about McIntyre's weight and addressed Crawford's team.
McIntyre has known the future champion since he was born, as this 2020 profile from The Athletic prior to Crawford's fight with Kell Brook highlights. After working as a referee in some of Crawford's amateur fights, "Bomac" became an assistant in his corner all the way through the 2008 Olympic trials and has served as lead trainer since Crawford turned pro.
James is a highly acclaimed trainer and his stable of fighters includes Spence, Jermell Charlo (who will fight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September) and new additions in former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Ryan Garcia.
There were other fiery moments in the presser, such as Crawford responding to members of Spence's team looking to agitate the Omaha native and the usual promises of fireworks in the ring by both men.
Despite the spicy talk, there seems to be a lot of respect between the combatants that belies the hype.
Both fighters have often discussed meeting this moment, sort to speak, by evoking memories of "The Four Kings" era in the welterweight division. Spence, himself, has said that people will talk about Saturday's fight for years to come. Whether that respect is shared between their trainers is another story.
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