Terence Crawford training at UFC PI ahead of blockbuster fight with Errol Spence Jr.

On Wednesday, Terence Crawford spoke to the media at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas where he’s spent the final two weeks of his training camp for his bout with Errol Spence Jr.

“I was working out here prior to going to camp,” he said when asked about the decision to train at the Performance Institute. “I did a pre camp here and built a relationship with everybody here in the facility. And it’s a great facility, so why not utilize it?”

When asked why he came to Vegas so early, he replied, “We’re here in Las Vegas early to get used to the atmosphere and the heat. Come fight night, we’re gonna be 110 percent prepared. We’re adjusting well.”

Crawford will face Spence Jr. in one of the biggest fights of the year, years in the making. But media wondered if his past comments about fighting Conor McGregor and now training in the UFC facilities potentially ignited a desire to try MMA. 

“No, not at all. Like I said before, I used to wrestle a little bit, but UFC and MMA have never been something that I was planning to do or was training to do,” he said. 

Ahead of the fight Crawford touched on just how big this moment will be for him. 

“This fight means everything. 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,” he said. “I’m just here to win the fight. We’re both prizefighters and I don’t worry about any plans he’s making for after this fight. I don’t think about a knockout, I just think about getting the victory and that’s what I’m gonna do next Saturday.”

When asked what he thinks his opponent’s mindset is heading into the bout he said, “He thinks he’s gonna bulldoze me and break me, but he’s gonna have to show me. All of that talk is fuel to the fire that’s already burning. He’s gonna have to prove everything that he’s saying come fight night.”

Despite the fight taking years to come to fruition, Crawford says hr thinks it’s on a perfect timeline.

“This fight is happening at the right time. All the belts are on the line, so there’s even more to fight for. What better way to have this fight than to have it for the undisputed welterweight title?” he said. “The welterweight division has had a lot of great fights in the past and this will be another one next Saturday. 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.”