Errol Spence: Training for Terence Crawford alongside AJ and Charlo makes me work harder

Errol Spence Jr. believes he is reaping the benefits of training for this month’s legacy-defining fight against Terence Crawford alongside the likes of Anthony Joshua and Jermell Charlo.

Trainer Derrick James now has a bulging stable of elite fighters, several of whom are locked in camp for huge fights.

Lightweight Frank Martin looks set to continue his undefeated record against Artem Harutyunyan this weekend as Joshua prepares for his rematch with Dillian Whyte.

Charlo has signed to face boxing’s biggest star, Canelo Alvarez, in September and Ryan Garcia recently joined the gym following his defeat to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in May.

Spence and James have been working together since the WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight champion turned professional.

Stablemate Anthony Joshua (L) is another Derrick James fighter looking forward to a huge fight

On July 29, he takes on Crawford in a battle for the first undisputed welterweight king of the era by four belts.

Now Spence trains with a vibrant set-up in Dallas and the 33-year-old believes he benefits from teaming up with other top boxers.

“It’s great to be with those guys, we feed each other,” Spence said Wednesday.

“We all push each other, if only indirectly – I could spar and Anthony Joshua could walk in the gym, Frank Martin could walk in… we look at each other and of course you work that little bit harder.

“You work a little harder because you know another top fighter is watching you. You don’t want to be seen as lazy or as someone who doesn’t train as hard.’

Spence and Charlo have sparred together before and the 33-year-old believes those rounds have improved him as a fighter.

Spence and Crawford meet in Las Vegas to crown the king of the welterweight division

Martin’s fight this weekend means Spence has arrived early in Las Vegas for this month’s highly anticipated clash at the T-Mobile Arena.

‘The Truth’ hopes his meeting with Crawford – who brings together two undefeated stars, the No. 1 and No. 2 in their division – will persuade other fighters to take on their rivals.

“(Crawford) is my dance partner, he’s the man I need and vice versa — especially when we’re talking about legacy, if I wasn’t fighting him this fight would always have left a blemish on my name,” Spence said.

“This is the one they will be talking about for a long time. But most of all, this is a fight that will give me and Terence Crawford financial security for our families.”

Spence now lives on a ranch in Texas with his family and he has plans to build a paintball facility for his three children.

“I live on a ranch and go out: we play with the dogs, the horses… we go to the pool, ride the ATVs, feed the horses, there’s just a lot of different activities,” he said.

Crawford insists his legacy would not have been tarnished had this fight never materialized

“It shows them something different than just being downtown… Eventually I want to get my kids into horseback riding, to build a paintball[area].”

Crawford, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first man in the four-cushion era to become undisputed champion in two divisions.

He knew this fight had to be fought as soon as his kids started asking when he would fight “Spencer.”

“When your kids ask, ‘When are you going to fight this guy?’ you know you have to fight them… I have to find a way to fight this guy.”

But Crawford insists his legacy would not have been tarnished had this clash never materialized.

“I’ve already accomplished so much in boxing, I can now retire and be in the Hall Of Fame,” he said. “There’s nothing I haven’t accomplished in the sport that would make me say, ‘I wish I did this or that…’ this is just the icing on the cake of my ice cream.”