BY KEITH IDEC
July 31, 2023 Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
LAS VEGAS – Errol Spence Jr. barely had time by the start of his post-fight press conference late Saturday night to process the brutal beating he had just absorbed at the hands of Terence Crawford.
The former IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion was already convinced, however, that their immediate rematch will be much more competitive than their entirely one-sided 147-pound title unification fight at T-Mobile Arena. A disappointed Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) refused to use the impact getting down to the welterweight limit had on his poor performance, but the DeSoto, Texas native is much more optimistic about his chances if he faces Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) a second time at the junior middleweight maximum of 154 pounds.
“I know I’m a lot better than what I showed tonight,” Spence said. “And I know that a lotta things was off with me … even though Terence Crawford did what he was supposed to do. He was sharp and he was on point, and he made sure he was a hundred percent ready in this fight.” Spence stated that he’ll “definitely” exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch. Crawford, who later revealed that he would have no problem meeting Spence at the junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds in their second bout, will dictate the weight limit for their rematch because he won their fight.
Their rematch, which could take place prior to the end of 2023, will be a tougher sell than their heavily hyped, long-awaited first fight because Crawford defeated Spence so easily. A calculated Crawford picked Spence apart with precise counterpunches and eventually overwhelmed the taller, supposedly stronger southpaw with his power and speed.
The first fully unified welterweight champion of the four-belt era knocked Spence to the canvas for the first time in Spence’s 10-year professional career during the second round. Crawford continued to break down Spence in the ensuing rounds and dropped him twice more during the seventh round.
After an uneventful eighth round, Crawford resumed his vicious assault. Referee Harvey Dock wisely stepped between them to halt the action at 2:32 of the ninth round because Crawford’s punishing punches hurt a defenseless Spence again. “I got a feel for his power probably like first, second round,” Spence said. “You know, he’s a strong dude, but you know, everybody at this top level have some type of power. But I think because my timing was off he was catching me in between shots.”
Crawford led by the same margin, 79-70, on all three scorecards entering the ninth round. Judges Tim Cheatham, David Sutherland and Steve Weisfeld scored one round apiece for Spence prior to the stoppage.
Despite the one-sided nature of their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event, Crawford didn’t do anything to catch Spence off guard.
As expected, Crawford fought out of a southpaw stance throughout their bout. The Omaha, Nebraska native’s timing was impeccable, but Spence attributed at least some of Crawford’s accuracy to his own timing being off.
“Nothing really surprised me,” Spence said. “He was just like I thought. Just my timing wasn’t good today.”
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