Errol Spence Jr had scored 22 knockouts from 28 wins before coming up against Terence Crawford.
The career-long welterweight stopped the likes of Chris Algieri, Kell Brook and Yordenis Ugas on his dominant run in the 147 ranks before eventually facing Crawford in an undisputed contest.
Despite it being billed a 50/50 fight, ‘Bud’ Crawford dominated from the off, dropping Spence three times on his way to a ninth round stoppage.
Crawford has since moved up to super-welterweight and captured another world title, though he won by decision, ending a ten-fight stoppage streak and leaving some wondering if his power will carry to the higher division. The same questions will be asked of Spence, who is expected to join his former foe at 154 pounds in his comeback.
In an interview with Stephen A Smith, Crawford recalled thinking ‘this is it?’ after being caught by Spence ‘on the button.’
“After the second round, when I hurt him, I felt as if he couldn’t handle my power like I could handle his. I remember him throwing an overhand looping left, and he caught me right on the button, I think it was the first or the second round, and I was just like, ‘This is it? Okay. This is gonna be a long night for him.'”
Spence has been at number one in the WBC’s super-welterweight rankings for some time now, and reports suggest he will leapfrog interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr to face Sebastian Fundora for the full title some time in 2025. Should be win, a rematch with Crawford, who holds the WBA belt, becomes a possibility.
