Errol Spence Jr. defeats Danny Garcia in welterweight title fight

Back in the ring for the first time after cheating death in a car accident, WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. retained his belts with a 12 round unanimous decision over former champion Danny Garcia at A T @ T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Saturday night.

The scores were 116-112 twice, and 117-111 for Spence.

Maxboxing judged Spence the winner by a 117-111 tally.

Respect was shown in the opening stanza. Both Spence, a southpaw, and Garcia, jabbed and probed. Spence, the aggressor, landed a number of lefts to the body. Garcia countered with a few rights to the head and his own jab. Spence continued to press the fight in round two. His jab was mostly on point. A straight left connected. Garcia forced Spence back with his own solid jab.

In round three, Garcia jabbed an fired a combination. Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) calmy blocked the incoming and seconds later, fired a hard left. The shot landed. Garcia clipped Spence with a right. Spence was being more active. He scored again with jabs. Garcia got off first in the opening seconds of round four. Spence fired whipping hooks to the ribs. Garcia (36-3, 21 KOs) went to the body and head. Spence kept popping his right jab. He landed an uppercut. Both fighters connected with shots to the chin.

Garcia let a three-punch combo go in round five. Spence connected with a hard left to the jaw. Garcia attacked to the body. Spence fought back. Garcia landed a lead right to the side of the head. Spence ripped to the body in round six. Garcia’s left eye was showing damage – due to Spence’s right jab. Garcia landed a hard right. Spence tagged Garcia with a solid left.

Spence had won five of six rounds on this writer’s scorecard. He was outworking Garcia consistently. It was all about volume. He continued to work in round seven. Garcia lets his lands go in the last 15 seconds of the round. Spence had done better. Spence forced Garcia into the ropes in round eight. Garcia spun away and went to the body. Spence opened up on Garcia’s midsection. Spence pinned Garcia on the ropes and fired shot after shot. Many landed.

Garcia was told to up the ante in round nine. Easier said then done. Spence went back to work. Garcia landed a lead right. No effect on Spence. Garcia was looking for the perfect shot while Spence was winning the fight.

Spence was active as usual in round 10. Garcia connected with a solid right. Spence absorbed it. Seconds he went back to punching. Close round.

In round 11, Spence connected with heavy punches to the head and body. He had taken a couple of rounds off, but was now back. Garcia worked the ribs and connected with a good right. The 12^th and final round was more of the same. Spence landed a good right hook. He connected a couple of lefts to the belly. And seconds later, the chin. Garcia absorbed them. Spence went back to work. He had been consistent most of the bout and was too much for Garcia.

“It’s surreal after coming back from my accident,” said Spence. “I think I fought pretty good. Danny Garcia came out to fight. I think I’m the best one hundred-forty-seven-pound fighter in the world.”