*photo by Getty Images
The former IBF, and WBC world Welterweight champ faced off against the speedy, technical, and powerful Terence “Bud” Crawford.
Once the fight started it became abundantly clear that fight was a miss match. The fearsome body puncher couldn’t establish a rhythm as Crawford bobbed, weaved, and counter punched. Spence’s walk down approach became his undoing as his inability move off the line of attack and his flat footedness turned him into a sparring partner who moonlighted as a taxi cab driver.
Yes, Spence was a shell of himself during the fight with Crawford. There were times where Spence looked smaller, unfocused, and depleted as Crawford made quick work of the former champ. Spence appeared to be drained, perhaps fighting at 147 is no longer a healthy weight for him anymore.
This leads us to the question as Errol steps up to the crossroads in his career? Where to now?
My answer? Move up to 154 Junior Middleweight class. Then maybe a fight with Andy Garcia?
See, Errol was once a Juggernaut at 147. The way he walked through opponents with crushing body blows made knockout enthusiast have wet dreams. A small town Texas kid grew up before our eyes and became legend. Then there was the car accident.
Spence was ejected from a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. He sustained injuries as a result of the collision and required surgery. It was if his career jumped started and then just grinded to a halt. But then there was good news.
Spence returned and won a fight. Sure he didn’t look like Spence prior to the injury but he still had the ability to perhaps be undisputed. Us fans were enthralled with his bone break work against Eubanks. Spence was back! But then he wasn’t. The imperfections that Spence has were just amplified as he began to take more fights. Crawford would exploit these imperfections. Patiently Crawford waited until he was able to complete the master class he’d kept polished in his bag for Spence.
In sum ill say that this fight hurt. Not just for Spence but to us fans. Not only the loss but the way that he lost hurt even more. The loss, however, is in the books. And although we can speculate on what Spence will do, he is ultimately at a crossroads and will have to make that decision, himself. Good luck champ.
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