WBC Special Preview: Spence Jr. Vs. Crawford
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Welterweight World Championship
July 29, 2023 / Las Vegas, Nevada / T-Mobile Arena
Showtime, TGB Promotions & Premier Boxing Champions present:
ERROL “The Truth” SPENCE JR. (USA)
WBC Welterweight World Champion / 3rd Title Defense
IBF Welterweight World Champion, WBA Welterweight Super Champion
Age: 33 / Date of birth: March 3, 1990
Residence: Dallas, Texas / Birthplace: Brentwood, Long Island, New York
Record: 28-0, 22 KOs / Total rounds: 142 / World championship fights: 7-0, 4 KOs
Height: 5’9” – 177cm / Reach: 72” – 183cm / Stance: Left-handed
Manager: Al Haymon / Trainer: Derrick James
TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD (USA)
WBO Welterweight World Champion
Age: 35 / Date of birth: September 28, 1987
Residence, birthplace: Omaha Nebraska
Record: 39-0, 30 KOs / Total rounds: 224
Height: 5’8” – 173cm / Reach: 74” – 188cm / Stance: Right & Left-handed
World championship fights: 17-0, 14 KOs
Manager: Self-managed / Trainer: Brian McIntyre
WBC WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Luis Manuel Rodriguez (Cuba) 1963
2. Emile Griffith (Virg. Island) 1963 – 1966
3. Curtis Cokes (US) 1966 – 1969
4. Jose Napoles (Mexico) 1969 – 1970
5. Billy Backus (US) 1970 – 1971
6. Jose Napoles (Mexico) * 1971 – 1975
7. John Stracey (GB) 1975 – 1976
8. Carlos Palomino (Mexico) 1976 – 1979
9. Wilfredo Benitez (P. Rico) 1979
10. Ray Leonard (US) 1979 – 1980
11. Roberto Duran (Panama) 1980
12. Ray Leonard (US) * 1980 – 1983
13. Milton McCrory (US) 1983 – 1985
14. Donald Curry (US) 1985 – 1986
15. Lloyd Honeyghan (Jamaica) 1986 – 1987
16. Jorge Vaca (Mexico) 1987 – 1988
17. Lloyd Honeyghan (Jamaica) * 1988 – 1989
18. Marlon Starling (US) 1989 – 1990
19. Maurice Blocker (US) 1990 – 1991
20. Simon Brown (Jamaica) 1991
21. James McGirt (US) 1991 – 1993
22. Pernell Whitaker (US) 1993 – 1997
23. Oscar de la Hoya (US) 1997 – 1999
24. Felix Trinidad (P. Rico) 1999
25. Oscar de la Hoya (US) * 2000
26. Shane Mosley (US) 2000 – 2002
27. Vernon Forrest (US) 2002 – 2003
28. Ricardo Mayorga (Nicaragua) 2003
29. Cory Spinks (US) 2003 – 2005
30. Zab Judah (US) 2005 – 2006
31. Carlos Baldomir (Argentina) 2006
32. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US) 2006 – 2007
33. Shane Mosley (US) Interim * 2007
34. Andre Berto (US) 2008 – 2011
35. Victor Ortiz (US) 2011
36. Robert Guerrero (US) Interim 2012 – 2013
37. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US) * 2011 – 2015
38. Danny Garcia (US) 2016 – 2017
39. Keith Thurman (US) 2017 – 2018
40. Shawn Porter (US) 2018 – 2019
41. Errol Spence Jr. (US) 2019 –
* Regained
WBC TOP 10 WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Sugar Ray Leonard (US)
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)
3. Oscar de la Hoya (Mexico/US)
4. Jose Napoles (Mexico/Cuba)
5. Roberto Duran (Panama)
6. Emile Griffith (Virgin Is.)
7. Pernell Whitaker (US)
8. Shane Mosley (US)
9. Carlos Palomino (Mex)
10. John Stracey (GB)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
35 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only six have regained the title: Jose Napoles (Cuba-Mex), Ray Leonard (US), Lloyd Honeyghan (Jamaica-GB), Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex), Shane Mosley (US), Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US).
124 WBC welterweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Apr. 26, 2022 Errol Spence Jr. TKO10 Yordenis Ugas – Arlington, Texas
Dec. 5, 2020 Errol Spence Jr. W12 Danny Garcia – Arlington, Texas
Sep. 28, 2019 Errol Spence Jr. W12 Shawn Porter – Los Angeles, California
Sep. 8, 2018 Shawn Porter W12 Danny Garcia – Brooklyn, New York
Mar. 4, 2017 Keith Thurman W12 Danny Garcia – Brooklyn, New York
Jan. 23, 2016 Danny Garcia W12 Robert Guerrero – Los Angeles, California
May 2, 2015 Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Manny Pacquiao – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 3, 2014 Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Marcos Maidana – Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan. 26, 2002 Vernon Forrest W12 Shane Mosley – New York, New York
June 17, 2000 Shane Mosley W12 Oscar de la Hoya – Los Angeles, California
Feb. 13, 1999 Oscar de la Hoya W12 Ike Quartey – Las Vegas, Nevada
Oct. 1, 1994 Pernell Whitaker W12 James McGirt – Norfolk, Virginia
Sep. 10, 1993 Pernell Whitaker D12 Julio Cesar Chavez – San Antonio, Texas
Sep. 18, 1989 Felix Trinidad W12 Oscar de la Hoya – Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb. 4, 1989 Marlon Starling TKO9 Lloyd Honeyghan – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 27, 1986 Lloyd Honeyghan TKO6 Donald Curry – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Dec. 6, 1985 Donald Curry KO2 Milton McCrory – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 16, 1981 Sugar Ray Leonard TKO14 Thomas Hearns – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 20, 1980 Roberto Duran W15 Sugar Ray Leonard – Montréal, Quebec
June 22, 1976 Carlos Palomino TKO12 John Stracey – London, England
Dec. 6, 1976 John Stracey TKO6 José Napoles – Mexico City, Distrito Federal
Apr. 18, 1969 José Napoles TKO13 Curtis Cokes – Inglewood, California
Nov. 28, 1966 Curtis Cokes W15 Jean Josselin – Dallas, Texas
Dec. 8, 1962 Emile Griffith TKO9 Jorge José Fernandez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Kilonova
By James Blears
Errol “The Truth” Spence 28-0, 22 KO’s fights Terence “Bud” Crawford 39-0, 30 KO’s on July 29th at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, for the whole welterweight enchilada portion.
Errol grasps the WBC, WBA and IBF belts. While Terence is the WBO belt holder. The victor will be the first undisputed welterweight champion since 1988. That’s the magma, magna cum laude magnitude of what’s at stake. Hors D’oevres Smorgasbord, Main Course and Dessert, right in the middle of a desert.
Initial negotiations stalled and the gloom of disappointment descended. So, in an attempt to abbreviate and alleviate, Bud phoned Errol and together they lined up this engaging, bellissima mega-fight. It’ll swell their bank accounts, gild the pages of history and define their legacies. An opportunity like this, doesn’t come around very often. Once in a generation.
Wasn’t very long before people started comparing it to the first and awesome encounter between Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns. But that was long ago in 1981 yet not so far away. However, fundamental key factors remain constant. Then and now, the most intelligent strategy, ability to aptly adapt and sheer grit, are crucial victory enablers. As Sugar Ray Leonard once said: “I learned to summon, from somewhere deep within, the extra will. Knowing it was there and could be tapped, gave me the boost of confidence I would rely upon for years to come.”
Both Errol and Terence are assuredly in their prime, at their peak, measuring up to the zenith of their achievement ceiling. Neither has ever shuddered or spat out the bitter palliative of defeat in the professional operating theater. In an almost surgical manner, both are gifted, clever, cunning, ruthless and relentless, warding off adversity. Not afraid of make bold incisions… Patient!
A kilonova flashes and blazes, illuminating the horizon when two neutron stars collide, smashing into one another. And thereafter an afterglow lasts for eons. As the lyrics of the Elton John song “The One” illuminate: “When stars collide, like you and I, no shadows block the sun.”
Yet Errol had to overcome a cloud in his right eye, which turned out to be a partially detached retina, suffered in sparring for a fight against Manny Pacquiao, which fate never meant to be. He has fully recovered from that, following timely and successful surgery.
Prior to that, a very fortunate escape from a car crash, rolling and wrecking a Ferrari 488 Spider, six days in hospital, some chipped teeth and facial lacerations. And then, a four hundred and twenty two days hiatus, after which he returned to defeat Danny Garcia on points. People around him say that the experience chastened him, made him grow up and focus upon what’s really important. Careers in boxing are fleetingly brief. Second chances are exceedingly rare. Errol got a break and he thanks his lucky stars for it.
Terence who debuted as a pro in 2008, served a six years apprenticeship before winning the WBO lightweight title from Ricky Burns in Glasgow. He then moved up in weight to win the super-lightweight and then a welterweight championship. He’s physically developed and enveloped the welterweight mantle, growing into its folds.
More robust than lean Terence, as an Olympian, Errol competed at one hundred and fifty two pounds. Turning pro in 2012, he shed five pounds and has always competed as a welterweight. He stopped Kell Brook in eleven at Bramall Lane Soccer Club in 2017, to win the IBF title, fracturing Kell’s left obital bone. Kell previously suffered a fractured right orbital bone against GGG. In 2020 Terence TKO’d a by now faded Kell Brook in four rounds.
Another fighter who Errol and Terence have in common, Is Shawn Porter. Errol won a split decision against then WBC champion Shawn in 2019, having knocked him down in the eleventh. In 2021 Terence, who like Errol is a natural southpaw, used switch hitting skills and tactics against Shawn, knocking him down in the tenth with a straight left. Shawn got up but was knocked down again and his corner threw in the towel. He retired from boxing thereafter.
Erudite Shawn is well qualified to compare and contrast Errol and Terence. He expertly explained: “Errol has a constant high punch output, which is draining. I’m not saying Errol is slow, but he’s going to wear you down. Errol was prepared to beat me at my own game and Terence was prepared to beat me at his game. Mentally there’s a difference.
“Errol likes to be the commander in chief. With him it’s more of a thud. With Terrence it’s more of a whiplash. With Terrence it comes from nowhere and it comes with sheer speed. The calculated pressure from Errol has to be something which he sustains all night and combines with body punching.
“With Terrence he’s got to go to Errol’s body to make him feel uncomfortable. If Errol isn’t punching then his hands are up. With a guy like that, you’ve got to find openings.“
Errol is more solidly built. But concerning height he’s five feet nine and a half inches tall, while Terence is five feet eight. Errol has a seventy two inch reach, while Terence has a seventy four inch reach. Errol is thirty three, Terence is two years older. With twenty two knockout victories, Errol’s KO percentage is 78.57 percent, while Terence, who has stopped thirty opponents is 76.92 percent.
Errol possesses a solid jab and is a proficient body puncher. Terence is a master of distance. A superb range finder, who throws punches from all angles. A lightning Pythagoras opportunist.
Terence says: “This will be the cherry on top for me. This fight boils down to who prepared the best and then on fight night who’s on their A Game. That’s what it comes down to.”
Errol says: “Whoever can impose their style will win this fight.”
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