Last night, Terence Crawford delivered an unforgettable performance by defeating his long-time rival Errol Spence Jr. in just nine rounds. Many are calling it a flawless fight, with Crawford dominating from start to finish.
Spence was unable to keep up with Crawford, and what was predicted to be a close fight turned into a one-sided beatdown.
Both fighters should be praised for finally giving fans the fight they’ve been waiting for, even if it took five years to make happen. It’s a lesson for other fighters to learn from – don’t let obstacles get in the way of delivering an exciting match.
It’s worth wondering whether Spence regrets not taking the fight earlier, before his car accident, eye injury, and other difficult battles. But regardless, last night’s fight will go down in history.
As Spence stated, he accepted the fight and took his loss with grace, without making any excuses. Moving forward, what are the possibilities for Crawford and Spence?
Spence has expressed his desire for a rematch at 154, but it may not be a wise decision. The outcome may not change, and there may not be any belts on the line, except for a possibility of a vacant belt. However, financially, a rematch could be lucrative for both parties, and Bud hasn’t completely ruled it out.
If a rematch doesn’t happen, let’s consider the possible options for both fighters.
At 33 years old, Spence is facing a career crossroads after enduring a lot in his life. While losing to a pound-for-pound great isn’t anything to be ashamed of, the way he lost has raised some concerns. His performance was poor and his ability to take punches was practically non-existent.
It’s unclear whether Spence simply had a bad night or if all the events in his life have finally taken their toll. Perhaps the weight cut was too much, or he stayed at 147 for one fight too long.
If Spence chooses to continue fighting, I believe he should wait until at least early 2024 before returning to the ring. He should also consider starting off with a less challenging opponent at the 154 weight class.
Challenging opponents such as Erickson Lubin or Brian Mendoza would serve as a valuable opportunity to gauge his progress moving forward.
Crawford’s position is quite intriguing. The world has long held the belief that he is the best fighter out there, but he has yet to secure a signature win against a top opponent that would truly validate this claim. However, at the age of 35, he has finally achieved that win. If you are curious about other renowned boxers who have had their own signature wins, not just in terms of earnings but in terms of dominating an era and making a name for themselves in the mainstream, I can certainly provide that information for you.
Muhammad Ali, 22 years old
Oscar De La Hoya, 23 years old
Floyd Mayweather, 23 years old
Canelo 27 years old
Sugar Ray Leonard, 24 years old
I believe that most pound for pound fighters faced tough competition in their early and mid-20s. Even the great Marvin Hagler had to work hard and fight against Roberto Duran at 29 years old and Tommie Hearns at 30.
While Crawford is not entirely to blame, he must take some responsibility. He had multiple opportunities to avoid signing extensions with Top Rank Boxing, who expressed their inability to promote him and were losing money. Bob Arum once famously stated that he could build a mansion in Beverley Hills with all the money he had lost on Crawford, while standing next to him. Unlike Ryan Garcia, Crawford never pushed hard enough for a co-promotional fight with Spence or any of the PBC fighters. He was content with his opponents and pay. However, as Crawford grew older and tired of people urging him to fight Spence, he eventually made a change.
It wasn’t all Crawford’s fault. The PBC didn’t seem interested in putting their guys in the ring with him and Top Rank could have done a better job with promoting his fights.
If I had to compare Crawford to someone, it would be Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins didn’t become legendary until later in his career, with his signature win against Felix Trindad at 36 years old. He went on to have some amazing fights for the next 15 years.
Although I don’t think Crawford will fight for as long as Hopkins did, if he wants to cement his legacy he should fight more frequently and make sure those fights are significant given that he is already 35 years old.
Assuming there won’t be a rematch, he may face two potential opponents, Boots Ennis or Tim Tszyu, to secure his position as the top pound-for-pound fighter.
Ennis Boots is the next in line to become the Welterweight champion after Crawford and Spence. It would be an exciting fight to see a talented young fighter go up against an already established champion, similar to the Mayweather-Canelo match.
Taking on a high-risk, low-reward opponent may not be as financially lucrative for Crawford, but it could enhance his legacy. On the other hand, if Crawford prioritizes earning the most money before retiring, he could opt to fight Tim Tsyzu in Australia for a vacant Jr. Middleweight title. This fight would generate substantial earnings for Crawford, while posing little risk.
If Jermell Charlo manages to defeat Canelo Alvarez, a potential mega fight between Charlo and Crawford could take place in the US. However, we cannot predict the outcome until after the Canelo-Charlo fight.
Fortunately, Crawford and Spence were able to return home to their families. It is hoped that Crawford will continue to accept challenging fights, so that this won’t be the only mega fight of his career.