By Chris Williams: Errol Spence Jr. confirmed on Friday that his undisputed 147-lb clash against Terence Crawford is closer now than it ever has, and he believes it’s “definitely” going down.
Despite the optimistic outlook by the Texas native, Spence warns that if the fight with Bud Crawford doesn’t happen now, it never will.
Spence isn’t going to wait until he’s hitting old age before Crawford is ready to accept the deal. If Crawford prices himself out, Spence will move up to 154 and go after the titles in that weight division,
This is partly why IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion Spence Jr (28-0, 22 KOs) and WBO champion Crawford (38-0, 29 KO) are close to getting their fight done is that the promoters or the networks are not blocking it.
It also helps that Crawford and Spence both want this fight, and they’re not dragging their feet or using their management as an excuse for why it can’t get made.
With Spence ready to move up, that puts a fire underneath Crawford’s backside to hurry up and get the fight done. It’s now or never.
“It’s closer now than it’s ever been. If it don’t happen now, it’s never going to happen,” said Errol Spence Jr to Fight Hub TV on a unification clash at 147 against Terence Crawford.
It’s good that Crawford has seen the light and is ready to take the fight with Spence because Errol has been waiting all this time to get it done.
Recently, Spence added the WBA belt to his growing collection of straps with a tenth-round knockout victory over Yordenis Ugas last April in one of the best performances of Errol’s career.
“It’s way closer than it used to be. I think it’s definitely going to happen,” said Spence.
If the Spence-Crawford fight doesn’t happen this year, Spence will move up to 154 and challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo for his four belts if he doesn’t vacate them the moment Errol sets foot into the division.
That win over Ugas was arguably a better victory for Spence than anything that Crawford has on his resume. In contrast, Crawford’s best ‘W of his career came against the faded gatekeeper Shawn ‘Showtime’ Porter in November 2021.
Crawford struggled early but came roaring back to stop a tired-looking Porter in the tenth round. Mind you, this isn’t the same Porter that Spence fought – and beat – in 2019. Spence beat a much better version of Porter when he was still hungry.
