By Chris Williams: Unbeaten welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford are “close to being made” for the undisputed championship in November in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.
Mike Coppinger of ESPN is reporting that there are “no real obstacles” standing in the way of the long-awaited match between IBF/WBA/WBC 147-lb champion Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) and WBO champion Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) from happening in November.
Spence and Crawford must get this fight made this year because they both have mandatory defenses they’ll need to take care of in 2023 involving talented contenders that could unseat one of these belt holders.
Many boxing fans believe Crawford is the #1 fighter in the 147-lb division, is turning 35 in September, and has only been fighting once a year against fringe-level opposition for the last two years.
The combination of age, inactivity, and marginal opposition could prove to be the undoing for Crawford when he gets in there with Spence. That would be a tremendous step up for the Nebraska native Crawford with him being on the wrong side of 30.
Max Kellerman: “Crawford vs. Errol Spence, where does that fight stand right now?”
Mike Coppinger: “I agree it’s one of the best fights you can make. It’s [Spence – Crawford] probably the best fight and still really close to being made. No real obstacles. I’m told it’s looking like November in Las Vegas.
“These guys are on the two-yard line. I don’t see any way this fight doesn’t happen. Of course, this is boxing, and you never do know, but I fully expect Crawford vs. Spence in November in Las Vegas.”
“I don’t see any way this fight doesn’t happen.”@MikeCoppinger believes Spence-Crawford is on the brink of being finalized. pic.twitter.com/ZuousOmQRd
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 15, 2022
You can argue that Spence vs. Crawford has a lot of the luster it once had due to age creeping in for both guys. The fight to be made right now in the 147-lb division is between Spence and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, as that guy is a level above Crawford.
Boots Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) is like a bigger, stronger, and younger version of Crawford, but without knockout power in either hand.
If Spence or Crawford stays at 147 beyond this year, they’re going to lose their titles to Boots because he’s a next-level type of fighter that can do everything that these guys can do but much better and with more power.
Boots Ennis is like a giant asteroid heading towards Spence & Crawford, and they’re going to need to avert it by moving up to 154, or they will get wiped out.
It’s good that Spence-Crawford is about to take place finally, as it would be a shame if it didn’t happen at all or if he was dragged out until one of both were past their best, as we saw with the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight.
Those guys were great in their primes, but by the time they finally fought, both were faded old veterans, and their fight was about as entertaining as watching paint dry on a fence in the afternoon sun.
