By Vince D’Writer: Last week, the thirty-day time clock was about to expire, and Errol Spence Jr (28-1, 22 KOs) decided to activate his rematch clause as he’s now set to make an attempt to avenge his loss when he faces the undisputed, undefeated welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford.
The initial bout between Crawford and Spence was the most highly anticipated matchup in the sport of boxing. The fight was marinating for over four years, and fight fans were anxiously awaiting a clash between the two premier welterweights who were both at the top of the pound-for-pound list.
Going into the night of July 29th, the matchup between Errol Spence and Terence Crawford was labeled as a 50/50 fight, but to some onlookers, the odds swung into Crawford’s favor as soon as Spence entered the ring. Appearance-wise, Errol Spence didn’t look up to par, as he seemed to be glossy-eyed and weight-drained.
After the bell sounded, what was supposed to be an epic battle, quickly turned into a classic mismatch. Spence had a solid start as he consistently threw the jab, followed by the left to the body. Crawford typically takes the first quarter of a fight to download the information, but for this bout, he only needed one round.
In the closing seconds of round 2, Spence attempted to throw a jab to the body, but Crawford was able to counter him and land a right hand that sent Spence down to the canvas. Spence was able to get up, but unfortunately for him, Crawford was able to dominate the next four rounds.
In the seventh round, once again, Spence threw a jab to the body, and Crawford countered by landing a sharp right uppercut that sent Spence down to the canvas for a second time. Later in the same round, Crawford scored a third knockdown when he landed a right hook.
As he witnessed Spence absorb a tremendous amount of punishment throughout the fight, referee Harvey Dock decided to step in and put a halt to the contest with 30 seconds left to go in the ninth round. After suffering his first pro defeat, Errol Spence took his time, but in the end, he decided to activate his rematch clause.
Now fight fans know the rematch is on, but the questions that remain are the date of the rematch and at what weight will the return bout be contested at. Since Crawford won the first fight, he will make the decision in regards to the rematch being fought at 147 or 154.
If he’s able to comfortably make 147 again, it may be wise for Crawford to choose to fight at the welterweight limit. It’s a known fact that Errol Spence has been competing in the welterweight division since he started his pro boxing career back in 2012.
Prior to the July 29th bout with Crawford, Errol Spence admitted having difficulties making the 147-pound weight limit. With that being said, why do Spence a favor by setting the return bout at a higher and more comfortable weight?
Errol Spence decided to use a nutritionist while training for the first fight, but he still entered the contest looking weight-drained. Spence was supposed to be the stronger fighter, yet on fight night, Crawford was the stronger and more skilled boxer.
Immediately after the stunning lopsided defeat, many of Spence’s fans pointed out how he appeared to be weak and weight-drained. That claim could be valid, but even if Spence was hydrated and at peak strength, he would have still loss on July 29th.
The new undisputed welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), was on top of his game the night he defeated Errol Spence. Crawford was sharp and focused, while Spence looked flat, and his timing was severely off.
Even if Crawford does Spence a favor by choosing to fight at 154, Spence still needs to make a number of adjustments in order to get his vindication. He didn’t look his best in the first fight, but a lot of that had to do with Bud Crawford being well-prepared and executing his game plan to perfection.
The switch hitter Bud Crawford, fought the majority of the fight in the southpaw stance, and it proved to be a very effective tactic. Crawford’s jab was strong, his catch and shoot was accurate, and his counter shots were on point. Crawford displayed impeccable timing as he consistently countered Spence every time Spence threw the jab to the body.
While Crawford is a boxer who has all the tools, Errol Spence is an aggressive pressure fighter. Once Crawford started using Spence’s aggression against him, it seemed like Spence couldn’t adjust because he didn’t have a Plan B.
The initial bout was considered by many to be a 50/50 fight, but due to how non-competitive the first fight was, Spence will go into the rematch as the underdog. If Crawford decides to make the rematch at 154, it is possible that he will indirectly help Spence check one of the needed adjustments off of his checklist.
Throughout the first matchup, Terence Crawford looked like the better fighter as he delivered a dominant performance. If the second fight is contested at a higher weight and Spence is able to sharpen his skills, such as improving his timing and his ability to box off the back foot, will it be enough for him to pull off the upset?