The former trainer says a rib injury, Spence’s father and a rejected postponement clause, not poor preparation, shaped the camp before the Terence Crawford fight
Derrick James has pushed back against Errol Spence Jr.’s criticism of the Terence Crawford training camp, saying a rib injury and decisions made outside his control limited the preparation. James also revealed the fight contract allegedly allowed a three-month postponement, but said Spence chose to proceed.
Spence recently described the Crawford training camp as “trash” during his interview with Andre Ward, saying he went six or seven weeks without sparring and was not properly prepared for Crawford’s southpaw style. James offered a very different explanation.
“We weren’t able to do everything that we do normally to prepare for a fight,” James said to Brian Custer. “The only thing that was really different was that he didn’t have the ability to spar because he was injured.”
James said Spence suffered a rib injury during the second week of sparring. After learning about the injury, he advised Spence to have it checked.
He then claimed the decision to end sparring did not come from him.
“His father did. His father said he not sparring. He gonna save it to the fight. His father is the one that said no sparring.”
James added that he even suggested Spence spar one of his own friends who could avoid targeting the injured ribs, but Spence declined. Instead, James says he took on the role himself during mitt sessions, working 14 to 16 rounds while throwing punches back to simulate live action.
He also rejected Spence’s criticism that he failed to prepare him for Crawford’s southpaw stance.
“Watch the media day. I’m throwing punches at him left-handed because he couldn’t spar,” said James. “I’m the one throwing shots at him. I’m the one going 14 rounds with him on the mitts.”
James revealed another detail that had not previously been public, claiming the contract contained a provision allowing the fight to be postponed by three months because of the injury. He said Spence chose to continue instead.
“He had something within the contract that said they could move the fight back three months, but he didn’t want to do that,” said James about Spence.
Crawford went on to dominate the July 2023 undisputed welterweight championship fight, scoring three knockdowns before stopping Spence in the ninth round. The defeat remains the only loss of Spence’s professional career, while the circumstances surrounding that training camp continue to be debated nearly three years later.
