Tag: Derrick James

Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind

Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind.

If you asked a fan of Errol Spence to pinpoint his strengths as a fighter, he or she might be hard pressed to come up with an answer.

Spence is a gifted athlete with the ability to hurt any opponent but he’s not as fast as, say, Gary Russell Jr. or as powerful as Gervonta Davis. So what is it that has allowed him to remain unbeaten and climb the pound-for-pound lists?

His ring acumen, according to trainer Derrick James, who will be in Spence’s corner when he faces Yordenis Ugas in a pay-per-view welterweight title-unification bout Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

“His thinking ability, his ability to think on the fly, his ability to create scenarios, his ability to capitalize,” James said when he was asked what has made Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) successful. “It’s all mental, the way his brain works with his physicality, the way he can be in the right place at the right time or not be at the place the other person wants him to be.

“… A lot of people think he’s boring. They don’t see it because it’s so subtle, the small movements, the things he does. The thing you can’t see is that it’s mental.”

What about the physical part?

One question that hovers over Spence since his horrific car accident in October 2019 and detached retina last year is whether he’s the same fighter who beat the likes of Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia and Shawn Porter before the crash.

James said, “Yeah, from my perspective, he looks great,” but he then implied that Spence might not need to be 100% physically. It goes back to his mind.

“Even though you’re asking me about him physically, I’ll say that mentally he’s stronger,” James said. “Because even if physically there are things he can’t do, he won’t show it. It’s all mental. … If there’s something he’s having an issue with, you won’t see it.

“He will have worked through it mentally so that he’s not showing what might be ailing him.”

Spence, 32, also seems to be more focused than ever.

The accident and injury made it clear to him that everything he has worked for, everything he has, can be gone in an instant. He no longer takes anything for granted, which has had an impact on his discipline.

For example, he had the bad habit of ballooning to the size of a cruiserweight between fights. That’s not the case now. Spence has fought only once since the accident – a unanimous-decision victory over Danny Garcia in December 2020 – but he has been working out year round and changed his diet for the better.

James believes that will allow Spence to be at his physical peak – whatever that is – when he enters to ring to fight Ugas. His mind will take care of the rest.

“Floyd Mayweather used to go one, two years without fighting but his timing was always pristine because he trained for six months,” James said. “… That’s the true adage of boxing: You’re a boxer all the time, you train for a fight for a couple of months.

“You focus on being better, on working out all the kinks and everything else so that on fight night you see something perfect, you see something great.”

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Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind

Errol Spence Jr.’s secret weapon, according to his trainer? His mind.

If you asked a fan of Errol Spence to pinpoint his strengths as a fighter, he or she might be hard pressed to come up with an answer.

Spence is a gifted athlete with the ability to hurt any opponent but he’s not as fast as, say, Gary Russell Jr. or as powerful as Gervonta Davis. So what is it that has allowed him to remain unbeaten and climb the pound-for-pound lists?

His ring acumen, according to trainer Derrick James, who will be in Spence’s corner when he faces Yordenis Ugas in a pay-per-view welterweight title-unification bout Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

“His thinking ability, his ability to think on the fly, his ability to create scenarios, his ability to capitalize,” James said when he was asked what has made Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) successful. “It’s all mental, the way his brain works with his physicality, the way he can be in the right place at the right time or not be at the place the other person wants him to be.

“… A lot of people think he’s boring. They don’t see it because it’s so subtle, the small movements, the things he does. The thing you can’t see is that it’s mental.”

What about the physical part?

One question that hovers over Spence since his horrific car accident in October 2019 and detached retina last year is whether he’s the same fighter who beat the likes of Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia and Shawn Porter before the crash.

James said, “Yeah, from my perspective, he looks great,” but he then implied that Spence might not need to be 100% physically. It goes back to his mind.

“Even though you’re asking me about him physically, I’ll say that mentally he’s stronger,” James said. “Because even if physically there are things he can’t do, he won’t show it. It’s all mental. … If there’s something he’s having an issue with, you won’t see it.

“He will have worked through it mentally so that he’s not showing what might be ailing him.”

Spence, 32, also seems to be more focused than ever.

The accident and injury made it clear to him that everything he has worked for, everything he has, can be gone in an instant. He no longer takes anything for granted, which has had an impact on his discipline.

For example, he had the bad habit of ballooning to the size of a cruiserweight between fights. That’s not the case now. Spence has fought only once since the accident – a unanimous-decision victory over Danny Garcia in December 2020 – but he has been working out year round and changed his diet for the better.

James believes that will allow Spence to be at his physical peak – whatever that is – when he enters to ring to fight Ugas. His mind will take care of the rest.

“Floyd Mayweather used to go one, two years without fighting but his timing was always pristine because he trained for six months,” James said. “… That’s the true adage of boxing: You’re a boxer all the time, you train for a fight for a couple of months.

“You focus on being better, on working out all the kinks and everything else so that on fight night you see something perfect, you see something great.”

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Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios: Trainer panel leans toward Barrios

Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios: Three of four trainers asked to weigh in lean toward Barrios to win the fight.

Four prominent trainers recently got onto a Zoom call to discuss 147-pound contender Keith Thurman’s pay-per-view comeback fight against Mario Barrios on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) last fought in July 2019, when he lost his title to Manny Pacquiao by a decision. Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis at 140 pounds.

The trainers were Robert Garcia, Derrick James, Stephen Edwards and Ismael Salas, none of whom work with Thurman or Barrios.

Here are a few take aways from their conversation.

  • Three of the four predicted that Barrios will win even though Thurman is favored. The fourth didn’t make a prediction.
  • All four believe it will be a close, competitive fight.
  • The trainers agreed that if Barrios doesn’t crowd Thurman – if he gives the athletic Thurman room to work – he could be in trouble.
  • They said that the intensity of Thurman’s training camp will have determined how much rust he brings into the ring.

Here are some quotes from each trainer:

ROBERT GARCIA

“Mario Barrios is a young fighter who wants to be great. He hasn’t had the paydays that Thurman has, and I think that gives him a great chance. He knows that a win here will change his life. I have a lot of fighters who are from San Antonio like Barrios is, and I know he’s a very dedicated fighter who’s always training. He’s going to do whatever it takes to win this fight.

“Barrios is moving up in weight, which is a challenge, but he’s big enough and tall enough that he might be even better as a welterweight. I think he’s got a great chance of beating Thurman.

“Thurman hits very hard, so Barrios has to pressure smartly. He can’t reach on his punches and he has to make sure he has his hands up. I personally think Barrios is going to win this fight. I see this as a close fight that’s going to go the distance. I could definitely see a split-decision.

“Thurman has great experience and has been in world class fights numerous times. He just has to go out there and be himself. He can’t get caught up in Barrios’ game plan. He has to use his angles and find his punches.

“When Mikey Garcia was off for two and a half years, he wasn’t a big name yet and was still really hungry and in the gym all the time. When he came back, he came back strong. Thurman has made millions of dollars, and that can make you comfortable. We’re going to find out how dedicated he is, because those big paydays can change your work habits.”

DERRICK JAMES

“You really have to have an extensive training camp in order to combat ring rust. When Errol Spence Jr. fought Danny Garcia, we worked on a lot of things, and one of those was building back up his athleticism. One of the keys to Keith’s success has always been his athleticism. He’s going to need that, and that’s something that is fleeting.

“This fight will depend on the type of fighter Thurman is right now and if Barrios can implement his pressure. I think this is going to be a good fight and that it’s going the distance.

“Keith Thurman boxes intelligently, but what helps him in the ring is his ability to move. We’re going to be able to tell how intense his training camp was.

“Thurman is going to have to adjust to Barrios’ speed. I think there will be some pressure on him to catch up with the fighter moving up in weight. There’s pressure on every fighter, but I also know that Thurman really wants to shut up his critics.

“I think this fight is about pressure. I believe that Barrios has to be aggressive. He has to make sure Keith Thurman isn’t himself. Thurman is great if you let him be great. If Barrios can disrupt Thurman, it’ll be to his advantage. If he lets Thurman sit back, Thurman is going to box phenomenally.”

STEPHEN EDWARDS

“Thurman moves, but his movement is not overly efficient. He glides around the ring and jumps in and out with big shots. If Barrios fights the kind of fight where he’s putting pressure on Thurman, he’s going to have a lot of success. You have to step to Keith Thurman. If you give him room, you give him a chance to load up with his punches. I actually think Barrios will win this fight.

“When Julian Williams got clipped by Jermall Charlo with that big shot, I compartmentalized that for him. I told him how he was fighting a great fight, and you just have to give the opponent credit. I let him spar with no headgear on the first time he sparred, so he knew that I had the confidence in him. I also sent him out to spar with Gennadiy Golovkin, so he could see that anybody can get clipped like that. Barrios got stopped by Gervonta Davis, but that’s not the end of the world for him. How fighters bounce back from that does depend on what kind of person you are. He seems like a guy who will be able to put that behind him.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if both guys get hurt in this fight. There could definitely be some controversy in this fight.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure on Keith Thurman in this fight. Thurman went into the Manny Pacquiao fight thinking he was going to have that name on his way to superstar status. Losing that fight is going to hurt the ego. The pressure on Barrios is because no young fighter wants to lose two fights in a row and go to the back of the line. Thurman knows there’s a huge fight for him down the line if he can get past Barrios, and that brings pressure.

“Fighters don’t admit it, but there is a different kind of hunger when fighters are working toward that title shot. It’s different than once you get it. Even in Thurman’s prime, he was only fighting once a year. Boxing is a game of skill, and you build skill with repetition. You don’t get better at doing anything by not doing it for an extended period of time. I think that’s going to make this fight more competitive than people think.”

ISMAEL SALAS

“The most important thing in sports is longevity. It’s a highly-coordinated sport and you have to be explosive. To remain at a high-level in that category, it’s all about training camp. Ring rust is something you really have to deal with.

“You have to control the intensity of the work to keep a more experienced fighter fresh. But at the same time, you have to keep the boxing ability at a high level. Those reaction times need to be sharp.

“I believe that the best chance Thurman has is in rounds four through six with a stoppage. If it goes the distance, I think it’s a close decision for Barrios. If Thurman can control the tempo of the fight, he can win.

“I work with a veteran fighter in Erislandy Lara, we don’t have a date for his next fight yet, but we’ve been working three times a week for the last two months. Because we’re keeping his ability and his stamina up. That’s the way to deal with ring rust when you’re later in your career.

“I believe Thurman lost the fight with Manny Pacquiao because he lost the ability to control the aggression of Pacquiao. He was there in front of Manny Pacquiao, and Pacquiao got him early, and that changed the whole fight.

“Aggression is the way to beat aggression. Barrios needs to keep a strong front hand in this fight, with his jab, and also with mixing up those punches.”

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Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios: Trainer panel leans toward Barrios

Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios: Three of four trainers asked to weigh in lean toward Barrios to win the fight.

Four prominent trainers recently got onto a Zoom call to discuss 147-pound contender Keith Thurman’s pay-per-view comeback fight against Mario Barrios on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) last fought in July 2019, when he lost his title to Manny Pacquiao by a decision. Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss to Gervonta Davis at 140 pounds.

The trainers were Robert Garcia, Derrick James, Stephen Edwards and Ismael Salas, none of whom work with Thurman or Barrios.

Here are a few take aways from their conversation.

  • Three of the four predicted that Barrios will win even though Thurman is favored. The fourth didn’t make a prediction.
  • All four believe it will be a close, competitive fight.
  • The trainers agreed that if Barrios doesn’t crowd Thurman – if he gives the athletic Thurman room to work – he could be in trouble.
  • They said that the intensity of Thurman’s training camp will have determined how much rust he brings into the ring.

Here are some quotes from each trainer:

ROBERT GARCIA

“Mario Barrios is a young fighter who wants to be great. He hasn’t had the paydays that Thurman has, and I think that gives him a great chance. He knows that a win here will change his life. I have a lot of fighters who are from San Antonio like Barrios is, and I know he’s a very dedicated fighter who’s always training. He’s going to do whatever it takes to win this fight.

“Barrios is moving up in weight, which is a challenge, but he’s big enough and tall enough that he might be even better as a welterweight. I think he’s got a great chance of beating Thurman.

“Thurman hits very hard, so Barrios has to pressure smartly. He can’t reach on his punches and he has to make sure he has his hands up. I personally think Barrios is going to win this fight. I see this as a close fight that’s going to go the distance. I could definitely see a split-decision.

“Thurman has great experience and has been in world class fights numerous times. He just has to go out there and be himself. He can’t get caught up in Barrios’ game plan. He has to use his angles and find his punches.

“When Mikey Garcia was off for two and a half years, he wasn’t a big name yet and was still really hungry and in the gym all the time. When he came back, he came back strong. Thurman has made millions of dollars, and that can make you comfortable. We’re going to find out how dedicated he is, because those big paydays can change your work habits.”

DERRICK JAMES

“You really have to have an extensive training camp in order to combat ring rust. When Errol Spence Jr. fought Danny Garcia, we worked on a lot of things, and one of those was building back up his athleticism. One of the keys to Keith’s success has always been his athleticism. He’s going to need that, and that’s something that is fleeting.

“This fight will depend on the type of fighter Thurman is right now and if Barrios can implement his pressure. I think this is going to be a good fight and that it’s going the distance.

“Keith Thurman boxes intelligently, but what helps him in the ring is his ability to move. We’re going to be able to tell how intense his training camp was.

“Thurman is going to have to adjust to Barrios’ speed. I think there will be some pressure on him to catch up with the fighter moving up in weight. There’s pressure on every fighter, but I also know that Thurman really wants to shut up his critics.

“I think this fight is about pressure. I believe that Barrios has to be aggressive. He has to make sure Keith Thurman isn’t himself. Thurman is great if you let him be great. If Barrios can disrupt Thurman, it’ll be to his advantage. If he lets Thurman sit back, Thurman is going to box phenomenally.”

STEPHEN EDWARDS

“Thurman moves, but his movement is not overly efficient. He glides around the ring and jumps in and out with big shots. If Barrios fights the kind of fight where he’s putting pressure on Thurman, he’s going to have a lot of success. You have to step to Keith Thurman. If you give him room, you give him a chance to load up with his punches. I actually think Barrios will win this fight.

“When Julian Williams got clipped by Jermall Charlo with that big shot, I compartmentalized that for him. I told him how he was fighting a great fight, and you just have to give the opponent credit. I let him spar with no headgear on the first time he sparred, so he knew that I had the confidence in him. I also sent him out to spar with Gennadiy Golovkin, so he could see that anybody can get clipped like that. Barrios got stopped by Gervonta Davis, but that’s not the end of the world for him. How fighters bounce back from that does depend on what kind of person you are. He seems like a guy who will be able to put that behind him.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if both guys get hurt in this fight. There could definitely be some controversy in this fight.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure on Keith Thurman in this fight. Thurman went into the Manny Pacquiao fight thinking he was going to have that name on his way to superstar status. Losing that fight is going to hurt the ego. The pressure on Barrios is because no young fighter wants to lose two fights in a row and go to the back of the line. Thurman knows there’s a huge fight for him down the line if he can get past Barrios, and that brings pressure.

“Fighters don’t admit it, but there is a different kind of hunger when fighters are working toward that title shot. It’s different than once you get it. Even in Thurman’s prime, he was only fighting once a year. Boxing is a game of skill, and you build skill with repetition. You don’t get better at doing anything by not doing it for an extended period of time. I think that’s going to make this fight more competitive than people think.”

ISMAEL SALAS

“The most important thing in sports is longevity. It’s a highly-coordinated sport and you have to be explosive. To remain at a high-level in that category, it’s all about training camp. Ring rust is something you really have to deal with.

“You have to control the intensity of the work to keep a more experienced fighter fresh. But at the same time, you have to keep the boxing ability at a high level. Those reaction times need to be sharp.

“I believe that the best chance Thurman has is in rounds four through six with a stoppage. If it goes the distance, I think it’s a close decision for Barrios. If Thurman can control the tempo of the fight, he can win.

“I work with a veteran fighter in Erislandy Lara, we don’t have a date for his next fight yet, but we’ve been working three times a week for the last two months. Because we’re keeping his ability and his stamina up. That’s the way to deal with ring rust when you’re later in your career.

“I believe Thurman lost the fight with Manny Pacquiao because he lost the ability to control the aggression of Pacquiao. He was there in front of Manny Pacquiao, and Pacquiao got him early, and that changed the whole fight.

“Aggression is the way to beat aggression. Barrios needs to keep a strong front hand in this fight, with his jab, and also with mixing up those punches.”

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Errol Spence Jr. chose to fight Danny Garcia in part to motivate himself

Errol Spence Jr. said he chose to defend his title against Danny Garcia in part to motivate himself.

Errol Spence Jr. could’ve chosen to fight anyone after his car accident and no one would’ve questioned him. The welterweight titleholder, who will defend his belt on Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, could’ve easily beaten a journeyman to prove to himself and the world that he has fully recovered.

Instead, he chose to face one of the most-respected fighters in his division, Danny Garcia. Why? To bring out the best in himself.

“If I took a tune-up fight, I wouldn’t be as focused or dedicated as I am right now,” Spence said during a virtual media workout. “I know Danny’s dad is pushing him to take my belts in my hometown. So I’ staying focused to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“This is as good as I’ve ever felt. You can see I’m sweating today and I’m not dried out. There’s no struggle to make weight. I’m just feeling good.”

Errol Spence Jr. looks fit during a virtual media workout Thursday. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

That’s remarkable given the severity of the accident, which occurred in October in his hometown of Dallas. Spence’s speeding Ferrari hit a median in the road, flipped over and he was ejected.

Somehow he didn’t suffer a serious injury. And, with the blessing of doctors, he was back in the gym before the end of the year.

Spence will have to prove to those watching on Dec. 5 that he is suffering no lingering effects from the crash but he convinced himself and those close to him long ago that he’s perfectly fine.

He last fought in September of last year, when he defeated Shawn Porter by a split decision in a thrilling, give-and-take fight.

“There was a lot of uncertainty after my accident, but I knew that I wanted to keep training and make sure that I’m 100% ready to get into the ring. The doctors gave me the okay and said everything is fine, so I’m ready to go.”

He knows that he had better be ready to go.

Spence (hitting mitts with trainer Derrick James here) has been in the gym for most of the past year. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a 3½-1 underdog, according to BetMGM, but is perceived to be a genuine threat to Spence (26-0, 21 KOs). The Philadelphian is a two-division titleholder with proven ability, power and resilience. And, as Spence’s trainer Derrick James said, “Danny is a very smart fighter.”

Only Porter and Keith Thurman were able to beat Garcia and both fights could’ve gone the other way.

“I picked Danny Garcia because he’s a tough opponent with a granite chin,” Spence said. “He’s always in tough close fights. He’s going to bring the best out of me.

“… I don’t know if Danny is the hardest puncher I’ve faced. We’ll see when I get into the ring against him. But I know that I’m not Amir Khan or Adrian Granados or anyone else that he’s knocked out.”

One thing seems obvious as the fight approaches: Spence and James have left no stone unturned.

Spence has essentially been in the gym for almost a year. And he and Garcia agreed in late July to fight one another, which gave “The Truth” more than three months to tailor his training specifically for Garcia.

The accident aside, he might be better prepared for this fight than any other in his career.

“Errol has been working hard,” James said. “The dedication and determination are there. He’s pushing himself as hard or harder than ever. You can tell there’s a competition within himself so that he can push himself to be the best he’s ever been.

“[Garcia is] one of the most decorated fighters in the sport and he’s got a great resume. He’s definitely a threat. So me and Errol both need to be on our ‘A’ game to be able to beat him.”

Spence doesn’t seem to have doubts about what we’ll see on Dec. 5.

“I want to make an impactful statement,” he said. “I guarantee there’s going to be highlights everywhere from this one. It’s going to be a great performance.”

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Errol Spence Jr. chose to fight Danny Garcia in part to motivate himself

Errol Spence Jr. said he chose to defend his title against Danny Garcia in part to motivate himself.

Errol Spence Jr. could’ve chosen to fight anyone after his car accident and no one would’ve questioned him. The welterweight titleholder, who will defend his belt on Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, could’ve easily beaten a journeyman to prove to himself and the world that he has fully recovered.

Instead, he chose to face one of the most-respected fighters in his division, Danny Garcia. Why? To bring out the best in himself.

“If I took a tune-up fight, I wouldn’t be as focused or dedicated as I am right now,” Spence said during a virtual media workout. “I know Danny’s dad is pushing him to take my belts in my hometown. So I’ staying focused to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“This is as good as I’ve ever felt. You can see I’m sweating today and I’m not dried out. There’s no struggle to make weight. I’m just feeling good.”

Errol Spence Jr. looks fit during a virtual media workout Thursday. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

That’s remarkable given the severity of the accident, which occurred in October in his hometown of Dallas. Spence’s speeding Ferrari hit a median in the road, flipped over and he was ejected.

Somehow he didn’t suffer a serious injury. And, with the blessing of doctors, he was back in the gym before the end of the year.

Spence will have to prove to those watching on Dec. 5 that he is suffering no lingering effects from the crash but he convinced himself and those close to him long ago that he’s perfectly fine.

He last fought in September of last year, when he defeated Shawn Porter by a split decision in a thrilling, give-and-take fight.

“There was a lot of uncertainty after my accident, but I knew that I wanted to keep training and make sure that I’m 100% ready to get into the ring. The doctors gave me the okay and said everything is fine, so I’m ready to go.”

He knows that he had better be ready to go.

Spence (hitting mitts with trainer Derrick James here) has been in the gym for most of the past year. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a 3½-1 underdog, according to BetMGM, but is perceived to be a genuine threat to Spence (26-0, 21 KOs). The Philadelphian is a two-division titleholder with proven ability, power and resilience. And, as Spence’s trainer Derrick James said, “Danny is a very smart fighter.”

Only Porter and Keith Thurman were able to beat Garcia and both fights could’ve gone the other way.

“I picked Danny Garcia because he’s a tough opponent with a granite chin,” Spence said. “He’s always in tough close fights. He’s going to bring the best out of me.

“… I don’t know if Danny is the hardest puncher I’ve faced. We’ll see when I get into the ring against him. But I know that I’m not Amir Khan or Adrian Granados or anyone else that he’s knocked out.”

One thing seems obvious as the fight approaches: Spence and James have left no stone unturned.

Spence has essentially been in the gym for almost a year. And he and Garcia agreed in late July to fight one another, which gave “The Truth” more than three months to tailor his training specifically for Garcia.

The accident aside, he might be better prepared for this fight than any other in his career.

“Errol has been working hard,” James said. “The dedication and determination are there. He’s pushing himself as hard or harder than ever. You can tell there’s a competition within himself so that he can push himself to be the best he’s ever been.

“[Garcia is] one of the most decorated fighters in the sport and he’s got a great resume. He’s definitely a threat. So me and Errol both need to be on our ‘A’ game to be able to beat him.”

Spence doesn’t seem to have doubts about what we’ll see on Dec. 5.

“I want to make an impactful statement,” he said. “I guarantee there’s going to be highlights everywhere from this one. It’s going to be a great performance.”

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Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford? Spence trainer says money not there

Errol Spence Jr.’s trainer, Derrick James, said the money isn’t there for a showdown between Spence and Terence Crawford, at least not yet.

Errol Spence Jr.’s trainer, Derrick James, said what fans didn’t want to hear: The money isn’t there for a showdown between Spence and Terence Crawford, at least not yet.

One reason is that exorbitant pay-per-view fees aren’t tenable in the current economic climate, which might limit the amount of money promoters are able to generate even for such a compelling matchup.

Spence and Crawford probably will demand eight-figure paydays.

“The money for the fight, from my perspective, is not there yet,” James told BoxingScene.com. “Promoters can put whatever they put up, but they’re in the business of making money. And if the money’s not there, especially anytime soon with this coronavirus crisis and most people who buy these fights are not working right now, this will be something that happens down the line.

“It just pushed the fight back a little bit further, I think. But the money’s not there right now. My perspective is the numbers aren’t there, so we’ll see.”

For the time being, both fighters have other prospective opponents in mind.

Spence, who says he has recovered from his horrific single-car accident in October, is targeting Manny Pacquiao (who isn’t?) or Danny Garcia for the fall. Kell Brook, who Spence stopped in 2017, reportedly is first in line to face Crawford next.

Of course, fans will be tune in no matter who Spence and Crawford fight. However, they’ll never stop clamoring for the two unbeaten titleholders to share the same ring until it happens. Spence and Crawford themselves have said repeatedly that they want the fight.

That fact isn’t lost on James.

“I hope that it happens,” he said. “I want for [Spence] what he wants for himself. If Crawford keeps winning – and I don’t think Kell Brook is better than the last guy he fought [Egidijus Kavaliauskas] – so if he keeps winning and he keeps doing what he’s doing, and Errol keeps winning, we’ll see.

“It could be possible. I believe that it will happen eventually, but who knows?”

Errol Spence’s trainer: Terence Crawford has ‘poor technique’

Derrick James, Errol Spence Jr.’s trainer, believes his fighter would knock out Terence Crawford if they were to fight.

Derrick James, the trainer of Errol Spence Jr., hopes his fighter will face Terence Crawford one day. And he’s pretty sure he knows what will happen if it happens.

James was asked on The PBC Podcast how a Spence-Crawford fight would play out and he laughed.

“I’m going to say what Errol would say. He would say, ‘one-sided performance,’” James said. “… I think he’d knock him out.”

That doesn’t mean that James has no respect for Crawford, the three-division champion who some believe is the best fighter in the world. He does. He just qualifies his praise.

“Besides Manny Pacquiao and I say Claressa Shields now, [Crawford] is the most-decorated professional fighter right now,” said James, referring to Crawford’s collection of belts. “But I think the level of competition has not been there. So I think they’ve anointed him something he has not technically earned because he’s never fought quality, like top, top [opponents].

“I don’t think he has. You can say [Yuriorkis] Gamboa but that was like, what, 20 years ago? So I think it’s interesting.”

James went on. And he didn’t hold back.

“I think Terence Crawford is naturally an amazing athlete but he has very weak, poor fundamentals and poor technique,” he said. “It will come into play [in a fight with Spence]. … I think he’s a great fighter, very decorated. He’s won a lot of fights. He’d been great. We’ll just see.”

Meanwhile, James said Spence has been back in the gym for a few weeks after surviving a horrific car crash in October. And, James said, he looks like … well, Spence.

“It’s just like he hadn’t left,” said James, who doesn’t have Spence sparring yet. “… I’m watching him, looking for everything. If he’s reacting slower, if he’s not seeing punching coming. … He’s making all the right moves, doing everything correct.”

James doesn’t know when or who Spence might fight next. He leaves that up to the fighter and his management team. And he can’t say whether he believes Spence should take a tune-up fight or jump right into a major event, at least not yet.

“I want him to have what he wants,” he said. “We’re gauging him from this point on to see if that’s (a tune-up) something we would need or just go into something big. We’re gauging him. So we’ll know.”

One thing seems certain: Spence won’t be fighting Crawford soon. One day, though, Crawford is likely to get his chance to prove James wrong.