Tag: Shawn Porter

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.: 3 key victories for both men

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.: 3 key victories for both men.

Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford have turned in many impressive performances in their decorated careers.

That’s one reason their pay-per-view fight for the undisputed 147-pound championship on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is so fascinating. They’re both accomplished champions bound for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) has the better resume of the two, with victories over a series of high-profile opponents. However, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOS) is a three-division titleholder, meaning he has had to face a long list of legitimate contenders. He’s 16-0 in world title fights.

Which of their victories stand out most?

Here are three fights in the careers of both men that helped shape them into the champions they are today.

 

ERROL SPENCE

Mikey Garcia
Date: March 16, 2019
Result: UD 12
Background: I was convinced before the fact that Garcia was too small for Spence – the four-division titleholder had moved up in weight for the fight – but the fact is Garcia was unbeaten (39-0, 30 KOs) and one of the best all-around fighters in the world at the time he fought Spence. And Spence dominated him, winning an unthinkable shutout decision given Garcia’s ability. The most striking aspect of his victory was that he outboxed a superb boxer, which underscored his technical ability. Spence revealed an impressive side of himself that night.

Kell Brook
Date: May 27, 2017
Result: KO 11
Background: People might not fully appreciate the fact Spence went to the hometown of an elite fighter and stopped him in 11 rounds to win his first world title, putting him down twice in the process. Brook lost respect late in his career but at the time he met Spence he had lost only an ill-advised 160-pound fight against knockout artist Gennadiy Golovkin. Brook was an excellent fighter at that time. And Spence just handled him, building a lead on the scorecards before stopping him. He made a big statement with that victory, which lifted him to elite status.

Shawn Porter
Date: Sept. 2019
Result: UD 12
Background: Porter, an excellent all-around fighter, was at his best and as motivated as he could possibly be for that fight. He was primed. And Spence beat him by a split decision. It wasn’t easy. They engaged in many furious toe-to-toe exchanges, which is why it was the Fight of the Year. But Spence got the job done, punctuating his victory by putting Porter down in Round 11. Spence’s performance was similar to his fight with Mikey Garcia in that he beat Porter at his own game, outbrawling a brawler. He left no doubt about his toughness. The victory might’ve clinched Spence a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

TERENCE CRAWFORD

Viktor Postol
Date: July 23, 2016
Result: UD 12
Background: People might forget the respect Postol had at the time he met Crawford in a 140-pound title-unification bout. The clever Ukrainian was undefeated (28-0, 12 KOs) and coming off a sensational 10th-round knockout of Lucas Matthysse, who was a hot fighter at the time. And Crawford simply dominated him, putting him down twice in the fifth round and winning a one-sided decision (118-107, 118-107 and 117-108). Postol is the last fighter to go the distance with Crawford, who would go on to become undisputed 140-pound champion before moving up to 147 in 2018.

Kell Brook
Date: Nov. 14, 2020
Result: KO 4
Background: Brook had been knocked out in back-to-back fights a few years earlier by the much bigger Golovkin and Spence and was nearing the end of his career. However, the talented Briton was a former titleholder – he won his belt by outpointing Porter in the Los Angeles area – and was only 34 years old. Still, he was overwhelmed by Crawford, who needed less than four full rounds to take him out. That was quicker work than the victories of both Triple-G and Spence. Crawford’s stoppage of Porter came immediately after this fight, giving him significant back-to-back victories that bolstered his resume.

Shawn Porter
Date: Nov. 20, 2021
Result: TKO 10
Background: Crawford had been criticized in some quarters for lacking a defining fight on his resume. This victory resolved that issue, at least to some degree. Porter had universal respect, particularly after pushing Spence to his limits in a split decision loss two fights earlier. And Crawford delivered a convincing performance, methodically breaking Porter down before stopping him in Round 10. Porter never fought again, leading many to believe he had a foot outside boxing when he fought Crawford. However, the bottom line is that Crawford took out a first-rate opponent. And it became a lot more difficult to throw shade at his accomplishments.

[lawrence-related id=38250,38247,38223,38219,38215,38127,37748]

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.: 3 key victories for both men

Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.: 3 key victories for both men.

Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford have turned in many impressive performances in their decorated careers.

That’s one reason their pay-per-view fight for the undisputed 147-pound championship on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is so fascinating. They’re both accomplished champions bound for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) has the better resume of the two, with victories over a series of high-profile opponents. However, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOS) is a three-division titleholder, meaning he has had to face a long list of legitimate contenders. He’s 16-0 in world title fights.

Which of their victories stand out most?

Here are three fights in the careers of both men that helped shape them into the champions they are today.

 

ERROL SPENCE

Mikey Garcia
Date: March 16, 2019
Result: UD 12
Background: I was convinced before the fact that Garcia was too small for Spence – the four-division titleholder had moved up in weight for the fight – but the fact is Garcia was unbeaten (39-0, 30 KOs) and one of the best all-around fighters in the world at the time he fought Spence. And Spence dominated him, winning an unthinkable shutout decision given Garcia’s ability. The most striking aspect of his victory was that he outboxed a superb boxer, which underscored his technical ability. Spence revealed an impressive side of himself that night.

Kell Brook
Date: May 27, 2017
Result: KO 11
Background: People might not fully appreciate the fact Spence went to the hometown of an elite fighter and stopped him in 11 rounds to win his first world title, putting him down twice in the process. Brook lost respect late in his career but at the time he met Spence he had lost only an ill-advised 160-pound fight against knockout artist Gennadiy Golovkin. Brook was an excellent fighter at that time. And Spence just handled him, building a lead on the scorecards before stopping him. He made a big statement with that victory, which lifted him to elite status.

Shawn Porter
Date: Sept. 2019
Result: UD 12
Background: Porter, an excellent all-around fighter, was at his best and as motivated as he could possibly be for that fight. He was primed. And Spence beat him by a split decision. It wasn’t easy. They engaged in many furious toe-to-toe exchanges, which is why it was the Fight of the Year. But Spence got the job done, punctuating his victory by putting Porter down in Round 11. Spence’s performance was similar to his fight with Mikey Garcia in that he beat Porter at his own game, outbrawling a brawler. He left no doubt about his toughness. The victory might’ve clinched Spence a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

TERENCE CRAWFORD

Viktor Postol
Date: July 23, 2016
Result: UD 12
Background: People might forget the respect Postol had at the time he met Crawford in a 140-pound title-unification bout. The clever Ukrainian was undefeated (28-0, 12 KOs) and coming off a sensational 10th-round knockout of Lucas Matthysse, who was a hot fighter at the time. And Crawford simply dominated him, putting him down twice in the fifth round and winning a one-sided decision (118-107, 118-107 and 117-108). Postol is the last fighter to go the distance with Crawford, who would go on to become undisputed 140-pound champion before moving up to 147 in 2018.

Kell Brook
Date: Nov. 14, 2020
Result: KO 4
Background: Brook had been knocked out in back-to-back fights a few years earlier by the much bigger Golovkin and Spence and was nearing the end of his career. However, the talented Briton was a former titleholder – he won his belt by outpointing Porter in the Los Angeles area – and was only 34 years old. Still, he was overwhelmed by Crawford, who needed less than four full rounds to take him out. That was quicker work than the victories of both Triple-G and Spence. Crawford’s stoppage of Porter came immediately after this fight, giving him significant back-to-back victories that bolstered his resume.

Shawn Porter
Date: Nov. 20, 2021
Result: TKO 10
Background: Crawford had been criticized in some quarters for lacking a defining fight on his resume. This victory resolved that issue, at least to some degree. Porter had universal respect, particularly after pushing Spence to his limits in a split decision loss two fights earlier. And Crawford delivered a convincing performance, methodically breaking Porter down before stopping him in Round 10. Porter never fought again, leading many to believe he had a foot outside boxing when he fought Crawford. However, the bottom line is that Crawford took out a first-rate opponent. And it became a lot more difficult to throw shade at his accomplishments.

[lawrence-related id=38250,38247,38223,38219,38215,38127,37748]

Terence Crawford needed showdown with Errol Spence Jr. to prove he’s great

Terence Crawford needed his pay-per-view showdown with Errol Spence Jr. on Saturday in Las Vegas. to prove he’s great.

Terence Crawford desperately needed to fight Errol Spence Jr.

He’s not hurting financially, although the eight-figure windfall he’ll receive after their fight for the undisputed 147-pound championship Saturday – by far the biggest of his career – will be welcomed. And he’s already guaranteed a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame based on of his world titles in three divisions, place on pound-for-pound lists and general dominance.

No, he needed this matchup to prove something else: that he’s truly an all-time great fighter. That’s the case whether he acknowledges it or not.

“My name is already up there with the all-time greatest welterweight fighters,” he said Tuesday. “It’s just a matter of going out there on Saturday and putting the cherry on top and furthering my legacy.”

Really?

Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) has fought seven times at 147 pounds, defeating Jeff Horn, Jose Benavidez Jr., Amir Khan, Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Kell Brook, Shawn Porter and David Avanesyan.

That’s a solid run, particularly because Crawford scored a knockout each time out. However, it doesn’t stamp him as one of the best welterweights ever.

The closest thing he has to a defining victory at any weight is his 10th-round knockout of Shawn Porter at 147 in November 2021. However, even that victory arguably has an asterisk because Porter clearly had one foot out of boxing. He never fought again.

What other victories stand out? Brook? The Briton also was in decline. Crawford’s second greatest win might be his decision over capable, but limited Viktor Postol at 140, which doesn’t carry much weight.

That’s why the meeting on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is so important. Spence is ranked No. 4 on the Boxing Junkie and other pound-for-pound lists. He’s a special fighter. If Crawford, ranked No. 1, is able to defeat his rival – particularly if he does it convincingly – he’ll have his defining victory.

Only then could we even begin to compare him to the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather.

To be clear, the intent here is not to diminish Crawford’s accomplishments and place among the best in the business. I’ve had Crawford No. 1 pound-for-pound from around the time he stopped Jeff Horn to win his 147-pound title in 2018.

I never understood how Canelo Alvarez ended up No. 1 on most lists even though I respect his accomplishments. I always thought Crawford was better.

That was based on the eye test, which he repeatedly has passed with A+ grades. And while he hasn’t faced an opponent even approaching greatness – it’s possible that none are bound for the Hall of Fame – he’s 16-0 in world titles fight and 10-0 against former or current beltholders.

That means he has fought – and beaten – a long string of legitimate contenders, which was good enough to garner him universal respect as an one of the best all-around fighters currently active.

And get this: He’s riding a streak of 10 consecutive knockouts going into Saturday. And all of them came in world title fights, in which it’s supposed to be more difficult to get stoppages.

That’s the kind of stuff that has set him apart from almost all of his peers and lifted him to star status, a level precious few fighters reach. Make no mistake: As things stand now, Crawford is one of the most important figures in the sport.

He simply needed a next-level opponent to reach the next level of recognition.

Muhammad Ali had Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Leonard had Thomas Hearns. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis had Mike Tyson. Mayweather had Manny Pacquiao. Great fighters need great foils to take their place among the legends of the sport.

That’s where Crawford stands a few days before the biggest fight of his life, on the threshold of true greatness.

And it came in the nick of time. Crawford hasn’t showed signs of decline but he’s 35 years old, an age when most fighters have begun to slow down or even transition into their next phase of life.

Better late than never. Crawford finally has his big opportunity. Now all he has to do is win.

[lawrence-related id=38223,38219,38215,38181,38127,37748]

Terence Crawford needed showdown with Errol Spence Jr. to prove he’s great

Terence Crawford needed his pay-per-view showdown with Errol Spence Jr. on Saturday in Las Vegas. to prove he’s great.

Terence Crawford desperately needed to fight Errol Spence Jr.

He’s not hurting financially, although the eight-figure windfall he’ll receive after their fight for the undisputed 147-pound championship Saturday – by far the biggest of his career – will be welcomed. And he’s already guaranteed a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame based on of his world titles in three divisions, place on pound-for-pound lists and general dominance.

No, he needed this matchup to prove something else: that he’s truly an all-time great fighter. That’s the case whether he acknowledges it or not.

“My name is already up there with the all-time greatest welterweight fighters,” he said Tuesday. “It’s just a matter of going out there on Saturday and putting the cherry on top and furthering my legacy.”

Really?

Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) has fought seven times at 147 pounds, defeating Jeff Horn, Jose Benavidez Jr., Amir Khan, Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Kell Brook, Shawn Porter and David Avanesyan.

That’s a solid run, particularly because Crawford scored a knockout each time out. However, it doesn’t stamp him as one of the best welterweights ever.

The closest thing he has to a defining victory at any weight is his 10th-round knockout of Shawn Porter at 147 in November 2021. However, even that victory arguably has an asterisk because Porter clearly had one foot out of boxing. He never fought again.

What other victories stand out? Brook? The Briton also was in decline. Crawford’s second greatest win might be his decision over capable, but limited Viktor Postol at 140, which doesn’t carry much weight.

That’s why the meeting on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is so important. Spence is ranked No. 4 on the Boxing Junkie and other pound-for-pound lists. He’s a special fighter. If Crawford, ranked No. 1, is able to defeat his rival – particularly if he does it convincingly – he’ll have his defining victory.

Only then could we even begin to compare him to the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather.

To be clear, the intent here is not to diminish Crawford’s accomplishments and place among the best in the business. I’ve had Crawford No. 1 pound-for-pound from around the time he stopped Jeff Horn to win his 147-pound title in 2018.

I never understood how Canelo Alvarez ended up No. 1 on most lists even though I respect his accomplishments. I always thought Crawford was better.

That was based on the eye test, which he repeatedly has passed with A+ grades. And while he hasn’t faced an opponent even approaching greatness – it’s possible that none are bound for the Hall of Fame – he’s 16-0 in world titles fight and 10-0 against former or current beltholders.

That means he has fought – and beaten – a long string of legitimate contenders, which was good enough to garner him universal respect as an one of the best all-around fighters currently active.

And get this: He’s riding a streak of 10 consecutive knockouts going into Saturday. And all of them came in world title fights, in which it’s supposed to be more difficult to get stoppages.

That’s the kind of stuff that has set him apart from almost all of his peers and lifted him to star status, a level precious few fighters reach. Make no mistake: As things stand now, Crawford is one of the most important figures in the sport.

He simply needed a next-level opponent to reach the next level of recognition.

Muhammad Ali had Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Leonard had Thomas Hearns. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis had Mike Tyson. Mayweather had Manny Pacquiao. Great fighters need great foils to take their place among the legends of the sport.

That’s where Crawford stands a few days before the biggest fight of his life, on the threshold of true greatness.

And it came in the nick of time. Crawford hasn’t showed signs of decline but he’s 35 years old, an age when most fighters have begun to slow down or even transition into their next phase of life.

Better late than never. Crawford finally has his big opportunity. Now all he has to do is win.

[lawrence-related id=38223,38219,38215,38181,38127,37748]

Pound for pound: The clock is ticking for No. 1-ranked Terence Crawford

Pound for pound: The clock is ticking for No. 1-ranked Terence Crawford.

The clock is ticking for No. 1 Terence Crawford.

The welterweight champion was expected to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. in a title-unification showdown last this year but talks fell apart and Crawford fought David Avanesyan instead on Dec. 10, stopping the Russian in six rounds.

Thus, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) enters another year with a single defining victory on his resume, a 10th-round knock out of former two-time 147-pound champion Shawn Porter last year.

Beyond that? A string of victories over solid contenders but no one considered pound-for-pound material.

And Crawford isn’t getting younger. He turned 35 this past September, an age when the vast majority of fighters have at least begun to decline. We haven’t seen evidence of slippage but it has to be around the corner, right?

“Bud” said that he still wants to fight Spence, which would give him the opportunity to record by far the most significant victory of his long career. And if they can’t come to terms, he’d like to face undisputed 154-pound champ Jermell Charlo in what would be another defining matchup.

That’s just talk, however, He has to do everything in his power to make these fights happen sooner rather than later or risk losing a step and retiring with a lot of what-ifs.

Next pound-for-pounder up: Honorable Mention Kazuto Ioka, who will face Joshua Franco in a 115-pound title-unification matchup on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo.

No. 10 Gervonta Davis will face Hector Luis Garcia in a lightweight bout Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – No fight scheduled.
  6. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Junior middleweight champion’s defense against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 was postponed after Charlo broke his hand.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to fight Hector Garcia on Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly in talks to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney but no official announcement has been made.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his light heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde on Jan. 28 in London.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Reportedly in talks to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko but no official announcement has been made..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (reportedly has reached an agreement to fight Caleb Plant early next year but no official announcement has been made); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Kazuto Ioka (scheduled to face Joshua Franco in a junior bantamweight title-unification bout on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO junior welterweight title in a rematch with Jack Catterall on Feb. 4 in Glasgow, Scotland).

[lawrence-related id=34819,34796,34717]

Pound for pound: The clock is ticking for No. 1-ranked Terence Crawford

Pound for pound: The clock is ticking for No. 1-ranked Terence Crawford.

The clock is ticking for No. 1 Terence Crawford.

The welterweight champion was expected to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. in a title-unification showdown last this year but talks fell apart and Crawford fought David Avanesyan instead on Dec. 10, stopping the Russian in six rounds.

Thus, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) enters another year with a single defining victory on his resume, a 10th-round knock out of former two-time 147-pound champion Shawn Porter last year.

Beyond that? A string of victories over solid contenders but no one considered pound-for-pound material.

And Crawford isn’t getting younger. He turned 35 this past September, an age when the vast majority of fighters have at least begun to decline. We haven’t seen evidence of slippage but it has to be around the corner, right?

“Bud” said that he still wants to fight Spence, which would give him the opportunity to record by far the most significant victory of his long career. And if they can’t come to terms, he’d like to face undisputed 154-pound champ Jermell Charlo in what would be another defining matchup.

That’s just talk, however, He has to do everything in his power to make these fights happen sooner rather than later or risk losing a step and retiring with a lot of what-ifs.

Next pound-for-pounder up: Honorable Mention Kazuto Ioka, who will face Joshua Franco in a 115-pound title-unification matchup on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo.

No. 10 Gervonta Davis will face Hector Luis Garcia in a lightweight bout Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – No fight scheduled.
  6. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– No fight scheduled.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Junior middleweight champion’s defense against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 was postponed after Charlo broke his hand.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to fight Hector Garcia on Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly in talks to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney but no official announcement has been made.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his light heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde on Jan. 28 in London.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Reportedly in talks to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko but no official announcement has been made..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (reportedly has reached an agreement to fight Caleb Plant early next year but no official announcement has been made); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Kazuto Ioka (scheduled to face Joshua Franco in a junior bantamweight title-unification bout on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO junior welterweight title in a rematch with Jack Catterall on Feb. 4 in Glasgow, Scotland).

[lawrence-related id=34819,34796,34717]

Yordenis Ugas says he’s not done at elite level, proud he fought through injury in Errol Spence loss

Yordenis Ugas says he’s not finished fighting at an elite level and is proud he fought through broken orbital bone in his loss to Errol Spence.

Yordenis Ugas is holding his head high despite coming off one of the toughest defeats of his boxing career

The former WBA welterweight champion is proud of what he showed the world in his 10th-round TKO loss to Errol Spence Jr. in a title-unification fight in April. Ugas lost his belt and suffered a broken orbital bone in the process, which he said forced the ring-side physician to stop the action.

Ugas is pleased with himself for fighting through the pain of his injury as long as he did.

“To me, it was a great fight against one of the best five or six fighters in the world,” Ugas told Boxing Junkie in Spanish. “I fought well, and it was competitive until the seventh round. We were putting up a competitive fight. I had won two or three rounds.

“In round seven, he connected well, and he broke my orbital bone. I’m very proud. In the last few years, fighters who’ve had that injury, undefeated world champions, they’ve fallen out, the pain beat them. I fought four more rounds. Seven, eight, nine and 10 with that serious injury on my right eye.

“I was ready to fight to the end, but the referee stopped the fight. I’m proud and happy of all the support I’ve gotten. I’ve gotten a lot of respect from the world of boxing. I’m happy and proud.”

Ugas gives credit to Spence, who was leading 88-82, 88-82 and 88-83 after nine rounds. He wouldn’t say whether he believes he would’ve won had he not suffered the injury. However, he’s certain it would’ve been a fun fight.

“You never know what could happen,” Ugas said. “You don’t talk about what could’ve happened, that’s part of boxing. The best man won, which was Spence. But I was there, giving him a competitive fight, and I was solid.

“I worked hard and was ready for the second half of that fight. In the sixth, I had a great moment. I think it would’ve been a great fight. I can’t say if I would’ve won or not, I can’t speak on that, and that’s not valid because the fight happened. But it would’ve been a great fight, we would’ve seen a great second half to that fight.”

Ugas expects to be out for the rest of the year as he recovers from his injury. He feels good in the healing process, and believes there’s still big fights ahead in the future.

“I’m at the elite level, like I told you,” Ugas said. “I want to get the biggest fight possible. I want to fight the best. I’ve fought against future Hall of Famers, against Crawford in amateur, against Porter, Paquiao and Spence in the last nine months.

“I’m fighting the best, and I want to continue down that same line. Like I’ve said, Spence is one of my biggest motivations. He was able to recover from an accident and then a surgery on his eye. I’m doing the same now, I’m recovering, and we’ll see.

“God willing, I still have some big nights left in my career.”

[lawrence-related id=29518]

Yordenis Ugas says he’s not done at elite level, proud he fought through injury in Errol Spence loss

Yordenis Ugas says he’s not finished fighting at an elite level and is proud he fought through broken orbital bone in his loss to Errol Spence.

Yordenis Ugas is holding his head high despite coming off one of the toughest defeats of his boxing career

The former WBA welterweight champion is proud of what he showed the world in his 10th-round TKO loss to Errol Spence Jr. in a title-unification fight in April. Ugas lost his belt and suffered a broken orbital bone in the process, which he said forced the ring-side physician to stop the action.

Ugas is pleased with himself for fighting through the pain of his injury as long as he did.

“To me, it was a great fight against one of the best five or six fighters in the world,” Ugas told Boxing Junkie in Spanish. “I fought well, and it was competitive until the seventh round. We were putting up a competitive fight. I had won two or three rounds.

“In round seven, he connected well, and he broke my orbital bone. I’m very proud. In the last few years, fighters who’ve had that injury, undefeated world champions, they’ve fallen out, the pain beat them. I fought four more rounds. Seven, eight, nine and 10 with that serious injury on my right eye.

“I was ready to fight to the end, but the referee stopped the fight. I’m proud and happy of all the support I’ve gotten. I’ve gotten a lot of respect from the world of boxing. I’m happy and proud.”

Ugas gives credit to Spence, who was leading 88-82, 88-82 and 88-83 after nine rounds. He wouldn’t say whether he believes he would’ve won had he not suffered the injury. However, he’s certain it would’ve been a fun fight.

“You never know what could happen,” Ugas said. “You don’t talk about what could’ve happened, that’s part of boxing. The best man won, which was Spence. But I was there, giving him a competitive fight, and I was solid.

“I worked hard and was ready for the second half of that fight. In the sixth, I had a great moment. I think it would’ve been a great fight. I can’t say if I would’ve won or not, I can’t speak on that, and that’s not valid because the fight happened. But it would’ve been a great fight, we would’ve seen a great second half to that fight.”

Ugas expects to be out for the rest of the year as he recovers from his injury. He feels good in the healing process, and believes there’s still big fights ahead in the future.

“I’m at the elite level, like I told you,” Ugas said. “I want to get the biggest fight possible. I want to fight the best. I’ve fought against future Hall of Famers, against Crawford in amateur, against Porter, Paquiao and Spence in the last nine months.

“I’m fighting the best, and I want to continue down that same line. Like I’ve said, Spence is one of my biggest motivations. He was able to recover from an accident and then a surgery on his eye. I’m doing the same now, I’m recovering, and we’ll see.

“God willing, I still have some big nights left in my career.”

[lawrence-related id=29518]

Pound for pound: How did things shake out after Canelo, Crawford wins?

Pound for pound: How did things shake out after Canelo, Crawford wins?

Boxing Junkie decided to wait until after the recent Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford fights to update its pound-for-pound list.

Alvarez delivered another impressive performance, stopping Caleb Plant to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion on Nov. 6. And Crawford, facing the biggest test of his career, took out Shawn Porter in 10 rounds this past Saturday.

So how did those performances impact the ranking? It didn’t.

Crawford, who has been No. 1 since Teofimo Lopez Jr. knocked Vasiliy Lomachenko from his perch in October of last year, retains his position. In fact, he strengthens it. And Alvarez, No. 2 since Lopez-Lomachenko, also stays put.

The one knock against Crawford was that he had never fought anyone at Porter’s level. Now he has. And he performed beautifully, patiently breaking down the former two-time titleholder and then stopping him in 10 rounds.

We can debate who should be No. 1 – Crawford? Alvarez? Naoya Inoue? Oleksandr Usyk? – but everyone must agree that Crawford now has a stronger case.

Here’s how the list looks:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Canelo Alvarez– Announced that he plans to challenge WBC cruiserweight titleholder Ilunga Makabu but no date or site is set.
  3. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to defend his IBF and WBA bantamweight titles against Alan Dipaen on Dec. 14 in Tokyo.
  4. Oleksandr Usyk – Expected to fight Anthony Joshua a second time in the spring but no deal is in place.
  5. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  6. Teofimo Lopez Jr. – Scheduled to defend his lightweight titles against George Kambosos Jr. on Nov. 27 in New York.
  7. Tyson Fury– No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to fight Richard Commey on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – In talks to defend his WBA and WBA junior bantamweight titles in what would be a third fight against Roman Gonzalez in November.
  10. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight title-unification fight on Dec. 29 in Japan.
  11. Jermell Charlo – Expected to face Brian Castano a second time in February but no deal is in place.
  12. Josh Taylor – Scheduled to defend his undisputed junior welterweight championship against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall on Feb. 26 in Glasgow, Scotland.
  13. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his light heavyweight titles against Marcus Browne on Dec. 17 in Montreal.
  14. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Isaac Cruz in a lightweight bout on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles.
  15. Jermall Charlo – No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Mairis Briedis (scheduled to fight Artur Mann on Oct. 16 in Riga, Latvia); Kazuto Ioka (in talks with Jerwin Ancajas for a junior bantamweight title-unification bout); Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (expected to meet Carlos Cuadras as part of a junior bantamweight tournament but nothing is official); Yordenis Ugas (no fight scheduled); and Oscar Valdez (no fight scheduled).

*-Because of an editing error, Kazuto Ioka was removed from the list when he shouldn’t have been. He returns in this version.

Pound for pound: How did things shake out after Canelo, Crawford wins?

Pound for pound: How did things shake out after Canelo, Crawford wins?

Boxing Junkie decided to wait until after the recent Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford fights to update its pound-for-pound list.

Alvarez delivered another impressive performance, stopping Caleb Plant to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion on Nov. 6. And Crawford, facing the biggest test of his career, took out Shawn Porter in 10 rounds this past Saturday.

So how did those performances impact the ranking? It didn’t.

Crawford, who has been No. 1 since Teofimo Lopez Jr. knocked Vasiliy Lomachenko from his perch in October of last year, retains his position. In fact, he strengthens it. And Alvarez, No. 2 since Lopez-Lomachenko, also stays put.

The one knock against Crawford was that he had never fought anyone at Porter’s level. Now he has. And he performed beautifully, patiently breaking down the former two-time titleholder and then stopping him in 10 rounds.

We can debate who should be No. 1 – Crawford? Alvarez? Naoya Inoue? Oleksandr Usyk? – but everyone must agree that Crawford now has a stronger case.

Here’s how the list looks:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – No fight scheduled.
  2. Canelo Alvarez– Announced that he plans to challenge WBC cruiserweight titleholder Ilunga Makabu but no date or site is set.
  3. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to defend his IBF and WBA bantamweight titles against Alan Dipaen on Dec. 14 in Tokyo.
  4. Oleksandr Usyk – Expected to fight Anthony Joshua a second time in the spring but no deal is in place.
  5. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  6. Teofimo Lopez Jr. – Scheduled to defend his lightweight titles against George Kambosos Jr. on Nov. 27 in New York.
  7. Tyson Fury– No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to fight Richard Commey on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – In talks to defend his WBA and WBA junior bantamweight titles in what would be a third fight against Roman Gonzalez in November.
  10. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight title-unification fight on Dec. 29 in Japan.
  11. Jermell Charlo – Expected to face Brian Castano a second time in February but no deal is in place.
  12. Josh Taylor – Scheduled to defend his undisputed junior welterweight championship against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall on Feb. 26 in Glasgow, Scotland.
  13. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his light heavyweight titles against Marcus Browne on Dec. 17 in Montreal.
  14. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Isaac Cruz in a lightweight bout on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles.
  15. Jermall Charlo – No fight scheduled.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Mairis Briedis (scheduled to fight Artur Mann on Oct. 16 in Riga, Latvia); Kazuto Ioka (in talks with Jerwin Ancajas for a junior bantamweight title-unification bout); Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (expected to meet Carlos Cuadras as part of a junior bantamweight tournament but nothing is official); Yordenis Ugas (no fight scheduled); and Oscar Valdez (no fight scheduled).

*-Because of an editing error, Kazuto Ioka was removed from the list when he shouldn’t have been. He returns in this version.