Promoter Bob Arum said that a $1 million offer for Shawn Porter to fight Terence Crawford is no insult,
Is Shawn Porter being unreasonable?
The welterweight contender reportedly has balked at $1 million to challenge titleholder Terence Crawford, claiming Bob Arum, Crawford’s promoter, is “lowballing” him. Arum responded by saying he won’t go higher.
Porter was guaranteed $2 million for his split-decision loss against beltholder Errol Spence Jr. in September 2019, according to Yahoo Sports. Forbes reported that Porter was guaranteed $1 million when he took Danny Garcia’s 147-pound title in September 2018 and $1.25 million when he outpointed Yordenis Ugas in a non-title fight in March 2019.
“I’m not taking a million,” Porter said on The Porter Way Podcast. “I’ve done the best I could in sending a message to Bob Arum and I also know people who know Bob.
“I’ve told them, ‘Tell Mr. Arum, I don’t mean any disrespect, and I know he doesn’t. If you’re going to lowball me, don’t do it. If you feel that’s how you get out of fighting me, that’s weak. Don’t do it.
“However, if you want to make the fight happen, don’t lowball me. I’m worth more than a million dollars. F a million dollars.’ I’m going to keep it as clean as possible, but I’m not fighting Terence Crawford for 1 million dollars.”
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Arum said on Barbershop Conversations that he won’t budge in light of the economic circumstances resulting from COVID-19.
“I read some place that he felt that I insulted him by only offering him a million dollars,” Arum said. “I’m old fashioned. I don’t know why a million dollars would be an insult to anybody. He should work a deal with me on upside.
“I’m not guaranteeing more than a million collars, I’m just not, not in these times.”
Porter (31-3, 17 KOs) is coming off a shutout decision victory over Sebastian Formella on Aug. 22.
Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) last fought on Nov. 14, when he stopped Kell Brook in the fourth round.
Boxing Junkie’s No. 1 fighter pound for pound, who won his belt in June 2018, has had difficulty luring an elite opponent into the ring in part because he and the other top 147-pounders are affiliated with competing outlets.
Promoter Bob Arum said that a $1 million offer for Shawn Porter to fight Terence Crawford is no insult,
Is Shawn Porter being unreasonable?
The welterweight contender reportedly has balked at $1 million to challenge titleholder Terence Crawford, claiming Bob Arum, Crawford’s promoter, is “lowballing” him. Arum responded by saying he won’t go higher.
Porter was guaranteed $2 million for his split-decision loss against beltholder Errol Spence Jr. in September 2019, according to Yahoo Sports. Forbes reported that Porter was guaranteed $1 million when he took Danny Garcia’s 147-pound title in September 2018 and $1.25 million when he outpointed Yordenis Ugas in a non-title fight in March 2019.
“I’m not taking a million,” Porter said on The Porter Way Podcast. “I’ve done the best I could in sending a message to Bob Arum and I also know people who know Bob.
“I’ve told them, ‘Tell Mr. Arum, I don’t mean any disrespect, and I know he doesn’t. If you’re going to lowball me, don’t do it. If you feel that’s how you get out of fighting me, that’s weak. Don’t do it.
“However, if you want to make the fight happen, don’t lowball me. I’m worth more than a million dollars. F a million dollars.’ I’m going to keep it as clean as possible, but I’m not fighting Terence Crawford for 1 million dollars.”
[lawrence-related id=15564,13175]
Arum said on Barbershop Conversations that he won’t budge in light of the economic circumstances resulting from COVID-19.
“I read some place that he felt that I insulted him by only offering him a million dollars,” Arum said. “I’m old fashioned. I don’t know why a million dollars would be an insult to anybody. He should work a deal with me on upside.
“I’m not guaranteeing more than a million collars, I’m just not, not in these times.”
Porter (31-3, 17 KOs) is coming off a shutout decision victory over Sebastian Formella on Aug. 22.
Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) last fought on Nov. 14, when he stopped Kell Brook in the fourth round.
Boxing Junkie’s No. 1 fighter pound for pound, who won his belt in June 2018, has had difficulty luring an elite opponent into the ring in part because he and the other top 147-pounders are affiliated with competing outlets.
Errol Spence Jr. has a new perspective on life and his career after his horrific car accident 14 months ago.
Near-death experiences have a way of changing a person. Errol Spence Jr. certainly isn’t the same.
The welterweight titleholder could’ve been killed when he lost control of his Ferrari, hit a median and rolled over multiple times, which catapulted him through the windshield 14 months ago in his hometown of Dallas. Somehow, miraculously, he suffered no life-threatening injuries.
The accident and his ability to survive it brought into HD focus the important things in life, his family, his true friends, his career, the things that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of boxing.
Spence probably will look a lot like the pre-accident fighter when he defends his belts against Danny Garcia on pay-per-view Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but he sees the world and his role in it differently.
In a way, the accident was a blessing.
“I think it really did help me,” Spence said a news conference Wednesday. “… You realize that having this time on earth is a luxury. You think you’re invincible, you think nothing can happen to you.
Errol Spence Jr. says he has fully recovered from his car accident 14 months ago. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
“When something does happen to you, you realize the time is important, spending time with your family, your loved ones, people who really care about you and people you really care about.”
“I actually moved out of downtown and got a ranch [in DeSoto], got a horse and different cattle, things like that. I got a pool. I’m enjoying the time with my kids and my family. I just had a new-born son. And a girlfriend. And, you know, just enjoying life more.”
Spence, who suffered mostly cuts and bruises, was released from Methodist Dallas Medical Center less than a week after paramedics brought him there by ambulance immediately after the crash.
(He was charged at that time with driving under the influence on the night of the accident, something his lawyers told him he shouldn’t address pending adjudication.)
[lawrence-related id=16055,15951,15931]
He resumed workouts the following month, was back in the gym with trainer Derrick James in February and was cleared to begin sparring late this past spring, which was the first significant test of whether he had any lingering effects from the accident.
He didn’t, as far as he could tell. He felt fine.
“I went to the clinic, went to the doctors,” he said. “And they told me I didn’t have any brain swelling or any blood [on] my brain or anything like that. I decided to continue my career and get back. That’s basically what we did.
“Me and my coach have been in the gym since probably February and just grinding hard. Now we’re back. I’m 100 percent. I’m ready. He’s seen my reaction time, he’s seen me sparring and I how I do with the mitts and how I do on the bag, and everything is back on point and back to where it was.
“So I feel great. Everyone is going to see the same Errol Spence post-car accident.”
That’s significant for Spence beyond the recovery from his injuries. He had gotten complacent in a lifestyle that wasn’t ideal for a professional boxer, blowing up in weight between fights and then spending much of his training camps trimming down.
That’s a dangerous cycle, one that can lead to setbacks and shorten boxing careers. That was one of Spence’s revelations after the accident, which could be bad news for his rivals.
Spence has been in the gym for nine months … and it shows. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
He has essentially been in the gym for nine months. It seems every boxer insists he or she is the best shape of his or her life going into every fight. However, as it applies to Spence at this moment, it might be true.
Spence said he was in the sauna before the weigh-in for his fight with Mikey Garcia in March of last year, which he won by a shutout decision. That isn’t likely to be necessary this Friday.
“I think it did renew my focus,” he said of the accident. “It got me back in the gym every day and things like that. … After a fight I started taking a week off to two weeks off to a month off to basically being in the gym when it was fight time.
“Now we’ve been in the gym, like I said, since February just grinding hard, staying focused. That’s what got me to the point of being unified champion and to the mountain top.”
Said James: “He’s focused on his task, and that’s constantly proving he’s the best welterweight in the world.”
Of course, Spence understands that outsiders must see for themselves that he’s the same dynamic fighter who has climbed onto every reputable pound-for-pound list and is poised to climb higher. Boxing Junkie has him ranked No. 5.
He’s confident they’ll see what he already knows, in part thanks to his choice of opponents.
“I’m realistic,” he said. “I know people have a lot of questions. Am I still the same? Am I a shell of myself? If I looked at the accident, I would’ve said the same thing, I would have questions too.
“The questions need to be answered. And I don’t feel they would’ve been answered against lighter (less threatening) competition. So I feel a lot of stuff will be answered come Dec. 5, for people to see what they haven’t been able to see in the gym.”
And how will the fight go?
“Well, the fight will end by me winning,” he said. “Life taught me that this world isn’t perfect. Nothing is going to be perfect, but I’m definitely going to get the victory.”
Errol Spence Jr. has a new perspective on life and his career after his horrific car accident 14 months ago.
Near-death experiences have a way of changing a person. Errol Spence Jr. certainly isn’t the same.
The welterweight titleholder could’ve been killed when he lost control of his Ferrari, hit a median and rolled over multiple times, which catapulted him through the windshield 14 months ago in his hometown of Dallas. Somehow, miraculously, he suffered no life-threatening injuries.
The accident and his ability to survive it brought into HD focus the important things in life, his family, his true friends, his career, the things that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of boxing.
Spence probably will look a lot like the pre-accident fighter when he defends his belts against Danny Garcia on pay-per-view Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but he sees the world and his role in it differently.
In a way, the accident was a blessing.
“I think it really did help me,” Spence said a news conference Wednesday. “… You realize that having this time on earth is a luxury. You think you’re invincible, you think nothing can happen to you.
Errol Spence Jr. says he has fully recovered from his car accident 14 months ago. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
“When something does happen to you, you realize the time is important, spending time with your family, your loved ones, people who really care about you and people you really care about.”
“I actually moved out of downtown and got a ranch [in DeSoto], got a horse and different cattle, things like that. I got a pool. I’m enjoying the time with my kids and my family. I just had a new-born son. And a girlfriend. And, you know, just enjoying life more.”
Spence, who suffered mostly cuts and bruises, was released from Methodist Dallas Medical Center less than a week after paramedics brought him there by ambulance immediately after the crash.
(He was charged at that time with driving under the influence on the night of the accident, something his lawyers told him he shouldn’t address pending adjudication.)
[lawrence-related id=16055,15951,15931]
He resumed workouts the following month, was back in the gym with trainer Derrick James in February and was cleared to begin sparring late this past spring, which was the first significant test of whether he had any lingering effects from the accident.
He didn’t, as far as he could tell. He felt fine.
“I went to the clinic, went to the doctors,” he said. “And they told me I didn’t have any brain swelling or any blood [on] my brain or anything like that. I decided to continue my career and get back. That’s basically what we did.
“Me and my coach have been in the gym since probably February and just grinding hard. Now we’re back. I’m 100 percent. I’m ready. He’s seen my reaction time, he’s seen me sparring and I how I do with the mitts and how I do on the bag, and everything is back on point and back to where it was.
“So I feel great. Everyone is going to see the same Errol Spence post-car accident.”
That’s significant for Spence beyond the recovery from his injuries. He had gotten complacent in a lifestyle that wasn’t ideal for a professional boxer, blowing up in weight between fights and then spending much of his training camps trimming down.
That’s a dangerous cycle, one that can lead to setbacks and shorten boxing careers. That was one of Spence’s revelations after the accident, which could be bad news for his rivals.
Spence has been in the gym for nine months … and it shows. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
He has essentially been in the gym for nine months. It seems every boxer insists he or she is the best shape of his or her life going into every fight. However, as it applies to Spence at this moment, it might be true.
Spence said he was in the sauna before the weigh-in for his fight with Mikey Garcia in March of last year, which he won by a shutout decision. That isn’t likely to be necessary this Friday.
“I think it did renew my focus,” he said of the accident. “It got me back in the gym every day and things like that. … After a fight I started taking a week off to two weeks off to a month off to basically being in the gym when it was fight time.
“Now we’ve been in the gym, like I said, since February just grinding hard, staying focused. That’s what got me to the point of being unified champion and to the mountain top.”
Said James: “He’s focused on his task, and that’s constantly proving he’s the best welterweight in the world.”
Of course, Spence understands that outsiders must see for themselves that he’s the same dynamic fighter who has climbed onto every reputable pound-for-pound list and is poised to climb higher. Boxing Junkie has him ranked No. 5.
He’s confident they’ll see what he already knows, in part thanks to his choice of opponents.
“I’m realistic,” he said. “I know people have a lot of questions. Am I still the same? Am I a shell of myself? If I looked at the accident, I would’ve said the same thing, I would have questions too.
“The questions need to be answered. And I don’t feel they would’ve been answered against lighter (less threatening) competition. So I feel a lot of stuff will be answered come Dec. 5, for people to see what they haven’t been able to see in the gym.”
And how will the fight go?
“Well, the fight will end by me winning,” he said. “Life taught me that this world isn’t perfect. Nothing is going to be perfect, but I’m definitely going to get the victory.”
Danny Garcia calls his bout with Errol Spence Jr. the fight of his life but, with his experience, isn’t fazed by the opportunity.
Danny Garcia speaks of his meeting with Errol Spence Jr. as if it’s the fight of his life. It probably is.
If he wins on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, he will have reached the peak of his 13-year career and possibly punched his ticket to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. If he loses, particularly if it’s a clear setback, he might never again receive an opportunity of this magnitude.
“We definitely know what’s at stake. We pushed ourselves to the limit every day,” Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday.
Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a 3½-1 underdog, according to BetMGM. He definitely has his work cut out against Spence (26-0, 21 KOs), who seems on paper to have all the physical advantages.
The former two-division titleholder from Philadelphia has only one obvious edge: experience. He has fought on a big stage since the day he climbed into the ring to face Nate Campbell on the 2011 Marcos Maidana-Erik Morales card in Las Vegas.
Danny Garcia covets the title belts held by Errol Spence Jr. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
That fight, which Garcia won by decision, kicked off one of the most impressive runs over the past decade. He fought and beat in order immediately after Campbell: Kendall Holt, Morales, Amir Khan, Morales again, Zab Judah, Mauricio Herrera, Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson, Paulie Malignaggi and Robert Guerrero.
He has fought 13 current or former world titleholders, winning 11 times. And he’s 7-2 in title fights. That includes the first Morales fight in 2012, in which Garcia won the vacant WBC 140-pound title in Houston.
To say he has been there and done that is an understatement. So forgive him if he isn’t fazed by the enormous task at hand.
“This is a big stage, but I’ve been here before,” he said. “I’ve been headlining fights on the championship level for eight years. I’ve always been a top-level fighter.”
Spence seconded that notion.
“Nobody forced me to fight Danny Garcia,” he said. “But I wanted to face someone dangerous who would keep me focused and in the gym training hard. Fighting someone who’s a great fighter like Danny pushes me to another level. That’s the level I’m supposed to be at.”
Garcia (second from right) and Spence speak at a news conference Wednesday. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
Of course, we know that Garcia ran into trouble not long after his victory over Guerrero, in which he won the vacant WBC 147-pound title in Los Angeles.
Two fights later, in 2017, he lost a split decision and his belt to Keith Thurman and fell to Shawn Porter by a close unanimous decision for the same title he lost to Thurman, who had vacated it.
Since then, Garcia retreated into the background as rivals like Spence and Manny Pacquiao collected welterweight titles and took center stage. “Swift” has fought only twice in the past two years, stopping Adrian Granados in April of last year and outpointing Ivan Redkach in January.
People had begun to ask, “Have we already seen the best of Danny Garcia?”
Then came Saturday’s matchup. Garcia, hungry for another big opportunity, began calling out Spence about a year ago. And the unified titleholder (IBF and WBC) liked the idea.
Fans would’ve understood had Spence decided to take an easy fight after his horrific car accident in October of last year but, as he said, he wanted to face a big-name opponent to motivate himself.
What better choice than one of the most recognizable and respected fighters in the division, one determined to experience the feeling of having a championship belt wrapped around his waist one more time.
“Boxing is a sport of timing and the time is now,” Garcia said. “I feel great and had a tremendous camp. I did everything I was supposed to do. I just have to go out there Saturday night and do what I do best.
“… This is a great opportunity. There’s no feeling like winning, and winning a world title is the best feeling in the world. I’ve taken it for granted before, but in this world you learn off of your mistakes and become a better person, a better man. That’s why I’m here today.”
Danny Garcia calls his bout with Errol Spence Jr. the fight of his life but, with his experience, isn’t fazed by the opportunity.
Danny Garcia speaks of his meeting with Errol Spence Jr. as if it’s the fight of his life. It probably is.
If he wins on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, he will have reached the peak of his 13-year career and possibly punched his ticket to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. If he loses, particularly if it’s a clear setback, he might never again receive an opportunity of this magnitude.
“We definitely know what’s at stake. We pushed ourselves to the limit every day,” Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday.
Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a 3½-1 underdog, according to BetMGM. He definitely has his work cut out against Spence (26-0, 21 KOs), who seems on paper to have all the physical advantages.
The former two-division titleholder from Philadelphia has only one obvious edge: experience. He has fought on a big stage since the day he climbed into the ring to face Nate Campbell on the 2011 Marcos Maidana-Erik Morales card in Las Vegas.
Danny Garcia covets the title belts held by Errol Spence Jr. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
That fight, which Garcia won by decision, kicked off one of the most impressive runs over the past decade. He fought and beat in order immediately after Campbell: Kendall Holt, Morales, Amir Khan, Morales again, Zab Judah, Mauricio Herrera, Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson, Paulie Malignaggi and Robert Guerrero.
He has fought 13 current or former world titleholders, winning 11 times. And he’s 7-2 in title fights. That includes the first Morales fight in 2012, in which Garcia won the vacant WBC 140-pound title in Houston.
To say he has been there and done that is an understatement. So forgive him if he isn’t fazed by the enormous task at hand.
“This is a big stage, but I’ve been here before,” he said. “I’ve been headlining fights on the championship level for eight years. I’ve always been a top-level fighter.”
Spence seconded that notion.
“Nobody forced me to fight Danny Garcia,” he said. “But I wanted to face someone dangerous who would keep me focused and in the gym training hard. Fighting someone who’s a great fighter like Danny pushes me to another level. That’s the level I’m supposed to be at.”
Garcia (second from right) and Spence speak at a news conference Wednesday. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions
Of course, we know that Garcia ran into trouble not long after his victory over Guerrero, in which he won the vacant WBC 147-pound title in Los Angeles.
Two fights later, in 2017, he lost a split decision and his belt to Keith Thurman and fell to Shawn Porter by a close unanimous decision for the same title he lost to Thurman, who had vacated it.
Since then, Garcia retreated into the background as rivals like Spence and Manny Pacquiao collected welterweight titles and took center stage. “Swift” has fought only twice in the past two years, stopping Adrian Granados in April of last year and outpointing Ivan Redkach in January.
People had begun to ask, “Have we already seen the best of Danny Garcia?”
Then came Saturday’s matchup. Garcia, hungry for another big opportunity, began calling out Spence about a year ago. And the unified titleholder (IBF and WBC) liked the idea.
Fans would’ve understood had Spence decided to take an easy fight after his horrific car accident in October of last year but, as he said, he wanted to face a big-name opponent to motivate himself.
What better choice than one of the most recognizable and respected fighters in the division, one determined to experience the feeling of having a championship belt wrapped around his waist one more time.
“Boxing is a sport of timing and the time is now,” Garcia said. “I feel great and had a tremendous camp. I did everything I was supposed to do. I just have to go out there Saturday night and do what I do best.
“… This is a great opportunity. There’s no feeling like winning, and winning a world title is the best feeling in the world. I’ve taken it for granted before, but in this world you learn off of your mistakes and become a better person, a better man. That’s why I’m here today.”
Errol Spence Jr. defends his welterweight title against Danny Garcia on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The biggest question going into the fight is whether Spence has any lingering effects related to the …
Errol Spence Jr. defends his welterweight title against Danny Garcia on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
The biggest question going into the fight is whether Spence has any lingering effects related to the horrific car accident he miraculously survived 14 months ago.
Spence said the answer came during sparring, when he was able to take everything thrown at him as well as he ever had. He said he feels terrific.
In this episode of Boxing with Chris Mannix, courtesy of DAZN, the host interviews Spence about his physical condition, his training camp and more.
Errol Spence Jr. defends his welterweight title against Danny Garcia on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The biggest question going into the fight is whether Spence has any lingering effects related to the …
Errol Spence Jr. defends his welterweight title against Danny Garcia on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
The biggest question going into the fight is whether Spence has any lingering effects related to the horrific car accident he miraculously survived 14 months ago.
Spence said the answer came during sparring, when he was able to take everything thrown at him as well as he ever had. He said he feels terrific.
In this episode of Boxing with Chris Mannix, courtesy of DAZN, the host interviews Spence about his physical condition, his training camp and more.
Five questions going into Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. is behind us. Now it’s time for a real fight.
Errol Spence Jr. will defend his welterweight titles against Danny Garcia on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.
The matchup is compelling. Spence, No. 5 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, will be fighting for the first time since a terrible car accident in October of last year.
And Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) certainly didn’t select a pushover in his comeback fight. Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a former two-division titleholder with the all-around ability and experience to give anyone in his division big trouble.
Here are five questions going into the fight:
No. 1
Has Spence fully recovered from his car accident in October of last year?
Spence is lucky to be alive. The champion rolled his speeding Ferrari and was thrown through the windshield in the early morning hours on Oct. 10 in his hometown of Dallas. Somehow, miraculously, he reportedly emerged with only minor injuries. Doctors soon gave him permission to resume training and he worked his way into full-contact sparring as he prepares to face Garcia. He says he feels fine. Derrick James, his trainer, says he’s performing as he did before the accident. We’ll take their word for it but we have to wonder: How can we be sure that he didn’t suffer some sort of long-term damage? We’ll never know the answer that question unless we see something that provides a clue in this fight or others. Only one thing seems certain: It will be interesting for us to see whether he looks like the same fighter.
No. 2
Was Spence wise to forgo a tune-up fight?
We’ll see. No one would’ve blamed Spence if he decided to face a second- or even third-level opponent to test his body after his accident 14 months ago. That would’ve made sense. However, that’s not Spence. One, he’ll make more money against an elite opponent, Two, he wanted a big fight to motivate himself in training. Garcia serves that purpose. And, three, Spence sees himself as the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world. The only way to demonstrate that is to fight and beat other top boxers. If Spence wins, especially if he wins convincingly, he will have made a smart decision to go directly into a big fight. If he loses, people will suggest that he should’ve eased back into boxing. The odds – 3½-1 in favor of Spence, according to BetMGM – say that he made the right move.
No. 3
What makes Spence so good?
His versatility. Everyone was touting Mike Garcia’s special skill set before he fought Spence in March of last year so Spence decided to outbox him. Shawn Porter is known as a strong, suffocating brawler so Spence decided to outslug him when they met six months after the Mikey Garcia fight. The point is that Spence can beat you in many ways, including at your own game. He can box, he can bang, he can punch (81% knockout ratio) and he is durable. He took considerable punishment against Porter but was never hurt or fazed. On top of all that, his keen boxing acumen allows him to adapt in the ring. And, finally, he is supremely confident. He has called out Canelo Alvarez, for crying out loud. That sort of self-belief cannot be underestimated. In short, Spence might be the most-complete boxer in the world.
No. 4
Is Garcia a legitimate threat to Spence?
Absolutely. “Swift” is one of the most-accomplished fighters in the business, having won titles in two divisions and taken out long list of elite opponents over his 13-year career. And his only two losses were tight decisions against top-tier foes, Keith Thurman and Porter. Had Garcia won one or two more rounds in those fights he might be undefeated and on every reputable pound-for-pound list. He is probably naturally smaller than Spence, which is at least a slight disadvantage, but he certainly has been successful since moving from 140 pounds to 147. He’s 6-2 as a welterweight, with four knockouts. Spence also probably is quicker than Garcia but his timing and experience in general can compensate for any disadvantage in that department. Don’t be shocked if Garcia manages to pull off what would seem to be a big upset.
No. 5
What’s next for the winner?
Ideally, Terence Crawford. The winner of Spence-Garcia will hold two of the four major welterweight titles, with Crawford and Manny Pacquiao holding the other two. Both Spence and Garcia would target Pacquiao for obvious reasons – the big payday against a relatively minor threat, at least compared to Crawford. From a business standpoint, Pacquiao should be the first choice. However, Crawford is the true challenge, the fight the fans want to see and one that could secure the legacy of whomever faces him. There are other good options. Thurman, Porter, Yordenis Ugas and Vergil Ortiz come to mind. And, again, Spence has actually called out Alvarez. But the winner vs. Crawford is the ultimate matchup. Everyone knows that.
Five questions going into Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. is behind us. Now it’s time for a real fight.
Errol Spence Jr. will defend his welterweight titles against Danny Garcia on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.
The matchup is compelling. Spence, No. 5 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, will be fighting for the first time since a terrible car accident in October of last year.
And Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) certainly didn’t select a pushover in his comeback fight. Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a former two-division titleholder with the all-around ability and experience to give anyone in his division big trouble.
Here are five questions going into the fight:
No. 1
Has Spence fully recovered from his car accident in October of last year?
Spence is lucky to be alive. The champion rolled his speeding Ferrari and was thrown through the windshield in the early morning hours on Oct. 10 in his hometown of Dallas. Somehow, miraculously, he reportedly emerged with only minor injuries. Doctors soon gave him permission to resume training and he worked his way into full-contact sparring as he prepares to face Garcia. He says he feels fine. Derrick James, his trainer, says he’s performing as he did before the accident. We’ll take their word for it but we have to wonder: How can we be sure that he didn’t suffer some sort of long-term damage? We’ll never know the answer that question unless we see something that provides a clue in this fight or others. Only one thing seems certain: It will be interesting for us to see whether he looks like the same fighter.
No. 2
Was Spence wise to forgo a tune-up fight?
We’ll see. No one would’ve blamed Spence if he decided to face a second- or even third-level opponent to test his body after his accident 14 months ago. That would’ve made sense. However, that’s not Spence. One, he’ll make more money against an elite opponent, Two, he wanted a big fight to motivate himself in training. Garcia serves that purpose. And, three, Spence sees himself as the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world. The only way to demonstrate that is to fight and beat other top boxers. If Spence wins, especially if he wins convincingly, he will have made a smart decision to go directly into a big fight. If he loses, people will suggest that he should’ve eased back into boxing. The odds – 3½-1 in favor of Spence, according to BetMGM – say that he made the right move.
No. 3
What makes Spence so good?
His versatility. Everyone was touting Mike Garcia’s special skill set before he fought Spence in March of last year so Spence decided to outbox him. Shawn Porter is known as a strong, suffocating brawler so Spence decided to outslug him when they met six months after the Mikey Garcia fight. The point is that Spence can beat you in many ways, including at your own game. He can box, he can bang, he can punch (81% knockout ratio) and he is durable. He took considerable punishment against Porter but was never hurt or fazed. On top of all that, his keen boxing acumen allows him to adapt in the ring. And, finally, he is supremely confident. He has called out Canelo Alvarez, for crying out loud. That sort of self-belief cannot be underestimated. In short, Spence might be the most-complete boxer in the world.
No. 4
Is Garcia a legitimate threat to Spence?
Absolutely. “Swift” is one of the most-accomplished fighters in the business, having won titles in two divisions and taken out long list of elite opponents over his 13-year career. And his only two losses were tight decisions against top-tier foes, Keith Thurman and Porter. Had Garcia won one or two more rounds in those fights he might be undefeated and on every reputable pound-for-pound list. He is probably naturally smaller than Spence, which is at least a slight disadvantage, but he certainly has been successful since moving from 140 pounds to 147. He’s 6-2 as a welterweight, with four knockouts. Spence also probably is quicker than Garcia but his timing and experience in general can compensate for any disadvantage in that department. Don’t be shocked if Garcia manages to pull off what would seem to be a big upset.
No. 5
What’s next for the winner?
Ideally, Terence Crawford. The winner of Spence-Garcia will hold two of the four major welterweight titles, with Crawford and Manny Pacquiao holding the other two. Both Spence and Garcia would target Pacquiao for obvious reasons – the big payday against a relatively minor threat, at least compared to Crawford. From a business standpoint, Pacquiao should be the first choice. However, Crawford is the true challenge, the fight the fans want to see and one that could secure the legacy of whomever faces him. There are other good options. Thurman, Porter, Yordenis Ugas and Vergil Ortiz come to mind. And, again, Spence has actually called out Alvarez. But the winner vs. Crawford is the ultimate matchup. Everyone knows that.
