Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create our own “Who Wins?” feature, in which we pit a single fighter against each of five potential opponents and indicate who we believe would win the fights.
We started the series with our No. 1 boxer pound-for-pound, Vasiliy Lomachenko, and moved down the list to No. 2 Terence Crawford, No. 3 Canelo Alvarez, No. 4 Naoya Inoue, No. 5 Oleksandr Usyk and No. 6 Gennady Golovkin.
Next up is No. 7 Errol Spence Jr.
In this installment of Who Wins?, our staffers’ give their takes on how Spence would do against Terence Crawford, Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman, Yordenis Ugas and Danny Garcia. We then tally Spence’s record in those fights and present our standings.
For the record, we don’t know whether Spence will be the same after his horrific car accident in October but he says he’s fine and has been training.
We want to acknowledge that the choice of possible opponents is subjective. We’re looking for the best possible but also realistic foes for our featured boxers. One caveat: We won’t consider promotional and managerial rivalries that often stand in the way of the best matchups. And we’re operating under the assumption that none of our featured boxers will fight with ring rust as result of their forced coronavirus-related layoff.
The plan is to work our way down our pound-for-pound list each day. That means our featured fighter tomorrow will be No. 8 Tyson Fury.
So here goes: Spence vs. his five potential opponents.
***
SPENCE (26-0, 21 KOs) VS. CRAWFORD (36-0, 27 KOs)
Rosenthal: Crawford is a better all-around fighter than Spence, quicker, more athletic, more dynamic, more power pound-for-pound. The problem for him is that Spence is almost as good as he is (assuming he has fully recovered from his crash) and the naturally bigger, stronger man, which would determine the winner. They would engage in a competitive, give-and-take fight until Crawford wears down and Spence pulls away. Spence by a close decision.
Frauenheim: It’s the fight everyone wants to see. But it’s getting perilously close to a past-due date. Crawford is 32. Spence hasn’t fought since an auto accident. Is he the same? If he is, it’s a classic. Spence has size, power. Crawford has precision in both hands. His instincts are deadly. Crawford, split decision.
Nam: Much of this depends on whether Spence is the same fighter he was before his hellacious car crash last year. If not, it’s hard to see Spence as the favorite. Crawford has yet to face a top-tier welterweight but the way in which he has dispatched his past several opponents suggests he is a difficult proposition for any elite 147-pounder. His versatility – ability to switch hit, fight off the back point, counter, come forward, finish, et al. – is precisely why Spence, despite his superior size and power at the weight, can’t afford to lose a step. Crawford by unanimous decision.
***
SPENCE VS. PACQUIAO (62-7-2, 39 KOs)
Rosenthal: This is not a fight Pacquiao should take, assuming Spence is at 100 percent. It’s one thing to beat a rusty Keith Thurman who is coming back from injuries; it’s another to challenge a fighter like Spence. “The Truth” is simply too quick, too big, just too good for a 40-something version of Pacquiao, who can fight only in spurts. Spence will pick Pacquiao apart, break him down and stop him in the late rounds.
Frauenheim: We’re still waiting to see Spence post-accident. If he’s the same fighter, he blows away Pacquiao. He’s big enough to be a middleweight. Pacquiao should be a junior welterweight. Spence is also 11-years younger than the Filipino Senator. Spence, late round stoppage.
Nam: Pacquiao’s speed and aggression will win him the early rounds, but this is a 12-round fight. Pacquiao tends to fade and take rounds off in the second half of his most recent fights (see the Jeff Horn and Keith Thurman bouts). That’s when Spence will start to take over, clobbering Pacquiao with hard body shots. Youth and size will prevail. Spence by unanimous decision.
SPENCE VS. THURMAN (29-1, 22 KOs)
Rosenthal: The time off could do both fighters good. Again, Spence is coming back from the injuries he suffered in his crash. Thurman, it seems, is still healing from multiple injuries. This isn’t a bad fight if they’re at their best. Spence has the tighter technique and is a more-precise puncher, which should be the difference in the fight. Thurman will be game but come up short on the cards.
Frauenheim: An interesting fight a couple of years ago. But Thurman has begun to show some wear and tear. He’s smart enough adjust. But he still lost to a smaller Pacquiao. The bigger Spence wears him out, then hurts him. Spence, late-round TKO.
Nam: Years ago this would have been a 50-50 proposition. Not the case anymore. Thurman will gallivant around the ring trying to potshot his way to a decision. Spence, on the other hand, will put the pressure on, and Thurman won’t like that. If Josesito Lopez was able to rock Thurman just by coming forward, you can bet Spence will have far more success with the same strategy. Spence by stoppage.
***
SPENCE VS. UGAS (25-4, 12)
Rosenthal: Ugas, weaned in the Cuban amateur system, has the skill set to give any welterweight problems. He demonstrated that in a strong performance against Shawn Porter last year. And he’s hungry, as he has never won a title. It will take time for Spence to figure out Ugas but eventually he’ll take control with precise, hard punches to the body and head. Spence by clear decision.
Frauenheim: Ugas is little bit different than his fellow Cuban fighters. He prefers to plant his feet and throw punches. But he might need some of that slick Cuban footwork and elusiveness if he hopes to have a chance against Spence. Spence catches him, knocks him out mid-round.
Nam: Body punching galore. Both guys love digging to the body, but Spence is more precise, punches harder and is a bit more dynamic. This is a closer fight than most might expect. Spence gets the job done on points.
***
SPENCE VS. GARCIA (36-2, 21 KOs)
Rosenthal: Garcia is the most underrated of this bunch. He has the ability, experience and right style to win this fight. Spence will come to Garcia, which is what a counterpuncher wants. And Garcia has the punching accuracy and power to make Spence pay. That said, Spence, the slicker boxer and harder puncher will adjust to Garcia’s tactics and pull away in the second half of the fight. Spence by close decision.
Frauenheim: It’s easy to underestimate Garcia. He’s good, but wasn’t quite good enough to beat Thurman or Shawn Porter, who lost a split decision to Spence in September. Garcia’s left-hand counter is dangerous. By now, however, Spence knows that. Again, Garcia will be good, but not quite good enough. Spence, unanimous decision.
Nam: In one sense, Spence’s come-forward style is perfect for Garcia, who is at his best when counterpunching. But Spence isn’t just a mere bruiser. He’ll pick his spots early on before he’s able to corner Garcia and unload hard combinations to the body. Garcia will land that left hook counter multiple times, but at welterweight, he simply does not have the power to imperil the elite fighters. Spence will swallow them whole as he continues to break Garcia down and eventually stop him.
***
THE FINAL TALLY
Errol Spence Jr.: 13-2 (6 KOs)
***
THE STANDINGS
Canelo Alvarez: 15-0 (6 KOs)
Naoya Inoue: 14-0-1 (5 KOs)
Vassiliy Lomachenko: 14-0-1 (4 KOs)
Terence Crawford: 14-1 (3 KOs)
Errol Spence Jr.: 13-2 (6 KOs)
Oleksandr Usyk: 10-5 (2 KOs)
Gennadiy Golovkin: 9-6 (5 KOs)
Read more:
Who wins? Vassiliy Lomachenko vs. five potential opponents
Who wins? Terence Crawford vs. five potential opponents
Who wins? Canelo Alvarez vs. five potential opponents
Who wins? Naoya Inoue vs. five potential opponents
Who wins? Oleksandr Usyk vs. five potential opponents
Who wins? Gennadiy Golovkin vs. five potential opponents