There’s no doubt he received a terrible beating at the gloved hands of Terence Crawford this summer, the kind of beating that alters careers. Still, former WBC, WBA, and IBF welterweight titlist Errol Spence has activated a rematch clause, which subsequently sets up a rematch with Crawford in the near future. The news, which broke on Thursday, may not have come as a surprise but it certainly raised some eyebrows. Although both Spence and Crawford were essentially seen as evenly matched before their much hyped superbout, Crawford went on to completely overwhelm his foil, stopping Spence in the ninth round of a scheduled twelve round battle.
Still, there’s no denying that Spence has a warrior’s heart. While it’s certainly true a second go round with Crawford will guarantee the Texan a lot of money, there’s only so much damage the human body can absorb – and Spence absorbed a lot of damage squaring off against Crawford last July in Las Vegas. Even if the rematch takes place at junior middleweight rather than at welterweight, as the first bout did, it’s hard to imagine a few pounds making all that much of a difference. The sport of boxing is full of surprises, however, Indeed, boxing is an endeavor wherein a participant can never truly be written off. And Spence is nothing if not the picture of a game combatant.
He’s also a man not used to losing. In a twenty-nine fight career, Spence has lost but a single time, and that was to Crawford a few weeks back. Rather, he’s met and bested numerous fighters of note, such as Shawn Porter, Kell Brook, Chris Algieri, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia, and Yordenis Ugas, among others. In short, Crawford is used to winning, and clearly wants to start winning again, particularly against Crawford, who looked like a master besting a pupil during their first match.
As for Crawford, the Omaha native is no doubt pleased with this latest career development. A second major bout with an opponent he already beat once – and with relative ease, no less – must seem like a no-lose proposition. The question now is whether or not fans will want to see the two men do battle once more. The first fight was so one sided that the idea of coughing up money for another Crawford-Spence pay per view (and it will most certainly be a pay per view affair) may appear less than enticing, especially to casual fans.
Again, though, this is boxing, and Errol Spence should never be entirely written off. The sport is full of surprises, and history has shown that a defeated fighter can come back stronger and more determined. Spence’s decision to activate the rematch clause demonstrates his resilience and refusal to be defeated in just one fight.
The rematch between Spence and Crawford promises to be another thrilling encounter. While the first fight showed Crawford’s dominance, it also revealed Spence’s undeniable fighting spirit. Both boxers possess incredible skill and talent, making for a potentially explosive match. With the possibility of the rematch taking place at junior middleweight, the dynamics of the fight may change. The question remains whether Spence can make the necessary adjustments and come back stronger against a formidable opponent like Crawford.
Errol Spence’s decision to activate the rematch clause signifies his determination to prove himself and redeem his previous loss. While the outcome of the first fight was one-sided, boxing has always been a sport where anything can happen. Spence’s impressive record and his warrior mentality suggest that he will give Crawford a run for his money in their second meeting. Fans eagerly await the rematch, as it promises to be an epic battle between two elite fighters vying for supremacy in the welterweight division.
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