In a fight that boxing fans have been waiting patiently for, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. have finally agreed to fight for the undisputed welterweight championship on July 29th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Both Crawford and Spence are expected to earn eight-figure guaranteed purses for the Showtime pay-per-view fight. There will also be a rematch clause that allows the loser to trigger a rematch within 30 days. This agreement constitutes a two-fight deal for Crawford with Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). After their probable rematch, which must take place before the end of 2023, both fighters are expected to move up to the 154-pound weight class.
If the two fighters split the two matches, a trilogy fight is highly likely. The winner of the overall series is expected to pursue a shot at the undisputed junior middleweight championship, currently held by Jermell Charlo. Spence and Charlo both train in Dallas under Derrick James.
The contract mercifully puts an end to years of anticipation as Crawford and Spence, considered the world’s top welterweights, have avoided facing each other in the ring. The match will determine supremacy at 147 pounds and could solidify the winner’s claim as the best boxer in the world, regardless of weight.
Spence had previously planned to move up to 154 pounds for a summer fight against Keith Thurman. However, both Spence and Crawford were determined to face each other next and reached an agreement in March. The negotiations were facilitated by their respective advisors, Haymon and Hinson, who have worked together on previous high-profile fights.
Since Crawford won the WBO welterweight title in 2018, there has been a clamour for a showdown between him and Spence. The major hurdle in making the fight was the rivalry between their promoters, Top Rank (Crawford) and PBC (Spence). While Top Rank promoted Crawford’s title defense against PBC fighter Shawn Porter in 2021, that bout was mandated by the WBO.
Crawford, 35, became a promotional free agent following his victory over Porter, opening the door for a potential fight with Spence. Talks between the two sides took place throughout the year, and although a deal was close to completion in September, it fell through at the last minute. Crawford went on to secure a sixth-round knockout victory over David Avanesyan in December, while Spence, 33, defeated Yordenis Ugas to claim his third welterweight title in April 2022.
Spence’s comeback from a detached retina surgery in 2021 and a car accident in 2019 has been nothing short of remarkable. The fight against Crawford presents his toughest challenge yet and will play a significant role in shaping both figthers legacies.
After years of false starts, and failed negotiations, it appears as though fight fans will finally get to see the bout they’ve been begging for.
Photo: Tomas Del Coro. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.