Spence vs Crawford took years to get made, but the time arrived for a most anticipated fight which features the two best welterweights on this earth, Errol Spence from Texas against Terence Crawford of Nebraska.
Spence (28-0, 22 KOs), age 33, and Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) age 35, talked about fighting each other for years, and got real about it on Saturday, July 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
At T-Mobile, the 147 aces went at it, with Crawford’s WBO title and the WBC, WBA and IBF straps for the taking.
Here is how NYF EIC Michael Woods saw the action as Spence vs Crawford unfolded:
ROUND 1 Lefty vs lefty to start. Bud threw little, he gauges hand speed, power. Spence used the jab, mostly. Feel out round, Errol pressed a little late, but this was a warmup round. SPENCE
ROUND 2 Spence combos to start. They clinched with Bud’s back to the ropes. Bud still getting warmed up. Bud ramped up, ripped a few shots. Volume edge for the Texan. Bud drops Spence. Up at 9 seconds remaining. Replay showed left-right counter combo did it. CRAWFORD (w KD)
ROUND 3 of Spence vs Crawford: Spence getting heated. He wanted to make up ground. Bud so patient. Now Bud edges Errol back. You see Bud monitoring, probing for weakness. Tight round, but Bud aggression maybe more effective. CRAWFORD
ROUND 4: Bud got busier, his jab was nasty. Spence pressured, a left hand from Bud jazzed the crowd. Another left! Errol’s face is puffed some. Bud D is tight. That jab is hurtful. CRAWFORD
ROUND 5: Spence got checked by the doc before it started. The Bud accuracy was so on point. Spence threw more but Bud’s counters hurt more. The round lay close and Spence took it with a sharp left, arguably. SPENCE
ROUND 6: Bud looked fresh on his stool. Bud backed him up right away. Spence body work landed, was it bothering Bud? His jab made the crowd buzz. The Texan had the volume edge but he also looked to hold. Round could go either way. SPENCE
ROUND 7: Bud ring generalship is solid. He puts down Errol again! Right upper cut. Half the round left! Errol legs look ok…Nope! Down goes Spence, off two right hooks. CRAWFORD with 2 KD
ROUND 8 of Spence vs Crawford: Bud stalked, the crowd buzz dipped, this was too surprising. Bud looked like he could go 30. Total control…Spence balance is bad, he’s getting whacked around. CRAWFORD
ROUND 9: Trainer Derrick James told Spence to stay focused before the round. Bud was controlling the ring, and taking his sweet/nasty time. A chill round midway through…Bud’s punches are soooo crisp. Bud pummeled and ref saw Errol’s legs were bad, he stopped it! CRAWFORD WINS IN DOMINANT FASHION