Terence Crawford Explains Why He Doesn’t See a Fight With Errol Spence Ever Happening
On November 20, Terence “Bud” Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) makes the fifth defense of the WBO world welterweight title against mandatory challenger and two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs). The challenger is one of the top fighters in the division and the type of opponent folks have demanded from Crawford ever since he moved up from junior welterweight. The expectation is that “Showtime” Shawn will provide a very sturdy test.
NO ESCAPING TALK ABOUT SPENCE
Despite a high level of excitement for this fight, there remains one man that hovers over Crawford during his reign as a world welterweight champion. That would be one unified IBF/WBC world welterweight champ, Errol Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KOs).
There’s been plenty of talk about a Spence – Crawford showdown, but nothing has ever materialized. Even with the fight with Porter upcoming, “Bud” can’t seem to avoid questions about Spence. It was the case once again during an appearance on The Last Stand podcast when host Brian Custer asked the 34-year-old would a fight with Spence happen at 147 or 154 pounds.
“I really don’t see us fighting to tell you the truth. The fight has been talked about for years and years and years. That’s the fight I’ve been wanting since I came to the division after Errol Spence became the number one guy in the division… Sometimes, you let those fights pass you by.
Because I never wanted to get into a situation like the Manny Pacquiao fight. Here it is 2021 and I was promised the Manny Pacquiao fight in 2015. So, I never wanted to get into the same situation as Manny Pacquiao with Errol Spence. So, I just let it pass me by and move on to the next because there’s a lot of good fights out there that Terence Crawford can be fighting like right now.
Shawn Porter is a great fight. November 20, we’re going to put on a great show. It’s going to be a barnburner.”
LEVEL OF MISTRUST
At a certain level, one could understand Crawford’s skepticism. He’s still salty about being promised what would’ve been a career-defining fight and payday, only for it to not happen. That’s an issue with him and Bob Arum, who was promoting both men at that time. The bad taste from a missed opportunity with Pacquiao has nothing to do with Crawford facing Spence right now. Especially when you factor in that Bud’s contract with Arum has expired. Now more than ever, nothing is precluding him from negotiating a deal to face Spence.
When Custer asked about Spence’s demands that he should receive a 60/40 or a 70/30 split to fight Crawford, the WBO champ summed it up as posturing on Spence’s part. He then made this eye-opening claim about the unified welterweight belt-holder.
“If we’re being real honest, Errol Spence’s name has been in the same conversation with Terence Crawford since Terence Crawford came to the division. Not Terence Crawford’s name has been piggy-backed off of Errol Spence’s name.
When people look at it, they might say, ‘Errol Spence is the big fish’. But y’all use Terence Crawford to boost Errol Spence’s status in boxing as a whole, not the other way around. Terence Crawford been had a name since 135 and 140.”
Crawford further explained that when he decided to move up to welterweight, Spence was as a boogeyman. His rationale is the buzz started when he initially expressed an interest in facing Spence.
IT’S ALL ABOUT NOW
This is not the first time he’s claimed a fight with Spence is behind him, but here’s the thing. While Crawford had established himself at 135 and won the undisputed world title at 140, what has he done since defeating Jeff Horn to win the WBO title at 147? He’s been a world champion at 147 since 2018.
Spence has fought the better and tougher competition in the division. He’s also become a unified champion. So, when Crawford accuses Spence of being delusional to ask for a 60/40 or 70/30 split, some would argue that’s being a sensible boxing businessman.
For the time being, the fighter from Omaha, Nebraska says his immediate focus is on Porter in November. If successful, the drumbeats will grow louder for a fight with Spence, whether Terence Crawford likes it or not. For him to state that he’s moving on should not be accepted.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
