Errol Spence Clears Up the Purse Split Threats to Terence Crawford
In his next prizefight, IBF and WBC welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KO’s) will aim to come one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming an undisputed champion. This is because he will stage a significant unification match with Super WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas on April 16. Naturally, Spence believes he will walk away a three-belt victor.
If this turns out to be the case, the last remaining strap hangs around the waist of WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KO’s). It’s no secret that boxing fans and insiders have ached for this showdown ever since Bud made his way into the division well back in 2018. Bad timing, pride, politics, ego and the money split have all provided ample hurdles for the formation of this duel. Yet, it still feels like we are closer than ever to seeing a match.
I WAS JUST JOSHING AROUND!
One of the more eye-catching obstacles preventing this battle was the notion of the money split. Of course, Crawford felt that he was inherently worth a 50/50 cut given his overall stature in the sport along with his grand deeds in lower divisions. His fistic tenure at welterweight and tepid financial success there suggested otherwise!
At one point, Spence declared that he might relegate Bud to a lopsided 80/20 split. As one would expect, Crawford took exception to this and insisted no fight would happen if that was the case. Now, in a recent interview on The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, the Truth reveals that he was never all that rock solid on that threat.
“I said that on my girl Instagram, but I was playing! Ain’t nobody taking no 80/20, 70/30! Yeah, I was playing because I was like, ‘it’s going to be 60/40, you keep playing crazy and it’s going to be 70/30 or 80/20’. But yeah man, I was playing. I wasn’t serious man, people can’t take jokes!”
Ultimately, this revelation should come as a big relief as the notion of money appeared to be one of the bigger hurdles preventing the much sought-after fight. With that massive boulder removed, it should be remarkably easier to get through the negotiation process. Yet, first things first, there is no guarantee that the Truth will get past Ugas. So, let’s see how that match plays out before we get too caught up in Spence versus Crawford dream matches.
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By: Bakari Simpson
