TMZ: Errol Spence Jr. Charged with DWI After Flipping Ferrari in Scary Crash
Oct 16, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Erroll Spence Jr. in the ring fights against Shawn Porter (not pictured) in their IBF & WBC World Welterweight Championship fight at Staples Center on September 28, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Spence, Jr won by decision. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Unified welterweight boxing champion Errol Spence Jr. has been charged with driving while intoxicated, a class B misdemeanor, following a one-car crash that took place early last Thursday morning, according to TMZ Sports.
Police said Spence was driving his Ferrari at high speeds on a Dallas street at 2:53 a.m. CT when the car crashed, jumped a median and rolled over multiple times. J.D. Miles of CBS Dallas provided security camera footage of the crash.
#BREAKING Exclusive video from a nearby security camera shows the crash that injured Championship Boxer Errol Spence Jr when he lost control of his Ferrari and it rolled multiple times ejecting him. Fortunately he survived and expected to be ok pic.twitter.com/2Z1xh9DDiA
The 29-year-old did not suffer any serious injuries, coming away with "several broken teeth," per TMZ Sports. He's since been released from the hospital and is expected to recover fully.
Spence made his first public post-crash comments on Wednesday, per Manouk Akopyan of Boxing Scene, writing "No broken bones, I'm a savage!!" in an Instagram Stories post.
That was deleted minutes later, per Akopyan, who also reported news from a source that Spence "remains hospitalized under regular care and a further update on his health condition will be provided as soon as the family is ready to share new developments."
Spence, who is 26-0 lifetime, most recently beat Shawn Porter via split decision for the WBC welterweight title, unifying the belt with his IBF championship.
As for the charges, a Dallas police spokesman said the following Wednesday, per ESPN's Dan Rafael.
"Mr. Spence has been released from the hospital and will need to address those charges. As for getting a speed of the vehicle, we will not be getting one. It was a single-car accident with no other criminal charges. Therefore, no reason to get a warrant to pull the [black box] of the vehicle."
As Rafael noted, it's unclear when Spence will get back in the ring, but Rafael wrote that previous plans "called for Spence to return in the main event of another Premier Boxing Champions main event on Fox pay-per-view Jan. 23 against former welterweight and junior welterweight world titleholder Danny Garcia."
Garcia, 31, is 35-2 on the professional level and currently holds the WBC Silver welterweight title after beating Adrian Granados via KO on April 20. Garcia won his first 33 fights before falling to Keith Thurman in 2017.
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Sep 26, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: (L-R) Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter face off during a press conference at STAPLES Center Star Plaza to preview their upcoming Welterweight World Championship fight on August 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The welterweight title unification fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter on Saturday is a sure bet. Not in terms of who wins—Spence is the favorite, but Porter is capable of pulling off the upset—but in terms of fight fans getting what they crave.
Spence (25-0, 21 KOs), the undefeated IBF world titleholder, is a gifted technician with a stiff jab and sleep-inducing power in both hands. He is Ring'sNo. 6 pound-for-pound fighter, trailing only Terence "Bud" Crawford (No. 2 overall) among welterweights.
Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs), who is risking his WBC strap on Saturday night in Los Angeles, is an all-action boxer who loves has swift hands and excels when trading blows at close range. He will not shy away from the challenge Spence presents, though he will have to be in the form of his life if he's going to come away with the win.
The fight figures to be one of the better matchups of 2019. The result should have a cascading effect in the welterweight division, setting up the winner as the top dog and hopefully putting them on a path to take on the other big names in the weight class.
Odds: Spence -750 (bet $750 to win $100), Porter +525 (bet $100 to win $525)
Odds courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Sep. 26 at 7 a.m. ET.
Spence, 29, is a solid favorite going into this fight, and several things seem to be working out in his favor. The southpaw is two years younger than Porter, has a longer reach (72" to 69½", per BoxRec), has power that's about as good as it gets at 147 pounds and has looked like a champion throughout his undefeated career.
His last time out, Spence made a skilled opponent in Mikey Garcia look like he had only just discovered the sweet science. Sure, Garcia made the difficult (and many would say ill-advised) decision to jump up two weight classes to take on Spence, but it wasn't like Spence just overpowered him.
Instead, the Texas native showcased everything that made him dangerous, letting a strong jab set up combinations to both the head and body, while at the same time escaping Garcia's attacks with great footwork and head movement. Garcia's indomitable spirit helped him make it to the final bell, but he lost every round on the way there.
That's just the carnage from Spence's most recent fight. Of Spence and Porter's common opponents, Kell Brook is one who might offer clues to how the unification bout turns out.
Porter, 31, lost an IBF title fight to Brook by majority decision back in 2014. Spence had his fair share of difficulties fighting Brook in 2017, but eventually, his power paved the way to a late TKO victory. Spence broke Brook's eye socket.
Even if Porter rises to occasion on Saturday, Spence's strength is what sets him apart. He plans to use that strength to keep the fight out of the judges' hands.
"He's been talking a lot, his dad [and trainer, Ken Porter] has been talking a lot, and I want to knock him out. After Saturday night, they're going to call me the 'showstopper,' I can promise you that," Spence said, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
Porter will be looking to make a liar out of "The Truth," but he needs the right game plan to do it. The way TheFightCity.com's Jamie Rebner sees it, "Showtime" should focus on what he does best and make things awkward for Spence:
"Porter’s sole chance of scoring the upset relies on him making it a dog fight. He needs to get inside and stay there, by any means necessary. Throw elbows, wrestle, use the head as a battering ram. And don’t be afraid to lose a point or two. He’s not out-boxing Spence so he should go for broke. But ultimately, I see Spence being too skilled, slick, and savvy for the Ohio native. Spence by decision."
Porter has several big wins under his belt, including victories over Danny Garcia, Andre Berto and Adrian Granados. In those battles, Porter's aggression and ruggedness made life difficult (and painful) for his opponents.
His last time out was a different story. Porter had trouble keeping up his preferred pressure-based style in a split-decision win over Yordenis Ugas in March. Ugas was able to pick Porter off before he could attack, forcing him to think rather than let his hands fly. Garcia was able to do some of what Ugas did, too. Spence has it within him to time Porter's forward movement, land his punches and control the distance.
Even if he frustrates his opponent, Spence will have to keep it up for as long as Porter can stay on his own two feet. Porter's heart and determination are unquestioned, and he is not one to give up, even when few expect him to win.
"Being in the underdog position is literally where I come from. Northeast Ohio is always an underdog," Porter said, per Rafael. "Everybody works where I come from. We always do the best we can."
This is a matchup that should satisfy boxing fans who shell out the cash for the pay-per-view. The winner will become the man to beat in a talent-laden welterweight division that includes Keith Thurman, Manny Pacquiao and Crawford.
There are plenty of matchups to be made after this, but the one that might be the most craved by boxing fans is Spence vs. Crawford. They are both considered among the best in the sport and would make for a compelling clash of styles and skills. Substituting in Porter's name for Spence takes away some of the glamour from that potential fight, but if that's how it shakes out after Saturday night, there's no question Porter will have earned it.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman Judges' Scorecards, Fight Stats and Reaction
Jul 21, 2019
Manny Pacquiao reacts after defeating Keith Thurman by split decision in a welterweight title fight Saturday, July 20, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The boxing legend of Manny Pacquiao grew on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 40-year-old showed he can still trade with the best of them, defeating Keith Thurman via split decision to win the WBA world welterweight title, becoming one of the oldest world champions in the history of the sweet science.
One judge had it 114-113 for Thurman (29-1-0, 22 KOs), while two judges scored the bout 115-112 for Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), per ESPN'sDan Rafael.
BoxingScene.com provided a look at Compubox's punch stats:
While the action-packed bout saw Thurman land more punches overall, it was Pacquiao who won the big exchanges and landed the better-quality blows.
The pride of the Philippines knocked down Thurman in the first round with a right-handed shot to the chin, set up by a jab and a left hook to the gut. Devastating body shots in the fifth and 10th rounds also visibly hurt the 30-year-old Thurman, who struggled with the elder fighter's speed and clever positioning.
Here's a look at that 10th-round body shot, per PBC on Fox:
That was an important round for Pacquiao, as he was in danger of letting Thurman get complete control of the fight. Three rounds earlier, "One Time" was working his way back into the fight, loading up on power shots and forcing Pacquiao to fight on the back foot.
Thurman had several stretches where he was clearly the better fighter, but Pacquiao did a great job of stifling his rhythm. Any time it looked like the 40-year-old might be losing his edge, he would find a second wind or string together a beautiful combination that forced Thurman to go on the defensive.
It was brilliant work from Pac Man, and Thurman recognized it as such after the fight on Twitter:
The judges made the right decision in awarding Pacquiao the victory.
Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis felt Pacquiao showed he has plenty left to give to the sport:
Youth vs Experience is an age old argument. Someone forgot to tell @MannyPacquiao to leave his youth at home tho so he brought them BOTH to the table against Thurman. Hard to beat that combination even for an incredible fighter like Thurman. #PacquiaoThurman
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) July 21, 2019
That's a testament to how hard Pacquiao works in between fights. He puts in the hours so he can put on a show for his fans, win or lose.
"Every fight I have, my main concern is, I don't want to disappoint my fans with my performance," Pacquiao said, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole. "That's why every training camp, I always punish myself."
The question for Pacquiao is what does he do with his world title. He likely only has a couple of bouts left in him (though that's been said about him for a few years now).
The welterweight division is brimming with great fighters. Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Terence Crawford and even a rematch with Thurman would all be huge draws. As of right now, taking the winner of the Spence-Porter bout in September appears to be the most likely path for Pacquiao.
"It was fun,'' Pacquiao said, per the Los Angeles Times' Houston Mitchell."I think I will fight next year. I will go back to the Philippines and work and then make a decision. I hope to be at that fight on Sept. 28."
Whatever he decides to do, millions around the world will be supporting him. Pacquiao has been a professional boxer for 24 years now, and he is still mesmerizing to watch in the ring. He's not done yet.
Pacquiao vs. Thurman: Tale of Tape, Fight Records and More for Both Boxers
Jul 20, 2019
Manny Pacquiao, second from left, and Keith Thurman pose during a weigh-in Friday, July 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a welterweight championship boxing match Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman are set to battle for the WBA "super" welterweight title Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, 40, seems to have little interest in winding down his legendary career. He's gunning for another world title against one of the most dangerous fighters in what is arguably boxing's most talent-laden division.
Just a few years ago, Thurman was on his way to superstardom, having beaten Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia in consecutive fights. He looked set to rule at 147 pounds, but injuries derailed his career for nearly two years. In that time, Pacquiao has had a resurgence, Errol Spence Jr. has continued his ascendancy, and Terence "Bud" Crawford moved up to welterweight in style.
After a shaky tune-up fight against Josesito Lopez in January, there can be no setbacks for Thurman if he wants to prove he's still the best in the division and set up some lucrative unification bouts. All he has to do is beat a boxing icon Saturday night.
The fight is available via Fox Sports pay-per-view. The main card starts at 9 p.m. ET.
Hometown: Pacquiao (General Santos City, Philippines) — Thurman (Clearwater, Florida)
Nickname: Pacquiao (Pac-Man) — Thurman (One Time)
Boxer information courtesy of BoxRec. Weigh-in information courtesy of ESPN's Dan Rafael.
Fight Preview, Predictions
Despite being 10 years older than his opponent, Pacquiao is the slight favorite going into this one. According to Oddschecker (as of 7 a.m. ET on Saturday), Pacquiao is a -148 favorite (wager $148 to win $100). By all accounts, Pac-Man is in incredible shape and has not lost his passion for the sport. He avenged a controversial loss to Jeff Horn in July 2017 with wins against Lucas Matthysse and Adrien Broner.
Thurman showed his power in January against Lopez, scoring a second-round knockdown. In years past, he might have finished the job right then. Instead, Lopez recovered and was the better boxer for long stretches in the later rounds.
This shaky showing is a big reason why a 30-year-old undefeated boxer defending a world title is a slight underdog. Another tune-up bout might have erased some doubts, but it's too late for that.
It appears the boxing world is fairly evenly split on this one. ESPN's Andres Ferrari polled 15 members of boxing media; nine see Pacquiao winning it, six say Thurman.
CBSSports.com's Brian Campbell rounded up the opinions of 23 fighters and trainers. In his poll, 10 have it for Pacquiao, 10 for Thurman and three say it's too close to call.
Many of the opinions are close because it's hard to tell which version of each boxer is going to step into the ring Saturday night. If Pacquiao's speed and precise combinations are there, he can make life difficult for Thurman. All he has to do is shake him up early on to plant a seed of doubt.
However, if Pacquiao has lost a step, Thurman might not even need to resort to big, winding power punches to impress the judges. He can use his physical advantages and a strong jab to keep the southpaw out of rhythm.
Likewise, Thurman will have to tap into the well that allowed him to win a slugfest with Porter in late 2016. If that version of One Time shows up, he should have no trouble winning a war against an ageing Pacquiao. The Thurman who came out against Lopez can still win, but he will have to box smartly and rely on defense and his jab.
It could be a slugfest or it could be a cagey battle of competing strategies and styles. Thurman has been aggressive in the pre-fight buildup and told Bad Left Hook's Will Esco "I wanna trade with Pacquiao," so that he can use his power to his advantage.
His power will pose problems for Pacquiao and impress the judges. If he can win a few of the high-output rounds, look for him to switch to a defensive approach and use his bigger body and jab to keep Pacquiao from stringing together combinations.
Prediction: Thurman by split decision.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Jul 18, 2019
Manny Pacquiao, left, and Keith Thurman pose during a news conference Wednesday, July 17, 2019, in Las Vegas, for their welterweight championship boxing match scheduled for Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
It's not often world title challengers are the favorites going into a boxing match. Then again, Manny Pacquiao isn't your typical challenger.
For starters, the Filipino (61-7-2, 39 KOs) is a legend of the sport, a world champion in an unprecedented eight divisions who has beaten some of the best boxers of his generation.
Also, thanks to boxing's patchwork quilt of sanctioning organizations and championship hierarchies, Pacquiao is technically a welterweight world champion going into Saturday night's pay-per-view fight against Keith "One Time" Thurman.
Pacquiao is the "regular" WBA world titleholder at 147 pounds, having beaten Lucas Martin Matthysse in July 2018.
The undefeated Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs) is the "super" champion. He earned that status when he beat Danny Garcia in March 2017. Injuries kept him out of the ring for nearly two years, so the WBA kept the world title chase alive in his absence with the "regular" title.
So Pac Man is a champion, and so is Thurman. The latter has never lost, though, which makes him the man to beat when the two enter the ring Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
However, the 40-year-old challenger is still one of the most popular boxers alive, and he is likely the main reason people will tune in on Saturday night.
With a win, Thurman can ensure he's both the main man and the main draw in his next fight.
Odds: Pacquiao -132 (bet $132 to win $100), Thurman +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
Odds are according to Oddschecker and updated as of Thursday at 7 a.m. ET.
Thurman's advantages going into Saturday's bout are obvious. He's 10 years younger than Pacquiao, taller with a thicker frame and he has a two-inch reach advantage, (69" to 67", per BoxRec). When he's at his peak, combining a strong jab with thunderous power shots and deft footwork, he can make proceedings lopsided.
But it's possible we won't see his peak Saturday. In his return to the ring in January, he spent the first few rounds beating up on a game Josesito Lopez, even scoring a knockdown in the second round.
The fight took a turn in the latter half, with Lopez wobbling Thurman in the seventh and generally making life difficult for him every round after that. In what was supposed to be a tune-up bout, the champion had to settle for a majority decision.
Instead of another tune-up, Thurman jumped at the opportunity to face Pacquiao. He's made it his mission to get under his skin, saying he will "crucify" the Filipino and referencing his political career, per CBS Sports' Brian Campbell:
Pacquiao has apparently been listening, but he's kept his cool in the pre-fight buildup.
"The more Thurman talks, the more it will help me," the veteran said, per ESPN's Dan Rafael. "His words are motivating me and encouraging me to work even harder day after day."
It's hardly lightning-rod stuff, but that's how Pacquiao tends to operate in the twilight of his career. Working with longtime trainer Freddie Roach, he needs to find a way to hit whatever counts for his peak to win Saturday. It's hard to tell exactly where that is these days, considering Matthysse and his most recent opponent, Adrien Broner, didn't offer him much resistance.
Pacquiao is a tricky southpaw who can counter a jab better than most and string together combinations. He's looking to use his speed to create problems against his bigger opponent.
"Better for me, especially if you are going for the body," Pacquiao said, per the Los Angeles Times' Norm Frauenheim.
If Pacquiao can find the vulnerabilities lurking in Thurman's game the same way Lopez did, he has a good chance at pulling off the victory. He will have to be cautious as he goes about his business, though.
The Filipino has hit the canvas before, and Thurman is going to load up on the big punches if he feels himself falling behind.
However, there's so much for Thurman to lose Saturday. A defeat will confirm the suspicions of those who believe he lost a step during his injury layoff or that his killer instinct is gone. It will take him out of the lucrative championship circuit, where potential megafights against Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter await (the latter two are booked to fight in September, per The Athletic's Lance Pugmire).
A win, however, and Thurman gets to tout a victory over a boxing legend as he makes his next move. Pacquiao might hang it up with another loss, but he's showing few, if any, signs he wants to leave the sport behind. He didn't do it after his undeserved loss to Jeff Horn in July 2017.
Beating Thurman would give him a chance for a big showdown with the aforementioned titleholders. Pacquiao might just keep fighting until someone in the sport forces him out.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman Jr. Welterweight Title Fight Set for July 20
May 11, 2019
Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao poses for photos during a press conference shortly after arriving at the international airport in Manila on January 24, 2019, days after defeating US boxer Adrien Broner in Las Vegas. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)
It turns out the rumors about Manny Pacquiao not fighting Keith Thurman Jr. were false.
Premier Boxing Champions announced Saturday that Pacquiao will square off with Thurman on July 20 for the WBA world welterweight championship.
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) May 12, 2019
Earlier this week, Sean Gibbons, an adviser to Pacquiao, disputed reports an agreement had been made for this fight, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:
"July 13 or July 20 is possible. The Senator is still working out his political duties here before making a final decision but is looking to returning to the ring in July. After the May 13 elections, the Senator will get in serious conversations to move to close a fight. Until he gets done with elections he is not committed to anything."
Pacquiao (61-7, two draws) must have felt confident about where things stand with the upcoming election in the Philippines to officially sign the contract.
July 20 will mark Pacquiao's first appearance since a unanimous-decision win over Adrien Broner in January to retain the WBA welterweight title. Pac-Man is just 7-4 in his last 11 fights dating back to 2012.
Thurman (29-0, one no-contest) defeated Josesito Lopez by majority decision on Jan. 26. It was his first match in nearly two years due to various injuries, including undergoing elbow surgery in May 2017.
Terence Crawford vs. Amir Khan: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
Apr 18, 2019
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Terence Crawford and Amir Khan face up during a Terence Crawford and Amir Khan Press Conference on January 15, 2019 in London, England. Amir Khan has agreed to face undefeated WBO world welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the United States on 20 April. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
WBO welterweight champion Terence "Bud" Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) makes his 2019 debut on Saturday, putting his title on the line against Amir Khan (33-4, 20 KOs) at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Crawford, 31, is considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport, if not the best. This is his third fight at welterweight, arguably boxing's most talent-laden division, and the one in which he aims to stake his claim as an all-time great. He ran out of opponents in the lightweight and junior welterweight ranks, unifying all four major titles in the latter division in 2017.
Known for his elite hand speed, Khan is a former world titleholder at light welterweight, and he has been a top contender at welterweight as well.
Before he had a chance to win a world title at 147 pounds, he moved up to middleweight to challenge Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in 2016, a fight that saw him knocked out in devastating fashion in the sixth round.
After nearly two years away from the sport, the ever-popular Khan returned in 2018 to beat two opponents to set up a date with Crawford.
For Crawford, it's a chance to bring his impeccable craft to a much wider audience. For Khan, it's an opportunity to breathe new life into his career.
TV: Cable/satellite providers or ESPN Pay Per View, BT Sport Box Office (UK, pay-per-view)
Odds:Crawford -1,200 ( bet $1,200 to win $100), Khan +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Crawford might lack the wider name recognition of a pay-per-view star, but he has the talent. A complete fighter, the Omaha, Nebraska, native has power in both hands, impeccable footwork—he can box out of both stances but favors southpaw these days—and is masterful at disrupting his opponent's rhythm and timing.
He tends to starts out slow, but what he's doing is gathering information, figuring out his opponent's strategy, tactics and what punches they want to establish. Once he has the other boxer figured out, he pummels them into submission.
Last time out, against Jose Benavidez Jr. in October, was a good example of what Bud tends to do. He steadily ramped up the pressure against his opponent, picking him apart before finishing him off in the 12th round, as Top Rank Boxing shared:
If a fighter is overmatched, Crawford won't waste his time. He knocked out Julius Indongo in the third round of their 2017 junior welterweight unification bout.
If you want more proof of his ability to vanquish fighters of any style and background, you can watch him dissect the slick, speedy Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2014 or overwhelm the lanky, crafty Viktor Postol in 2016.
Crawford credits his chameleon-like skills in the ring to both nature and nurture, per ESPN.com's Steve Kim and Anthony Olivieri:
"I was naturally gifted with an ability to move, but my coaches brought it out of me as an amateur. The power came a bit later. A complete fighter can fight going forward or backward, counter, move well and take a punch. I put in a lot of work to learn multiple styles."
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 08: Amir Khan lands a left shot on Samuel Vargas during their Welterweight contest at Arena Birmingham on September 8, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Khan is far removed from his glory days, when he was beating up on the likes of Zab Judah and Marcos Maidana at junior welterweight. Back-to-back losses to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia derailed his run at 140 pounds, leading to him to move up to 147 pounds.
The 32-year-old found some success there, winning the WBA international welterweight title and the WBC Silver welterweight strap, but it all went out the window when he lost to Alvarez.
Khan's speed has always given fighters trouble. Alvarez was not immune to this, with the Englishman buzzing him for a few rounds and making life difficult. Once Canelo locked in, his size and strength advantage took over, though, leading to one of the cleanest knockouts you will ever see.
That led to some time away from the sport, but Khan has come back with a vengeance. He destroyed Phil Lo Greco last year in his return bout, beating him in 39 seconds. He then dominated Samuel Vargas in September, winning by unanimous decision despite suffering an early knockdown.
And Khan's chin will likely lead to his demise on Saturday. He clearly still has plenty left in the tank, but his body just might not be capable of holding up over 12 rounds. Three of his four career losses have come by knockout.
Crawford is plenty powerful and a better puncher than the vast majority of Khan's opponents. If he can survive the Brit's early pace and aggression, a knockout win is a distinct possibility here.
"For those people, and even Crawford if he's thinking this way, that are thinking it's going to be an easy fight for him because they're taking me from the last fight against Vargas, I think I'm going to shock the world, definitely. If they're thinking I'm going to be the same fighter as that fight, they'll be in for a big shock."
If Khan wins, he can have just about any fight he wants at 147 pounds A loss, and his best bet at a final big payday would be making a fight against Kell Brook, a match British fans have wanted to see for a long time. There's no shame in losing to Crawford, assuming there's no particularly grisly knockout defeat.
As for Crawford, a win will likely force him to fight one of the other champions at welterweight. Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman and perhaps the best of the bunch, Errol Spence Jr., would all make for event television.
This is the next logical step for Crawford, the only real criticism of whom is the lack of big-name opponents on his ledger. Fixing that problem starts with beating Khan on Saturday.
Odds according to Oddschecker and updated as of Thursday, Apr. 18 at 7 a.m. ET.
Errol Spence Jr. Dominates Mikey Garcia via Decision, Retains Welterweight Title
Mar 17, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia wave to the crowd during the Errol Spence v Mikey Garcia Press Conference at Microsoft Theater on February 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Errol Spence Jr. (25-0, 21 KOs) made a difficult sport look all too easy on Saturday night, defending his IBF world welterweight title for the fourth time with a shutout, unanimous-decision win over Mikey Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Fox Sports' Mike Coppinger has the cards:
SCORES: Errol Spence Jr. defeats Mikey Garcia via unanimous decision: 120-107, 120-108, 120-108. Shutout on all three cards. One judge scored a 10-8 round #SpenceGarcia
Spence showed off his brilliance. His jab was powerful, he mixed up shots to the head and body and he used quick, smart footwork to keep Garcia off-balance for the entire fight.
After the bout, Spence brought Manny Pacquiao into the ring and said "it would be an honor" to fight him next, per the pay-per-view broadcast. Pacquiao was diplomatic in response, and it seems like a fight that could happen.
It was a humbling night for Garcia, the first loss of his career. The 31-year-old had made the bold decision to move up two weight classes and challenge Spence for his IBF title. The move garnered both praise and heavy skepticism. It's difficult enough making the leap in weight class; doing it against a highly skilled, undefeated champion like Spence is clearly something even great fighters like Garcia should think twice about.
The steps to Spence's success were pretty simple, according to Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole:
Combination by Spence. In, land, out, repeat. Story of this fight
The numbers confirmed what everyone saw in the ring. By the end of the fight, Spence had landed 345 punches to Garcia's 75, according to the broadcast. It took Spence a few rounds to ramp up to his preferred speed, but once he was there, it was cruise control.
For a guy accustomed to bringing pressure early and often, it was somewhat of a subdued start for Spence. He clearly respected Garcia's reputation as a tricky, technical boxer and needed some time for his feints and combinations to start working. After a tense first two frames, the third round clearly belonged to Spence. The champion did well to get Garcia guessing on which route his hands would take, alternating straight lefts with hooks around the guard. Sporting News' Andreas Hale didn't like what he saw from the contender:
Bad round for Garcia. He allowed Spence to do whatever the hell he wanted. And he’s not really sitting on his punches…yet.
Garcia had trouble getting his jab going, stymied by Spence's longer reach. Without a way to make inroads, he looked tentative and altogether confused. His hesitation provided several opportunities for Spence to work two-punch combos without fear of reprisal.
Needing a spark, Garcia opted to open up the floodgates to begin the fifth, per Rappler's Ryan Songalia:
Garcia going for broke to begin round 5, rocks Spence with a right but can’t land anything in the follow up. Spence now back on his right jab #SpenceGarcia
Spence got over the initial shock and was able to re-establish control by the end of the round. By the midway point, The Truth was sweating but otherwise spotless, while the punishment Garcia had taken to this point was etched into his face in a few spots.
The sixth saw Spence really get the home-state crowd going. He was in complete control, making Garcia miss and following up with some thudding right hooks. A couple of them got Garcia to stumble, but to his credit, he never backed down.
CBS Sports' Brian Campbell felt Spence's footwork and ring sense were helping him just as much as his power punches:
Spence is always in perfect position to duck away from counter shots. This is a brilliant performance so far. 7-0 Spence.
The last few rounds were simply an exhibition for Spence. Garcia refused to quit, and the 29-year-old Texan made him pay for it, battering him with powerful combinations right up until the final bell.
Spence made a big statement with the shutout win, though it will come with the caveat that Garcia clearly wasn't made to fight well at 147 pounds.
Pacquiao would be another great pay-per-view opportunity for Spence, who likely has his sights set on conquering a star-studded welterweight division that also features the likes of Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter.
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Mar 14, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia wave to the crowd during the Errol Spence v Mikey Garcia Press Conference at Microsoft Theater on February 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Mikey Garcia is making his move. The pride of Oxnard, California, is recognized by boxing fans as one of the best in the business, but widespread fame eludes him.
In a bid for greatness, Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) is taking a risk rarely seen in modern boxing, moving up two weight classes to challenge Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs) for the latter's IBF world welterweight title on Saturday night at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Garcia isn't just fighting in Spence's territory when it comes to weight class. Spence grew up in Texas, and he is sure to have the crowd behind him for the pay-per-view card.
It will be a defining fight for both men. They are both undefeated and ranked in Ring'stop-10 for pound-for-pound fighters.
Expectations from fans are sky high. Garcia has won titles in four weight classes, while Spence holds a world title at welterweight, boxing's most talent-laden division. Losing a belt at 147 pounds means you will have to beat a great fighter to get one back.
Can Garcia's speed and technique propel him to an upset win against Spence's power and intelligence? Saturday night we will find out. Here's how to watch.
Spence Jr. vs Garcia Fight Info
When: Saturday, Mar. 16 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
TV: Fox pay-per-view ($74.95), ITV4 (UK only, free)
Odds: Spence -1100 (bet $1,100 to win $100) Garcia +650 (bet $100 to win $650)
Garcia heard the warnings, but he didn't care.
"My father and I were against it at first," said Robert Garcia, a former boxer and Mikey's older brother, per Ring's Ron Borges. "We told Mikey there were so many other fights he could take and still make a lot of money."
Perhaps money, but not prestige. Garcia had already beaten the likes of Robert Easter Jr, Adrien Broner and Dejan Zlaticanin. With contracts and TV obligations shuttering any chances for a megafight with Vasiliy Lomachenko at lightweight (for now), the 31-year-old Garcia got it in his head to do something radical.
Forget fighting at 135 pounds, 140 pounds. Put it all on the line. Welterweight is where all the big names are at, so Garcia landed on Spence, a southpaw who hasn't gone to the scorecards in nearly five years.
"No one else is willing to do what I'm doing. After this fight, everybody will really recognize me as the top fighter. My dad and brother wanted me to take someone else, but anyone else coming off a loss or a has-been doesn't do it for me," said Garcia, per Borges.
Spence is certainly no has-been. He's very much right now, in his athletic prime at 29 years old and looking to defend his IBF title for the fourth time. His last three opponents, Carlos Ocampo, Lamont Peterson and Kell Brook, are all skilled boxers who were unable to survive to the final bell. Spence mixes up his punches, works the head and body, wearing people down until they cave from pressure or are flat up against the canvas.
"I think I'm a passive-aggressive fighter," Spence told DMagazine.com's Matt Goodman. "I kind of mentally break down my opponents, and physically, so if you're not 100 percent there, if you're not willing to quote-unquote ‘die in there,' then it's going to reveal itself."
When the two step in the ring on Saturday, Spence is going to have a formidable size and strength advantage. He's the natural welterweight and has a bigger frame, 5'9½", with a 72-inch reach, per BoxRec. Garcia is much smaller, 5'6" with a 68-inch reach. He started his career fighting under 130 pounds.
Knowing he will need to do something truly special to win—Spence is a huge favorite among bettors—Garcia decided to change up his normal training regimen.
Per ESPN.com's Steve Kim, Garcia has enlisted the help of Victor Conte, the infamous athletic trainer who spent time in prison for his role in the BALCO steroids scandal of the early 2000s.
According to Kim, a reformed Conte and Garcia have been focusing on modern training techniques:
"During one particular training session at the SNAC gym, Garcia hit the heavy bag, something he has done thousands of time before in his life. This time, however, he did so while wearing a mask that was hooked up to a hypoxicator, which pumped air with a level of 14.5 percent oxygen into Garcia's system. Mike Bazzel, one of the staff trainers, explained that a normal level of oxygen at sea level is about 20.9 percent, with the mask simulating a much lower percentage, along the lines of what would exist at high altitude."
This training approach suggests Garcia is going to try to use stamina and speed to outwit Spence. It's the right approach given he will be putting himself in immense danger if he tries to go toe-to-toe with "The Truth."
Garcia will likely have to win this fight by moving around, jabbing and countering when appropriate. For Spence, landing some good power shots to the body early will sap Garcia's legs and lungs. There's no training that can save a fighter from a good assault to the midsection.
For Spence, a win over Garcia on his headliner pay-per-view debut will only make it harder for the other welterweight stars to ignore him. Keith Thurman or Terence Crawford would likely be the next names on the docket.
If Garcia defies the odds and pulls out the win, well, he might just step into Spence's role and get the fights the latter has been clamoring for the past couple of years. Or maybe he will slim down again and chase Lomachenko. It would be a fairly historic upset, and one might hope it encourages other fighters to imitate his refreshing bravery.
Odds are courtesy of OddsShark and updated as of Thursday, Mar. 14, at 7 a.m. ET.
Keith Thurman vs. Josesito Lopez: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Jan 24, 2019
DELETES INCORRECT YEAR OF BOUT - Keith Thurman speaks during a news conference for an upcoming fight Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in New York. Thurman and Josesito Lopez will fight on Jan. 26 at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Keith "One Time" Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) will make his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday, defending his WBA "super world" welterweight title against Josesito Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Thurman last fought in March 2017, beating Danny Garcia by a split decision. Injuries have kept him away from the ring since then. The long absence forced him to relinquish his WBC welterweight title, leaving him with just the WBA strap.
He will be looking to shake off the ring rust against Lopez, a veteran boxer who routinely puts in a good shift. Thurman should be able to win this fight handily, but Lopez will keep him honest.
Odds: Thurman -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100), Lopez +1600 (bet $100 to win $1,600)
When we last saw Thurman, he looked primed to rule the welterweight division. Coming off hugely entertaining wins against Garcia and Shawn Porter, both of them at Barclays, Thurman had put himself in position for just about any high-profile fight he wanted.
His body didn't play along, unfortunately, and now he's 30 years old and in a necessary tune-up fight. Thurman knows he needs the work, and he is honest about what kind of fighter fans can expect to see on Saturday, per the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire:
“Injuries, layoffs—you don't come back better, my man. This will not be the best Keith Thurman you will see ... but you also won't be saying, 'That doesn't look like Keith Thurman, doesn't look like a world champion,' or saying, 'Those other fighters will beat Keith later this year.'"
Even a Thurman operating at 75-80 percent capacity should have no trouble winning on Saturday.
Lopez's last fight of note was a TKO loss to Andre Berto in March 2015. He's won his last three fights, but those all came against no-name boxers.
The 34-year-old from Riverside, California, is far removed from the days when he mixed it up with the likes of Victor Ortiz, Canelo Alvarez, Jessie Vargas and Marcos Maidana. Even then, those were mostly losing efforts.
Thurman might need a couple of rounds to get going, and considering how long he's been away, he should welcome the work. He's entirely capable of ending things in a flash with a single, well-timed punch, but a steady escalation of punishment seems more likely.
Assuming there are no setbacks for Thurman after Saturday's fight, he will be eager to schedule a big-name opponent.
One potential scrap is against the legendary Manny Pacquiao, who, even at 40 years old, is still dangerous.
Pacquiao had little trouble beating Adrien Broner on Jan. 19, and he holds the WBA "regular" welterweight title that became available in Thurman's absence.
For Thurman, it would be a dream come true to fight Pac Man, per Pugmire:
“He's the last living legend at 147 [pounds]. There isn't another fighter left in the sport with his credentials. It'd be an honor to share the ring with the likes of Manny Pacquiao. It's hard for older fighters to compete against younger guys, but strength doesn't go away until you're 50."
Aside from Pacquiao, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. are potential opponents down the line, though the latter two have big fights to take care of in the coming months.
No problem, though. If Thurman's above theory about strength is true, then he has plenty of time to make use of his prodigious power. He may have missed part of his prime, but he's still one of the best talents in the sport and is looking at a future with plenty of big fights.
Odds are courtesy of OddsShark and updated as of Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7 a.m. ET.
