Terence Crawford Claims Undisputed Welterweight Title in Impressive Victory over Errol Spence Jr.
In a highly anticipated showdown between two undefeated champions, Terence Crawford emerged victorious, solidifying his claim as the undisputed champion of the welterweight division. The bout took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, captivating fans and boxing enthusiasts with its high stakes and incredible display of skill.
Crawford, who had already owned the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title since 2018, added the green World Boxing Council (WBC) belt to his collection with a remarkable win over Errol Spence Jr. The other two belts, from the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Association (WBA), were held by members of Crawford’s entourage as he made his way to the postfight news conference.
In a show of sportsmanship, Crawford handed the WBC belt and the other straps back to Spence, symbolizing the respect between the two fighters. Although the belts may now belong to Spence, the welterweight division undeniably belongs to Crawford.
“The whole world is talking about it, and we put on a great show,” Crawford shared after the fight, acknowledging the significance of his victory.
Leading up to the match, the contest appeared evenly matched on paper. Neither fighter had ever been knocked down, and both had a track record of dominating their opponents. However, those close to Crawford noticed an increase in intensity during his training camp, which translated into a standout performance in the ring.
After Spence claimed the first round with a powerful right jab, Crawford swiftly turned the tide in his favor by dropping Spence in Round 2 with a lightning-fast right hand. As the rounds progressed, Crawford’s superior timing and accuracy were on full display, overpowering Spence.
Crawford’s dominance culminated in Round 7 when a body shot made Spence stiffen, followed by a devastating right hook that sent him to the canvas. Crawford continued to unleash heavy punches, prompting the referee to halt the bout in Round 9, declaring Crawford the winner by technical knockout.
All three judges scored the fight in Crawford’s favor, with a unanimous decision of 79-70. The CompuBox scoring system further solidified Crawford’s victory, recording 185 of 369 punches landed by Crawford compared to 96 of 480 for Spence. Crawford’s impressive success rate of 60% on power punches is rarely seen in top-tier bouts.
While the statistical landslide might eliminate the need for an immediate rematch, the contract allows the losing fighter to trigger one. Spence expressed his intentions to exercise that option, seeking redemption in a future bout. However, Crawford’s commanding win and newfound status as the undisputed champion could give him the upper hand in contract negotiations.
Crawford’s triumph marks another milestone in his career. He becomes the first male boxer to hold all four major titles in two different weight classes, having previously achieved the feat at 140 pounds. Only Claressa Shields, a female boxer, shares this distinction.
Following the fight, Crawford contemplated a potential move up to a higher weight class, stating that he, like Spence, has grown weary of cutting weight to maintain the welterweight limit. At the age of 35, after producing a career-best performance, Crawford hinted that he may not have many more titles to chase and will discuss the future with his team.
With his remarkable showing against Spence, Terence Crawford solidifies his place in boxing history as one of the greatest fighters of all time. His dominance in the welterweight division raises the question of who will be the next contender to challenge his undisputed status.