Terence Crawford claimed the undisputed welterweight championship in a triumphant bout against Errol Spence Jr on a thrilling Saturday night in Las Vegas. The undefeated boxer was able to finish business in the ninth round and leave the ring with more rings than he came in with.
Crawford did not waste any time before asserting his dominance. He landed his first knockdown punch in the second round, marking the first time he would send his opponent to the floor. After two more knockdown punches in the seventh round, Crawford went for the head when he unleashed a relentless flurry of punches in the ninth round that had Spence wobbling and unable to defend himself. The referee swiftly intervened, halting the fight and solidifying Crawford’s victory.
“I just kept my head to the sky and kept praying to God that I would get the opportunity to show the world how great Terence Crawford is. Tonight, I believe I showed how great I am,” Crawford confidently expressed after the match.
Spence was brave, no doubt, persevering despite the daunting odds, but Crawford’s exceptional performance proved too formidable to overcome.
“He was just better tonight. I make no excuses. He was throwing a harder jab. He was timing with his jab, and he had his timing down on point,” acknowledged Spence, showing his respect for Crawford’s skills.
Terence Crawford’s victory didn’t just end with retaining his WBO belt; it also saw him add the prestigious WBC, WBA, and IBF titles to his collection. With an astounding record of 40-0 and 31 knockouts, Crawford has solidified his place among the elite in the boxing world.
Reflecting on the match and acknowledging the potential for a rematch, Crawford stated, “If the fight happens again, I am pretty sure the support will come out again for both of us.”
To a similar question, Spence replied: “We’ve got to do it again. I would be a lot better.”
It is too early to start talking about rematches, especially if it wasn’t in the fight contract to begin with. Crawford would begin his reign as the undisputed champion of the heavyweight division while doing all he could to retain the title.
Leon Osamor
