Saturday night saw Terence Crawford seize the undisputed welterweight title as he decisively overpowered Errol Spence. His display of unassailable dominance, which included three knockdowns and an unchallenged TKO in the ninth round, effectively settled the ongoing conversation about the era's premier welterweight boxer.
Despite a subdued start from both combatants, Crawford swiftly asserted control in the ensuing rounds. He scored the initial knockdown with a strategic counter jab and a left straight in the second round. Although Spence recovered to continue the bout, Crawford's swiftness, superior technique, and substantial power outclassed Spence throughout the match.
Commenting on the second round post-match, Crawford clarified, "The knockdown was more of a sudden jolt. I caught him off guard with the left, and he wasn't expecting the subsequent right."
Crawford's masterful jab was a standout feature of the match. Far from a simple setup or a range-marking tool, Crawford's jab was a significant offensive weapon. His jab invariably halted Spence's momentum, stopping him squarely whenever he attempted to press his advantage.
Round after round, Spence seemed increasingly out of his depth against Crawford's accurate jab and razor-sharp left straights. Despite continuous efforts to land a momentum-changing punch, each exchange concluded with a definitive blow from Crawford, forcing Spence onto the back foot.
In the seventh round, Spence was floored twice yet carried on searching for a shift in the bout's tide. However, by the ninth round, Crawford's relentless offensive had Spence on the ropes, forcing the referee to halt the bout at 2:32 in the round.
Supporting the referee's verdict, Crawford stated, "It was the right call. I was on the verge of launching powerful shots. Everyone is aware I'm an excellent closer. The referee's duty is to ensure the fighter's safety."
Securing this victory, Crawford merged his WBO title with the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles. His triumph not only put to bed the enduring dispute over who - he or Spence - was the superior 147-pound fighter of their generation but also set a new milestone. Crawford, who previously held the undisputed junior welterweight championship, became the first male boxer in the modern four-belt era to gain undisputed status across two weight classes.
Following protracted negotiations to organize this much-anticipated face-off, a contract was eventually agreed upon containing a bilateral rematch clause. After this decisive defeat, Spence, as the loser, holds the right to demand a rematch – an option he indicated he would exercise.
While Crawford, the triumphant boxer, retains the privilege to determine the rematch's weight class, Spence expressed his preference for the rematch to be at junior middleweight as opposed to repeating the welterweight clash.
"Absolutely, we need a second bout," Spence emphasized. "I'll return stronger and the match will be much tighter. We're probably looking at a December timeline, before the year concludes. We definitely need a rematch… Preferably at 154."
In other news from the fight card, Isaac Cruz notched up a hard-fought victory over Giovanni Cabrera in the penultimate main event. Cruz is persistently seeking a rematch with Gervonta "Tank" Davis. Despite landing a series of heavy blows on Cabrera, Cruz couldn't manage to floor him over the span of 12 rounds. Nonetheless, the victory has earned Cruz a future opportunity to contend for the WBC lightweight title.
Moreover, Alexandro Santiago claimed the vacant WBC bantamweight championship by outscoring and dominating former champion Nonito Donaire. This bout marked the first time the 40-year-old Donaire visibly struggled with his age. Post-defeat, Donaire will be reconsidering his ongoing participation in boxing.
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