Errol Spence Jr., Danny Garcia agree to PPV fight

[TitoFan]

Counterpunching just doesn't work with a guy like Spence. You have to go on the attack and force his hand. Danny has three tough losses at the top level at WW.

[powerpuncher]

116-112 x2
117-111

Spence wins

[powerpuncher]

I think that Spence doesn’t necessarily hit that hard but is just relentless.

I think this was definitely an impressive win for Spence. Garcia is a very solid fighter and Spence clearly won. With that said, he needs to fight Crawford. And I don’t think he beats Crawford.

[Spicoli]

Spence has a little Dave Chapelle thing going in interview . Just glad to see Crawford in the front row tonight..make it happen!!

[powerpuncher]

Spence has a little Dave Chapelle thing going in interview . Just glad to see Crawford in the front row tonight..make it happen!!

Spence avoided the question of who he wanted to fight next

[TitoFan]

Yeah, Spence vs Crawford is the fight everyone wants to see. I would pick Crawford myself, in a very close affair.

Well... g'night, people.

[Spicoli]

I think that Spence doesn’t necessarily hit that hard but is just relentless.

I think this was definitely an impressive win for Spence. Garcia is a very solid fighter and Spence clearly won. With that said, he needs to fight Crawford. And I don’t think he beats Crawford.

I think his power is fine, varies it well in close but has defensive lapses when he stops punching. His uppercut volley and upper body physicality was MIA but credit to Danny for getting in. Lateral movement and switch hitting of Crawford really troubles him.

[Spicoli]

Spence has a little Dave Chapelle thing going in interview . Just glad to see Crawford in the front row tonight..make it happen!!

Spence avoided the question of who he wanted to fight next

Technically he said he was going back to his farm to ride horses, enjoy the Holiday and chase chickens

[Master]

Errol Spence Jr. skipped a tune-up in his first fight since a car crash that almost derailed his promising career.

The Texan didn't need a warmup act.

Spence defended his WBC and IBF welterweight championships, looking sharp in a unanimous decision over Danny Garcia on Saturday night by controlling the pace almost from the start in another defense on his home turf.

Judges Steve Weisfeld and Barry Lindenman scored it 116-112, with Tim Cheatham giving Spence a decided 117-111 edge at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the NFL team that has adopted the 2012 U.S. Olympian and rising star.

Spence's third defense in his hometown came 14 months after a high-speed crash near downtown Dallas.

''All training camp I felt good,'' Spence said. ''I told people I didn't want a tune-up fight. I proved to everyone that I'm the best 147-pound fighter in the world.''

Spence flipped his Ferrari and was ejected but escaped without serious injuries while getting charged with drunken driving in October 2019. That was about a month after a thrilling split-decision victory over Shawn Porter in Los Angeles that added the WBC belt to his IBF strap.

The 30-year-old changed his lifestyle, moving out of downtown Dallas for a quiet life on a ranch in the suburbs and immersing himself in training once doctors told him it was OK to fight again.

''This was a long, long road to come back,'' Spence said. ''Just buckling down and staying focused, the trials and tribulations to get to this point tonight. And I got to that point and it paid off. I feel like I'm here for a reason and I basically proved that I'm back and I'm here to stay.''

Spence (27-0, 21 knockouts) went the distance for the third straight time to beat Garcia (36-3, 21 knockouts). Garcia's three losses have come in his last six fights. The Philadelphia fighter was in his first title bout in two years.

''He was the better man tonight,'' Garcia said. ''No excuses. I fought a hard and tough fight. He had a good jab and that was the key to the fight. He was also a bit busier than me.''

The crowd of 16,102 was considered a sellout in the pandemic. It filled about 20% of AT&T Stadium's 80,000-seat capacity, with fans spread through all four decks and spacing between a few hundred pairs of chairs at ring level.

Garcia tried to surge late, landing a right near the end of the 11th round that sent Spence looking for his corner just as the bell sounded with Garcia closing in for more.

With Garcia's right eye and nose swollen - the latter after a small cut in the early rounds - the 32-year-old tried to keep the momentum in the final round but Spence steadied himself as both fighters tried to land one last big punch before the final bell.

Both landed several punches in the most intense stretch to that point in the middle of the eighth round. Spence pinned Garcia on the ropes with a series of blows before Garcia escaped and steadied himself before the end of the round.

Spence landed 187 punches, or 26%, to 117 and 17% for Garcia, and had a huge edge on jabs. Spence landed 84 jabs to just 14 for Garcia.

''His jab was rangy and threw my timing off a bit,'' Garcia said. ''That was the key to the fight. Everything else I feel like I adapted to. The jab was the only thing that was better than expected.''

WBO champion Terence Crawford was in the crowd, drawing a big cheer when he was shown on the giant video board above the ring. Whether that is Spence's next opponent was the obvious question after the fight.

''I'm not thinking about that,'' Spence said. ''I'm thinking about seeing my kids tomorrow and chilling at my ranch and finally riding my horses after 10 or so weeks and just chilling out and eating some good food. We'll see what holds the future.''

Sebastian Fundora dominated late replacement Habib Ahmed in a WBA super welterweight title eliminator on the undercard, winning by technical knockout halfway through the second round.

The 22-year-old Californian staggered Ahmed with a left hand in the first round, and Ahmed's corner asked the referee to step in with the Ghanan getting pummeled along the ropes in the second.

The 6-foot-6 Fundora (16-0-1, 11 knockouts) used his six-inch height advantage to control Ahmed (27-2-1) from the opening bell. Ahmed replaced Jorge Cota, who tested positive for COVID-19 days before the fight.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/spence-b...4383--box.html

[sanatogen]

Spence has said hes proven hes the best at 147.

Crawford should wear T-Shirt at every interview stating He's the best at 147, in order for it to be talked about. Take it to Spence that way. Will he like that?

This can be Crawfords method of "Bear Hunting!"

[Master]

Spence was not affected by the car crash, he was still throwing a high volume of accurate and hurtful punches against Garcia swelling left eye. I had him winning the contest quite easily 9-3 rounds and think he beats Crawford.

Garcia has never impressed me and whilst he landed the right hand he was limited, slow and did not throw enough punches. What happened to his big left hook? Fortunately because he is with PBC/Hayman he will get more shots at the title in their little merry go round.

I enjoyed Shawn Porters commentary. The others including Lennox Lewis did not add much.

[TonnnnUK]

Good to see Spence hasn't missed a beat! Him vs Crawford has to be the best fight to be made in boxing right now! Get it made everyone involved!!

[SlimTrae]

Errol Spence Jr. skipped a tune-up in his first fight since a car crash that almost derailed his promising career.

The Texan didn't need a warmup act.

Spence defended his WBC and IBF welterweight championships, looking sharp in a unanimous decision over Danny Garcia on Saturday night by controlling the pace almost from the start in another defense on his home turf.

]

Spence is Mas Macho!

[Ron Swanson]

Spence has been quite clear he is willing to make the fight. From his approach coming straight out of that horrible accident to a tough fight, through his clear statement face to face with Bob “just call Al and we can do it” to most importantly his very fair offer of 60/40. There is absolutely no denying Spence brings more money to the table.

On the other hand Top Rank has historically stood against big fights unless Bob had both fighters. Not just history but look recently at Garcia/Loma and Bob “we will not negotiate with Garcia”, or Berchelt “no”. We could go on and on but let’s just look at this potential matchup. To resign Crawford they put into Crawford’s contract that Top Rank had to make Spence an offer by the end of 2020 or Crawford gets a 1 million dollar bonus. No offer has been made. They are going to give away 1 million dollars for absolutely nothing to go so far as not even make an offer.

It can’t hurt to make a 50/50 offer, to negotiate for 55/45. But Top Rank won’t even come to the table. It’s a damn shame but it’s just how it is with Top Rank, history and now say it is so

[TitoFan]

Spence has been quite clear he is willing to make the fight. From his approach coming straight out of that horrible accident to a tough fight, through his clear statement face to face with Bob “just call Al and we can do it” to most importantly his very fair offer of 60/40. There is absolutely no denying Spence brings more money to the table.

On the other hand Top Rank has historically stood against big fights unless Bob had both fighters. Not just history but look recently at Garcia/Loma and Bob “we will not negotiate with Garcia”, or Berchelt “no”. We could go on and on but let’s just look at this potential matchup. To resign Crawford they put into Crawford’s contract that Top Rank had to make Spence an offer by the end of 2020 or Crawford gets a 1 million dollar bonus. No offer has been made. They are going to give away 1 million dollars for absolutely nothing to go so far as not even make an offer.

It can’t hurt to make a 50/50 offer, to negotiate for 55/45. But Top Rank won’t even come to the table. It’s a damn shame but it’s just how it is with Top Rank, history and now say it is so

The onus is on Crawford to make this fight. That much is clear. But I think Spence should dispense with the "percentage split games" and just openly offer Crawford a 50/50 split. Why not? At the level these guys rake in the money, 10 percent isn't going to make or break anyone. Offers on splits are invariably about ego. Both Spence and Crawford have legitimate claims to be the best at 147. So why let "split games" hold up the works? Spence has shown he'll fight anybody... yes. And he's in an advantageous position compared to Crawford. But everyone knows that fight would be HUGE, and highly competitive. Crawford has shown his impatience with Arum and damn it... why that old fogie is still hanging around bringing down boxing is beyond me. It's a shame that young promoters haven't stepped up to the plate and made Bob irrelevant.