Guest
The debate over the best welterweight of the modern era is now settled. Terence Crawford dominated Errol Spence on Saturday night, scoring three knockdowns and stopping Spence in the ninth round to become the undisputed welterweight champion. After a slow start in the first round, Crawford took control of the fight. The first knockdown came in the second round off a counter jab followed by a left straight. Despite Spence beating the count and trying to rally, Crawford proved to be too fast, technical, and powerful. “That was more of a flash knockdown,“ Crawford said of the second-round knockdown. “I caught him with the left. He didn't think I was coming back with the right.“ Crawford's jab was exceptional throughout the fight. It wasn't just a setup for other punches; it was a weapon in itself. Whenever Spence started to gain momentum, Crawford's thudding jab stopped him in his tracks. As the rounds progressed, Spence appeared increasingly lost against Crawford's laser-like jab and crisp straight left hands. Spence kept pushing forward, seeking a game-changing shot, but each exchange ended with a decisive blow from Crawford, forcing Spence on the defensive. Spence hit the canvas twice in the seventh round but continued to fight on. By the ninth round, Crawford's relentless attack left Spence reeling, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:32 of the round. “It was a good stoppage,“ Crawford said. “I was on the verge of landing more hard shots. Everyone knows I'm a great finisher. The ref did his job to protect the fighter.“ With this victory, Crawford unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles with his WBO title, ending the debate over who is the best 147-pound fighter of the era. Crawford, already a former undisputed junior welterweight champion, became the first male fighter to achieve undisputed status in two weight divisions in the modern four-belt era. “It means everything because of who I took the belts from,“ Crawford said. “They doubted me, said I wasn't good enough to beat these welterweights. I kept my head up and prayed for the opportunity to show the world my greatness. Tonight, I believe I did. “I dreamed of being a world champion. I'm an overachiever. Nobody believed in me, but I made everyone a believer. I want to thank Spence and his team because without him, none of this would have been possible.“ After years of anticipation and complex negotiations, the fight finally happened with a bilateral rematch clause in the contract. Spence, after his defeat, indicated he would activate the rematch clause for another shot at Crawford. Disclaimer: This video contains highlights of the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford fight. All footage is used under fair use for commentary, news reporting, and educational purposes. We do not own the rights to the original broadcast footage. All rights reserved to the respective owners. Please support the official broadcast and purchase the fight through authorized channels. Viewer discretion is advised due to the nature of the content.
