Errol Spence Jr.: Eventually fighting Terence Crawford about legacy
Errol Spence Jr. has a big plan. He also has a big body.
If the body cooperates, then so will the plan, which he believes will lead to Terence Crawford in what could be the biggest welterweight fight in years.
“Terence Crawford has always been the fight I’ve really wanted,’’ Spence said. “First, I have to beat Shawn Porter. Then, there might be another fight. But, then I want Crawford. That’s the one I’ve wanted for years.’’
Plans get busted up like noses, of course. Other than Crawford, the aggressive Porter figures to be as challenging a test as any in the welterweight division on September 28 for two pieces of the 147-pound title at Staples Center in Los Angeles. But Spence’s power and size make him the favorite.
If he wins as expected, there’s bound to be further talk about Manny Pacquiao, who is coming off his impressive decision over Keith Thurman on July 20. It’s not clear what Pacquiao plans to do. He’ll be 41 in December.
Instead of Spence, Pacquiao might choose to fight Mikey Garcia, who is coming off a one-sided loss to Spence in March. In jumping up two weight classes, Garcia had no chance against Spence, who was never threatened in scoring a unanimous decision.
In terms of size, Garcia is a lot closer to Pacquiao than either are to Spence. Nobody among today’s best welterweights is as big as Spence. The Dallas left-hander is listed a 5 feet, 9½ inches. He looks bigger. At 29, he also looks as if won’t be long before he’ll step up to junior middle and then middleweight. But, first, he says he is determined to face Crawford, who is first or second in virtually all of the pound-for-pound ratings.
Trouble is, Crawford is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, a rival to Al Haymon’s PBC, which promotes Spence. Negotiations between the two are problematic, at best. Yet Spence has not been shy about asking for the fight. Among the PBC welterweights (Porter, Thurman, Pacquiao and Danny Garcia), only Spence talks about him consistently.
But the clock, like the scale, is creating a sense of urgency. To wit: How much longer can Spence make 147 pounds?
“I can make the weight, no problem, especially for a fight against Crawford,’’ he said. “That’s a fight about making a legacy.”