SPENCE-CRAWFORD FINALLY A DONE DEAL

BOXING fans are feeling pampered lately.

You see, in the last few months some of the biggest dream fights in the sport have come into fruition.

Lightweight superstars Ryan Garcia and Gervonta "Tank" Davis got the ball rolling on April 22, when they squared off in a highly anticipated showdown. No world title was at stake but boxing fans packed the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to watch two unbeaten fighters turn the ring into a cauldron. Davis prevailed with a spectacular seventh round stoppage.

As expected, the fight raked in huge money. The live-gate generated an income of $22.5 million. In terms of pay-per-view buys, the fight drew 1.2 million viewers on different platforms to realize revenues in the vicinity of $100 million.

Garcia-Davis proved that boxing fans are willing to shell out money if promoters give them the fights they want to see.

About a month later, on May 20, boxing fans got another treat when Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko battled for the undisputed (WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF) lightweight crown.

Haney won via a contemptuous decision, but boxing still came out a winner as the bout featured two of the most skilled fighters in the 135-pound division.

Believe it or not, another big fight is coming on July 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WBC-WBA-IBF welterweight king Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr. and WBO counterpart Terence "Bud" Crawford finally inked a deal to trade punches.

The two have been the most dominant champions in the 147-pound division and the consensus is that a unification showdown is long overdue.

Spence, 28-0, 22 knockouts, has been welterweight champ since 2017, when he first won the IBF title by knocking out Kell Brook. Spence has since captured the WBC and WBA versions of the belt.

Crawford, 39-0 with 30 knockouts, collared the WBO's version of the crown by silencing Australian Jeff Horn in June 2018. Crawford has since made six defenses of the title.

Promotional issues prevented Spence and Crawford from happening earlier. Crawford was identified with Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions while Spence fought for Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

When Crawford's deal with Top Rank expired last November, not a few thought a fight with Spence will be easier to make.

Crawford and Spence did come close to inking a deal, but negotiations broke down before they got to sign a contract. The camps of both fighters argued on issues ranging from revenue splits to rematch clauses.

The fight seemed dead in the water until Crawford and Spence started talking directly to each other. They decided to cut the middle men and discuss the fight among themselves.

Lo and behold, the fight is now a done deal.

Crawford and Spence are guaranteed to receive career-high purses.

Regarding the issue of the rematch, reports have it that the loser of the fight can activate a rematch clause within 30 days after the fight and the rematch must take place within this year. To make it easier to iron out a second fight, Crawford agreed to a two-fight deal with PBC.

Crawford-Spence is the biggest welterweight match since the May 2015 bout between Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Then again, while Pacquiao-Mayweather generated revenues in the vicinity of $600 million, the fight was a huge letdown. Mayweather emerged the winner in a boring fight. Pacquiao-Mayweather clearly happened several years later.

Crawford-Spence is taking place at a time when the boxers are still very much in their prime.

Spence, 33, is an excellent boxer-puncher. Spence offers a pesky jab, good footwork and just the right amount of aggression.

Crawford, 35, is a southpaw like Spence, but the WBO champ can easily switch stances during the fight. Crawford tends to start slow, but he is an excellent counterpuncher. He is also adept at observing the right distance in the ring, allowing him to keep his foe within his counterpunching radar.

Hopefully, Crawford-Spence will be worth the long wait.

Crawford has been previously assailed by Arum for his failure to exert efforts to promote his fights. Crawford recently told the media that he has no plans to act out of character or go crazy just to promote the Spence fight.

The way Crawford sees it, the mega fight will sell itself.

2023-06-08T18:24:16Z dg43tfdfdgfd