Errol Spence Jr emphatically made the first defence of the IBF world welterweight title he won back in May 2017 against Kell Brook in Sheffield, England.
Spence has been hailed by many as the proposed next American ruler of the ever glamorous welterweight division following in the tradition of Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and many more.
He only enhanced that glowing reputation as he dismissed the challenge of Peterson with his 10th consecutive stoppage.
23-0, 20 KO, #AndStill IBF welterweight champion. 2018 gonna be our year. Time to unify these 147 pound belts. They all know where to find me. Appreciate all the love & support !! #MANDOWN #StrapSeason pic.twitter.com/FiMsVmlEWd
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) January 21, 2018
With that victory, Spence improved his unblemished record to stand at 23 victories with all but three of those victories coming by way of knockout.
He crushed and overwhelmed the former 2-weight world champion Lamont Peterson who had no answers for ‘The Truth’s all action style of fighting.
Spence’s pressure and effectiveness in cutting off the ring were crucial factors in allowing him to once again dictate the tempo of the fight.
Spence dominated the early goings of the fight, finding the range behind a ramrod southpaw jab which allowed Spence to build up an early advantage on the scorecards.
Behind the scenes with the champ @ErrolSpenceJr before first title defense up next on @Showtime. #SpencePeterson pic.twitter.com/tnpZXlMU9z
— ALL THE SMOKE Boxing (@atsboxing) January 21, 2018
Spence then began to put his punches together and found enormous success as he broke down Peterson slowly but surely.
Excellent combination punching to the body and head took an enormous toll.
Spence showed just why he is one of the most feared entities in boxing in the fifth round when he put Peterson on the seat of his pants following a crisp combination which culminated with a crisp left hook to the head leaving him disorientated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQOwHcwZ2FM
The signs of punishment were clearly evident on Peterson’s face as we came through the middle rounds.
Both eyes had become badly swollen and he resembled a picture of defeat.
Following a one sided seventh round where Spence it seemed was almost doing as he pleased.
Peterson’s trainer, Barry Hunter who prior to the fight told FightHype to expect a war between the pair, called for a halt to the action as the bell rang to commence the eighth round to save his fighter from receiving more sustained punishment.
Following the fight, Errol Spence says he will look to return to the ring at the earliest possible opportunity.
He also fired shots at Keith Thurman for what he perceives to be ducking and called out Mexican Lineal world middleweight champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Fight date announced reaaaaal soon‼️ ?
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) January 21, 2018
Elsewhere, on the undercard Robert Easter Jr narrowly edged out Javier Fortuna with a split decision victory. That was Easter’s third successive title defence of the IBF lightweight title.
The three judges scorecards for that fight read 114-113 to Easter, 114-113 to Fortuna and the definitive third judge had it 115-112 for Easter. Fortuna had a point deducted early in the fight for persistent rabbit punches and that point proved crucial in the verdict.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeMyhsajKCG/?hl=en&taken-by=roberteaster_jr
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