IBF World welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. (23-0-0, 20 KO’s) has been talking up a potential fight with former undisputed World super lightweight champion Terence Crawford (32-0-0, 23 KO’s).
Spence, who will make the second defence of his crown against unbeaten Mexican Carlos Ocampo on June 16th, stated that he would be interested in taking on his fellow American – but only after he has “cleaned up his side of the street” against Al Haymon’s roster of welterweights.
“Let me clean up my side of the street and then I’ll come over take their side of the block also.” Spence told FightHype.
After claiming the IBF title with an eleventh round stoppage victory over Kell Brook in Sheffield, Spence made a dominant first defence against former two-weight World champion Lamont Peterson in January.
He has now cast his eyes on the rest of the PBC roster, and recently spoke of his wish to face the winner of Danny Garcia’s proposed bout with Shawn Porter.
“I’ve got a lot of fighters with Al Haymon. We got Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter. We got all these guys. We had Lamont Peterson. We had Keith Thurman. He’s doing whatever he’s doing right now. Let me clean up my block and I’ll come over and take over their block later on.”
The unbeaten 28-year-old has made no secret of his desire to become undisputed champion, and believes a bout with ‘pound-for-pound’ star Crawford is inevitable, provided ‘Bud’ captures the WBO title against Jeff Horn next Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“If Crawford does get the belt from Jeff Horn, I’ll come take that belt too. I want to be the undisputed champion of the world.” said Spence.
Though his sole focus is domination at 147lbs, Spence has spoken in the past of his desire to move up in weight and capture a title at super welterweight, with former opponent Kell Brook repeatedly calling for a rematch at the higher weight class.
“When I become the undisputed champion of the world (at 147), then I’ll move up to 154.” Spence stated.
While boxing fans around the world will nod doubt be licking their lips at a potential Spence-Crawford bout, it is worth noting that while both fighters appear keen for the fight, the two men are on rival networks and with rival promoters.
Negotiations for any such mega-fight is usually a long process, but if the two men are to keep winning and collecting titles, hopefully they will meet in the ring sooner rather than later…