The two welterweight world champions, Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford, have finally put pen to paper and will face off on July 19 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Spence and Crawford are both undefeated and together complete the puzzle of belts in the division, with the former holding the WBC, WBA and IBF and the latter the WBO.
The two generational greats have been in a frustrating will-they-won’t-they dance for some time now, and many false alarms led fans to believe that the fight may never happen.
A Showtime PPV event on July 29 will finally deliver, with a UK broadcaster yet to be announced. Announcing the fight, the 28-0 Spence said it was a throwback fight on paper. He’ll be looking for his 23rd stoppage win.
“Finally giving the fans what they want. This one [is] a throwback fight on paper, but it could be a one-sided ass whooping. One of the biggest fights of the century!”
Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) said the time for talking was done.
“Time to reel in the big fish. No more talking. Let’s get it.”
Everybody come out, show support, and watch me fry this fish.”
The winner will leave the ring the first four-belt undisputed champion of the 147lb ranks and the best of a generation.
Although they have shared opponents like Kell Brook and Shawn Porter, the fight has the air of a genuine pick ’em, and is happening just before it’s sell-by-date given both are in their thirties now.
With some huge events already in the rearview mirror, this confirmed and some positive talks for mega-bouts in the heavyweight ranks later in the year, 2023 is looking a good one for boxing fans.