Errol Spence Jr came up well short in the biggest night of his career, succumbing to the power of Terence Crawford in the ninth round of their undisputed welterweight bout.
What was billed as a pick ’em fight turned out to be much more one-sided, with ‘Bud’ dropping Spence in both the second and seventh rounds before ending the night early and leaving the ring with all four 147lbs belts.
As per the contract, Spence has the right to a rematch and he has indeed activated that.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, his trainer Derek James first said that he wasn’t privy to any conversations surrounding the second fight and its progress.
“I don’t know anything about it. Nothing. I’m sure they already signed [the weight] or whatever, but I don’t know anything about that either. I just know what they’re talking about.”
The main conversation surrounds the weight class. Spence would like it to be at the super-welterweight limit of 154 following a career at 147 and perhaps one fight too many.
Asked what difference it would make should it be one division up, James said his fighter would be more comfortable, but he’s not blaming the loss on it.
“He won’t be so drained, he won’t be so depleted or whatever. That wasn’t the issue. Crawford fought a good fight. He had a great game plan given to him by coach. He was the better guy that day. That’s life.”
The closure of Showtime Boxing after 37 years means that, as a PBC fight, the rematch is without a broadcaster. Whether or not it’s ready to be announced once one a deal is struck remains to be seen.