Unified welterweight champion Errol Spence believes he will emerge a hungrier, more focused fighter after a high speed car accident threatened to derail his career last year.
WBC and IBF king Spence was highly fortunate to leave the October 2019 crash with only a fractured jaw and a concussion, and feels he will get back on the right track when he meets former two-weight champion Danny Garcia in front of socially distanced fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 5.
Some doubt the gifted Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) will be the same animal, but the Texan stylist feels it will be business as usual next weekend.
“I feel blessed and ready to go. I feel like I’m 100% physically. We’ve been training hard and staying focused. I can’t wait to give my hometown fans something to cheer for when I defend my title against a great opponent,” said Spence.
“I didn’t want any tune-up fights. I wanted someone who is tough and who could push me to the limit, so I can get back to being Errol Spence Jr. I’m going to give a great performance and hear ‘and still’ on December 5. I picked Danny Garcia so that I could rise to the occasion. I’m still the top dog in the division. Fighting Danny will show how great a fighter I am.
“Danny’s dad [Angel] gets me hyped up talking about his son coming forward, throwing a lot of punches and taking the belts from me. So I’ll be ready for whatever Danny brings to the ring. I’m not going to get into any head games like with Shawn Porter [who Spence outpointed in September 2019]. I fought Shawn’s game and beat him at his own game. I know Angel wants me to stand there and brawl with Danny, but I’m going to do what I have to do to win the fight.
“It’s up to me to make a big splash coming back from my car accident. I finally got to the top, where I can fight the big names, so I’m not going backward. These are the guys I’ve wanted to fight forever.
“The accident just made me hungrier and even more focused. I have the same hunger now that I had before I won the title. I’m coming into camp much lighter and it’s helping me have an even better camp. I’m the champ, and at the end of the day, I can just fight. When it gets down to the wire, I know how to dig down deep and come out on top.”
Spence-Garcia will be broadcast on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on December 5 in the US.