On Saturday night at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Errol Spence returns from a 14-month hiatus following a high speed car crash that threatened his career and saw him highly fortunate to escape with relatively minor injuries.
In an era of soft touch title defences, WBC and IBF 147lbs champ Spence headed in a different direction for his comeback fight by opting to face two-division champion Danny Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) in what promises to be a rigorous assessment of his current physical state.
An apparently refocused Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) says he feels better than ever after returning to the gym but the dangerous Garcia will be a true test of those claims tomorrow night. Can Garcia handle ‘The Truth’ or will Spence be victorious and inch closer to a mooted unification with WBO champion Terence Crawford in 2021? Boxing Social’s fearless band of writers and psychics endeavour to predict the outcome.
When Errol Spence flipped his Ferrari 488 Spider on Riverfront Boulevard in Dallas in October 2019, there were fears not only for his future in boxing but also for his life. Miraculously, however, he apparently only suffered superficial injuries and based on the work-out and interview footage I’ve seen in recent months I don’t think Spence will be unduly affected in the ring by what happened that dark night in Dallas. In many ways, Spence appears to be the complete pugilistic package, an accomplished technical boxer who also possesses decent power and can go to war if needed. Garcia is usually underestimated and underrated, but the fight ending power he possessed at 140lbs has been diluted at 147lbs. I’ll take Spence by UD or late stoppage. – Luke G. Williams.
If you’re good as your last fight then the car that Errol Spence crashed probably beats them both. Danny Garcia has never had a marquee, top tier win. Beating Spence would be it. But I believe Garcia’s time has gone. I have to assume Spence is 100% and even if there have been repercussions from his car crash then it is impossible to say how they will affect him. Spence is a bull of a welterweight. I can’t see him being affected by Garcia’s bingo punch, the right hand. Spence to walk Garcia down in bully mode forcing a late stoppage around the 11th round. – Shaun Brown.
Despite Spence’s car crash, I’d fancy him to beat Danny Garcia by UD this weekend. However, I think the fight will be slow and quite unexciting, sadly. Spence will box well; and Garcia will hunt for the money shot admirably throughout, but the Texan won’t be too troubled. – Craig Scott.
Garcia is a live dog in this fight. If Spence has regressed after his car accident then the seasoned Philadelphian, a deceptive puncher, can take advantage. Regardless, it should be a close call, but Spence’s greater slickness should see him triumph on the cards and hopefully tee up a super-fight with Terence Crawford in 2021. – Mark Butcher.
Main image: Frank Micelotta/FOX Sports.