Unified welterweight champion Terence Crawford has responded to Errol Spence Jr’s claims that he went into their fight with an eye injury.
Crawford beat Spence down throughout their long-awaited showdown, adding the exclamation point to a generational win with a ninth-round TKO. However in recent days, Spence has spoken out and revealed that he had an eye injury ahead of the fight, believing this to be the reason why Crawford found him so easy to hit.
Errol Spence says he had to get eye surgery & says it affected his vision Vs Crawford ? #ThrillBoxing #boxing pic.twitter.com/Ww8xdNU4GF
— Thrill Boxing Magazine ?? (@ThrillBoxing) January 8, 2024
“Had to get cataract surgery… It’s been past due, s**t was covering my eye. Why do you think I got hit with so many jabs and hooks, still a great performance by bro.”
On social media, Terence Crawford hit back at Spence’s excuse for his performance, believing that if his injury was as serious as he portrays, the fight would not have gone ahead, as well as indicating that most boxers are injured to some degree when they step into the ring.
Last I can recall we definitely get our eyes checked before every fight I’m just saying. Any boxer would know that. But casual fans will say and make up anything.
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) January 10, 2024
Yea I need 3 surgeries that I haven’t got so do that makes me handicap as well????
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) January 10, 2024
“Last I can recall we definitely get our eyes checked before every fight I’m just saying. Any boxer would know that. But casual fans will say and make up anything.”
“Yeah, I need 3 surgeries that I haven’t got so do that makes me handicap as well?”
Although Spence seems set for a period of inactivity following the surgery, his activation of the rematch clause for a second clash with Crawford has led to the latter being tied up. The timeline of Spence’s recovery is yet to be known, as is Crawford’s position if there were to be a timely delay, as fans beckon for the supposed pound-for-pound number one to be permitted to fight alternate opponents as he waits for Spence to be fully fit for a rematch.
