In an event that’s destined to become a monumental chapter in boxing lore, Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr., the reigning WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion, is all set to battle it out with Terence “Bud’’ Crawford, the WBO 147-pound world champion. The showdown for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship is scheduled for Saturday, July 29, in a highly anticipated live broadcast from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, brought to you by SHOWTIME PPV as part of a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The victorious warrior from this duel of undefeated titans will have the honor of becoming the first undisputed welterweight world champion of the four-belt era. They will likely hold the prestigious position of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter.
The bout between Spence and Crawford has a place among the iconic fights in boxing history such as Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns, Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez, and Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. Both Spence and Crawford, armed with their impressive skills, have climbed to the zenith of boxing’s most glamorous division. Their victory on July 29 could seal their legacy among legendary fighters like Leonard, Mayweather, Sugar Ray Robinson and Pacquiao.
ERROL SPENCE VS. TERENCE CRAWFORD START TIME
- Date: Saturday, July 29
- Start time: 9 pm ET
- In the U.S. Showtime will carry the fight on PPV with price to be confirmed
- The fight takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 pm ET
Since Crawford’s ascension to welterweight champion in 2018, an encounter between him and Spence has been eagerly awaited, and now, it’s finally happening! Pre-sale tickets go live on Thursday, June 1, from 10 a.m. PT, accessible via AXS.com using the code: BOXING. The public sale kicks off the next day, Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. PT, with tickets available on the same platform. The event is being promoted by Man Down Promotions, TBC Promotions, and TGB Promotions.
“I’m incredibly thrilled to be part of the most colossal fight in boxing and the greatest welterweight matchup of our times,” shared Spence. “Terence Crawford is a formidable opponent, and our contrasting styles will ensure an exhilarating fight. I’ve been on a roll since I claimed my first welterweight title, and on July 29, I plan to deliver a spectacular performance and reign supreme as the undisputed king of the welterweight division. I invite everyone to be part of this historic night.”
Crawford echoed the excitement, saying, “We’ve all been waiting for this bout for years, and now that it’s finally here, I encourage everyone to either come to the T-Mobile Arena or watch it live on SHOWTIME PPV. On July 29, I’m determined to create history by becoming a two-time undisputed champion of the world.”
“This fight will be etched in history, as it will determine the greatest welterweight of this era,” stated Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Apart from competing for the undisputed status and being a clash of two of the best pound-for-pound fighters, Spence vs. Crawford is an electric style matchup that has enthralled fans worldwide. Come July, boxing’s top division will have a clear numero uno, under the bright lights of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.”
Showtime Networks Inc.’s President, Sports and Event Programming, Stephen Espinoza, believes that “Spence vs. Crawford is the kind of face-off that proves the enduring popularity of boxing – it’s a headline event that will command the attention of the sports world. This fight will be discussed alongside the all-time great welterweight and undisputed world title bouts. We are delighted to partner in delivering the biggest and best fights the sport can offer.”
Throughout an illustrious career, Spence, with an impressive record of 28-0 including 22 knockouts, has continually demonstrated exceptional resilience both in and outside of the boxing ring. In 2019, he managed to survive a gruesome car crash and later in 2021, underwent a surgical procedure to fix a detached retina. Nevertheless, undeterred by the physical and mental hurdles, Spence not only defended his title with valor but also added numerous other accolades to his growing collection.
Spence, a 33-year-old originally from Long Island, New York, was brought up in Desoto, Texas. It was here that he kickstarted a highly successful amateur career, ultimately earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 2012 and competing in London, England. Adding an international feather to his cap, he went on to win his first welterweight championship in Sheffield, England, in 2017, overcoming local hero and then IBF Champion, Kell Brook.
Following his initial win, Spence successfully defended his title thrice, further securing another welterweight title by emerging victorious against Shawn Porter in a nail-biting contest in 2019. After a brief hiatus due to car crash injuries, he held onto the unified title with a unanimous decision over two-division champion Danny Garcia in 2020. Despite a detached retina threatening his 2021 face-off with Pacquiao, Spence emerged triumphant against Yordenis Ugas, who had bested Pacquiao. He seized the WBA title with an emphatic TKO on April 16, 2022.
On the other side of the ring, Crawford, boasting a remarkable 39-0 record with 30 knockouts, is a renowned ring strategist who has held world titles in the lightweight, super lightweight, and welterweight categories. His unique mix of lightning-fast hands, excellent ring intelligence, masterful counter-punching, and strong defensive tactics, positions him on the brink of becoming the first male boxing champion to rule undisputed in two weight classes, provided he outperforms Spence.
This 35-year-old Omaha, Nebraska native embarked on his championship journey by securing the WBO Lightweight Title in 2014, courtesy of a unanimous decision victory over Ricky Burns. His reign in the 140-pound category started with a win against Thomas Dulorme for the WBO Title in 2015. Subsequently, he acquired the WBC belt in 2016 after a unanimous decision over Viktor Postol, leading him to the undisputed championship at 140 pounds with a knockout of Julius Indongo in 2017.
Rather than defending his undisputed crown at super lightweight, Crawford decided to step up to the welterweight division in 2018. He marked his arrival with a TKO triumph over Jeff Horn, securing the WBO Championship. Crawford successfully defended his title six times, scoring stoppage wins over previous 147-pound champions Porter and Brook. In his most recent fight, Crawford delivered a spectacular knockout of David Avanesyan in December.
SPENCE VS. CRAWFORD CARD
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- Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford for undisputed welterweight title
- Isaac Cruz vs. Giovanni Cabrera; WBC and WBA lightweight title eliminator
- Nonito Donaire vs. Alexandro Santiago; For the vacant WBC bantamweight title
- Yoenis Tellez vs. Sergio Garcia; Super welterweight
- Steven Nelson vs. Rowdy Montgomery, 10 rounds, super middleweights
- Jose Salas Reyes vs. Aston Palicte, 10 rounds, junior featherweights
- Jabin Chollet vs. Michael Portales, 6 rounds, lightweights
- Justin Viloria vs. Pedro Borgaro, 6 rounds, junior lightweights
- Demler Zamora vs. Nikolai Buzolin, 8 rounds, lightweights
- Kevin Ventura vs. DeShawn Prather, 6 rounds, welterweights