In an electrifying main event that had hearts racing, Terence “Bud” Crawford, the fighting wonder from Omaha, Nebraska, with an untarnished record of 40 wins and zero losses (31 by knockout), and weighing a solid 146 ¾ lbs, ended the reign of fellow southpaw, Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. Spence, from Dallas, Texas, who stepped into the ring with an impressive record of 28-1 (22 by knockout), at 147 lbs. The fight was abruptly and dramatically stopped 2:23 into the ninth round of what was supposed to be a twelve-round brawl.
Spence started the fight with fire in his eyes, outpacing Crawford in the initial round. The second round, however, witnessed a heart-stopping twist as it was about to end. Bud delivered a punch that sent chills down the spine — a stinging left to Spence’s head, swiftly followed by a right hook to the chin. The impact brought Spence crashing down, leaving Referee Harvey Dock to count up to eight.
By the fourth round, it was clear that Bud was in it to win it. His punches led to a nosebleed for Spence and had him looking like a beetroot. The intensity led to a medic popping in for a quick check-up on Spence between the rounds.
The fifth round was Crawford’s playground. He seemed to dance around Spence, always a step ahead. Round six saw Spence getting a warning for low blows. Bud, however, stood firm, showcasing his massive power, and claimed the round for himself.
In the seventh round, a minute in, Bud delivered a right hook straight out of a textbook on Spence’s chin. The punch sent Spence down for yet another eight-count, once again courtesy of Referee Dock. As if on replay, Bud floored Spence once more just as the round was ending.
Crawford owned the eighth round up until the final thirty seconds when Spence staged a small comeback.
However, the ninth round was all Bud. He dictated the fight, until Referee Dock, seeing Spence unable to return eight consecutive punches from Crawford, decided to call it a day. Bud was crowned the winner, marking a dominating huge victory that had the crowd on its feet.
Round by Round
Round 9: ITS OVER! It’s clear now that Spence is worn out. Crawford capitalizes on this, picking his shots with precision and effectively cornering Spence. It’s a brutal sight as Crawford continues to dominate. Undeterred, Spence rallies and fires off a six-punch combo, but it doesn’t phase Crawford.
Crawford strikes back, sending Spence off balance with his powerful blows. The moment of truth is upon us. Spence is displaying incredible resilience, but nothing seems to rattle Bud. A massive combination follows – left, right, and the fight is over, ref steps in! Crawford DOMINATES Spence!
Round 8: Spence seems focused on regaining his stability while attempting to launch an offensive. Meanwhile, Crawford is poised, patiently seeking the perfect opportunity to strike back. Crawford lands two well-aimed right hooks and quickly follows with a counter right. He adds insult to injury with a few more of those spirit-crushing jabs. The unofficial scorecard for this round reads 10-9 in Crawford’s favor, pushing the overall score to 79-70 for Crawford.
Round 7: Crawford starts strong, landing a solid hook and throwing a flurry of punches, forcing Spence to retreat. Spence connects with two hefty left hands, but Crawford’s quick counter sends Spence tumbling to the canvas for the second time in this bout!
Spence beats the count, but Crawford is relentless, landing further punishing left hooks as he hunts for the finish. Spence pushes back, landing a commendable right hand, but Crawford is unfazed, absorbing each blow as if it’s nothing.
In an exchange of jabs, it’s Crawford who takes the lead again, delivering a succession of powerful body shots. A right hook from Crawford sends Spence crashing down once more as the round concludes. The unofficial scorecard shows a landslide in Crawford’s favor: 10-7 this round, 69-61 overall.
Round 6: As the sixth round gets underway, Crawford’s whip-like power shots set the tone. Spence attempts to push forward aggressively, but “Bud” manages to deflect each attempt. When Spence tries to sneak in a combination, Bud counters with a left and right, pulling Spence into another heavy blow.
Crawford is a force to reckon with tonight, showing remarkable strength. Another powerful combination from Crawford connects, underscoring his dominance.
Even though Spence is putting up a good fight this round, Crawford’s raw power remains unchallenged.
Round 5: Crawford starts off with a hard left hand, followed by a sharp jab. Spence seems a bit adrift, his strategy seemingly falling apart.
Nonetheless, Spence attempts to regain control, focusing his attention on Crawford’s body, only to receive a warning for low blows. Crawford’s series of hefty jabs leaves Spence shaken once more. Crawford continues his onslaught, striking the head with his left before descending to the body.
Spence pushes back and lands a solid left, but Crawford absorbs the impact well. Spence’s situation is dire, needing to recalibrate his strategy swiftly. The unofficial scorecard tallies another round for Crawford at 10-9, extending his lead to 49-45.
Round 4: Crawford has shifted gears, targeting Spence’s body with precision before swiftly transitioning to headshots. Spence isn’t idle either, landing a compact left hook. But Crawford spots a gap in Spence’s defense and capitalizes, whipping “The Truth” with a swift left. Crawford’s counterpunching game is truly top-notch tonight.
Spence fires back with a double jab. But the round still tips towards Crawford, with the unofficial scorecard reading 10-9 for Crawford, and an overall score of 39-36 in Crawford’s favor.
Round 3: Spence is all aggression as he charges Crawford, connecting with a powerful blow. He lands a quick left, then follows with a heavy right hand, signalling the start of a boxing brawl. Spence throws a barrage of punches at Crawford, but misses a combination. Unfazed, Crawford responds with his own powerful combo.
Spence, ever the tactician, keeps targeting Crawford’s midsection. He goes to the body again, but Crawford comes back with a stinging one-two punch. The two are trading blows, truly toe-to-toe in combat. Crawford fires off a potent combo from body to head, but Spence counters with a solid left hook. Crawford, undeterred, snaps a hard jab, maintaining the intense momentum. (10-9 Crawford, 29-27 Crawford)
Round 2: Spence starts by launching a series of jabs, followed by a left hook that snakes around Crawford’s guard. He manages to pin Crawford against the ropes, where he unloads a couple of body shots before Crawford initiates a clinch to reset the action. Crawford retaliates with an impressive three-punch combo, connecting with at least two solid hits.
Spence lands a cracking left hook, swiftly followed by a powerful jab that punches through Crawford’s guard. Crawford isn’t deterred and shoots back with a robust jab of his own. As Spence lowers his guard, Crawford capitalizes and lands a HUGE left hand. A two-punch combo from Crawford follows, and Spence is forced to touch the canvas in a huge early fight moment! The unofficial scorecard gives this round to Crawford with a 10-8 margin. (10-8, Crawford)
Round 1: The starting minutes sees both boxers focusing on establishing their jabs, testing waters rather than going full throttle. It’s a cautious start, but they’re sizing each other up. Spence starts to target the midsection, once, then again. His body shot, loaded with intent, is met with a swift reply as Crawford fires back with a sharp counter. The opening round edges in favor of Spence. (10-9, Spence)
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