Boxer with strong Jamaican ties in big title fight tonight

The first welterweight fight in boxing history for all four major world titles, which takes place tonight at the T-Mobile Arena in Texas, USA, will feature Errol Spence Jr who has strong Jamaican ties, and American Terence Crawford. Spence’s father, Errol Sr, is Jamaican and hails from the town of Axe and Adze in Hanover.

Errol Sr and his son are known to slip into Jamaica quietly from time to time to visit relatives here, so as to get away from the spotlight. The glare of television cameras will, however, be on the younger Spence on Saturday, as he puts his World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles on the line against Crawford, who holds the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title.

It is a fight that has been in the making for several years and has finally come about after intense negotiations and a recent agreement by the boxers personally, to “let’s get it on and stop all the arguments”.

Both boxers are undefeated. Spence, 33, has a 28-0 record with 22 knockouts while Crawford, who is 35, has a 39-0 record with 30 knockouts to his credit. Both boxers are southpaws, an unusual situation in boxing.

The men have been dominant in all their fights for years, and at this time, Crawford is a slight favourite going into the fight. Spence, however, has a very strong following, and it will quite likely not be known until fight night, who ends up being the betting favourite. This is so because these are two of the most talented and confident boxers in the business, and both have superb records.

IBF CHAMPION

Spence became the IBF champion on May 27, 2017 when he knocked out Kell Brook in 11 rounds, added the WBC title on August 29, 2019 with a split decision over Shawn Porter and finally the WBA title on April 16, 2022, with a TKO victory in 10 rounds, over Yordenis Ugas.

Crawford, on the other hand, worked his way up from WBO lightweight and super lightweight world champion, to WBO world welterweight champion on June 9, 2018 with a ninth round TKO victory over Jeff Horn. He has had six successful title defences.

It will be without doubt an exciting fight between two well-trained and confident fighters. Spence is a methodical fighter with a lethal jab, who fights smart and tries to exploit his opponent’s weaknesses as the fight progresses. He is also seen as the harder puncher. Crawford is usually a slow starter, who uses his speed to good advantage as the fight progresses, and likes to keep the action going at all times.