This is Rummy’s Corner.
With 2021 drawing to an end, the big time welterweight showdown between Errol Spence
Jr and Terence Crawford still hasn’t come together.
But perhaps 2022 will be the year that these two undefeated welterweight kings will finally
square off.
How did we get here?
In May 2017 Spence challenged IBF welterweight world champion Kell Brook.
It was a strong effort from Spence, who broke Brook down physically and mentally, Spence
unloaded on Brook in round 10 which caused the champion to take a knee.
In the following round, Brook voluntarily took another knee and was unable to beat the
count.
It was an 11th round knockout and Errol Spence Jr was the new IBF welterweight champion.
In August 2017 Crawford put his unified WBC/WBO junior welterweight championship on the line
against undefeated unified IBF/WBA champion Julius Indongo.
It was a battle for undisputed supremacy at 140 pounds.
Crawford dropped Indongo in round 2, and then he scored a knockout in round 3.
Crawford earned the undisputed junior welterweight world crown, and this was his last bout in
the division.
In January 2018 Spence defended his IBF title against Lamont Peterson.
It was another strong performance from Spence.
He dropped Peterson with a nice left in round 5, and Peterson beat the count.
Spence resumed his pressure attacks in methodical fashion.
Peterson’s corner stopped the fight just as round 8 was about to begin.
In June 2018 Crawford challenged WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn.
Crawford proceeded to thoroughly outclass the champion.
Try as he might, Horn was unable to deter the skills and firepower of the challenger.
Bud dropped Horn with a nice left in round 9.
Horn beat the count and Crawford unloaded on him which prompted the referee to stop
the fight.
Crawford was the new WBO welterweight champion, and Crawford had become a 3 division champion.
A week later Spence put his IBF belt on the line against Carlos Ocampo.
Spence made quick work of Ocampo.
He drilled him downstairs, Ocampo went down, and he did not beat the count.
It was the 2nd title defense for Spence, and with Crawford having just won the WBO the
previous week, fan interest in a unification bout between Spence and Crawford was quickly
on the rise with growing demand.
In October 2018 Crawford put his WBO belt on the line against Jose Benavidez Jr. Crawford
utilized outstanding ring generalship to dictate the pace and control the action.
Near the end of the 12th and final round Crawford nailed the challenger and sent him down with
a crisp combination.
Benavidez made it to his feet, but Crawford was all over him which prompted the referee
to wave it off.
It was a 12th round technical knockout for Bud Crawford.
In March 2019 Spence put his IBF belt on the line against Mikey Garcia.
This wound up being a dominant performance from Spence, where Garcia was unable to cope
with the jab, the skills, and size of the champion.
At the conclusion of 12 one sided rounds of action, Spence was awarded a unanimous decision
winning all 12 rounds according to all three judges scoring the fight.
The following month in April, Crawford put his WBO title on the line against Amir Khan.
Crawford dropped Khan in the opening round and never looked back.
Early in round 6 Crawford hit Khan with an accidental low blow, and after receiving time
to recover, Khan’s corner informed the referee that he would not continue.
It was a technical knockout for Crawford in round 6, and this was the 2nd welterweight
title defense for Bud.
In September 2019 Spence put his IBF belt on the line in a unification bout against
WBC champion Shawn Porter.
This was a close and competitive encounter where Porter jumped out to a good start.
Spence maintained his composure and began going to work, and he was grinding it out
with some nice body work.
In round 11 Spence landed a booming short left that caused Porter to touch down.
He survived the knockdown, but after 12 engaging rounds, Spence was awarded a split decision
victory.
Spence was now the unified IBF/WBC welterweight world champion.
A couple of weeks later Spence was involved in a serious car accident that left questions
about his future in boxing.
In December 2019 Crawford put his WBO belt on the line against Egidijus Kavaliaskas.
It was another solid effort from Bud.
Crawford dropped the challenger in round 7, and then twice more in round 9, and after
the final knockdown the referee stopped it.
It was a 9th round technical knockout for Crawford.
So at the end of 2019, Crawford had made 3 title defenses of his WBO welterweight belt,
and Spence was the unified IBF/WBC welterweight champion, who had made 4 defenses in total.
But Spence suffered a setback because of the accident, and then a few months later COVID-19
essentially brought the boxing world to a halt.
In November of last year Crawford put his WBO belt on the line against Kell Brook.
In round 4 Crawford drilled Brook with a snappy short right that sent him stumbling into the
ropes which held him up.
The referee began his count, the action resumed, and Crawford swarmed in for the finish which
prompted the ref to wave it off.
It was a 4th round technical knockout for Bud.
In December of last year, Spence put his unified IBF/WBC championship on the line against Danny
Garcia.
This was the first time Spence was back in action following his car accident.
Spence used his jab to control the action and he was effectively applying pressure.
It was a workmanlike effort for Spence against a tough and talented boxer in Danny Garcia.
After 12 rounds of action, Spence was awarded a unanimous decision.
This was title defense #5 for The Truth.
Earlier this year Spence was scheduled to have a megabout showdown against Manny Pacquiao,
but Spence had to withdraw from the fight because of a retinal tear.
Pacquiao instead challenged WBA super duper champion Yordenis Ugas.
Ugas defeated Pacquiao by 12 round unanimous decision.
And then just last Saturday, Crawford defended his WBO belt against Shawn Porter.
Porter started the fight fast and was having some early success.
But after a few rounds Bud began making adjustments, and he continued making adjustments where
his timing was steadily improving.
In round 10 Crawford bombarded Porter with a sweet left.
Porter beat the count, but he was soon down again which prompted his corner to stop the
fight.
It was a 10th round technical knockout for Crawford.
So here we are!
Crawford and Spence are both undefeated, they are both in their 30s, they are both arguably
in or close to prime form at the weight, and they are both champions who have made 5 successful
title defenses at 147.
You have two contrasting styles that can potentially make for an epic blockbuster showdown.
Boxing fans have wanted this fight for a number of years already, and for various reasons
it just never came together.
But the clock is ticking.
Right now, the fight is still one that would have tremendous significance.
But Spence and Crawford need to seize the moment sooner than later if they want this
to happen when it still matters as much as it does right NOW.
Will the fight happen in 2022?
I sure hope so.
In theory there might be less obstacles in the way now than there were previously, but
unfortunately the biggest fights that fans want to see do not always come together, and
sadly there are countless examples of this in boxing history.
Hopefully Spence and Crawford will make it a reality next year.
One can hope.
So do you think we will see Crawford vs Spence in 2022?
Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
Thanks for watching everyone, I hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful night.
This is Rummy’s Corner.