With rumors escalating of an imminent return to the ring from Errol Spence, rumors persist over whom he might box now that he’s likely to fight at super welterweight, having previously reigned as a champion at 147 pounds from 2017 to 2023.
The American has not competed since he was brutally defeated by Terence Crawford in one of the biggest US bouts of the modern era, but has been linked with a summer showdown against Tim Tszyu.
But sharks are circling in boxing‘s waters, particularly if they sense that the self-proclaimed “big fish” could take lingering damage from the Crawford loss into his comeback — despite the three-year layoff.
And so, despite their familiarity with one another due to a shared ex coach in Derrick James, it still should be no surprise that Jermell Charlo recently called Spence out for a fight; one that could prove to be a monstrous seller in their shared home state, Texas.
Now, Spence has commented in Fight Hype footage.
“Canelo gone, Terence gone, so who else he gonna get a big payday from?”
Spence continued: “That’s the only reason he called me out.”
He then hinted that through their shared hours of training alongside one another, and sparring, it was always clear, to him at least, whom had the upper hand in those sessions. And, for Spence, the “payday” Charlo would receive for fighting him, rather than another 154-pound contender, makes up for what he suggests would be a routine loss for ‘Mell.
“Everybody know how the sparring went,” said Spence. “His coach know how the sparring went, everybody in the gym know how the sparring went. Hey, man, he wants some money.”
Outside of Tszyu and Charlo, there are few other viable opponents for Spence to return except, perhaps, Sebastian Fundora.
When Fundora defeated Tszyu last year, Spence — who was watching from ringside — was one of the first to step over the ropes, happy to pose alongside Fundora as rumors of a fight between those guys escalated.
Fundora, though, must first fight Keith Thurman on Mar. 28 as they headline the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Despite Fundora’s bludgeoning prowess and physical assets, it’s a bout Spence regards as closer in the ring as it seems on paper, suggesting Thurman, despite his advanced years, cannot be counted out.
“Whoever hit whoever first” would win, he said.
“If Keith Thurman hit him with one of those wide overhands or hooks, it might be Thurman. But Fundora’s been doing a good job with the jab, able to keep the distance. So if he jabs, keeps the distance and picks him apart, I feel like Fundora throw a lot of punches, he’ll break Keith Thurman down over time.”