There is little revisionist history going on when it comes to Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford’s rivalry, and legacy they leave behind, at least not according to the fighters themselves, who kept it real when talking about one another recently in the media.
The modern day boxing greats fought one another in 2023 in the most significant welterweight fight since Floyd Mayweather handily defeated Manny Pacquiao in the best-selling bout of all time in 2015.
Many regarded the fight heading in as a 50:50 contest, however, with Boxing Social ringside at the time, what we saw was a systemic beatdown as a generational fighter in ‘Bud’ emerged from the off, bloodying and beating ‘The Truth’ with an apparent ease.
Since then, Spence is yet to return. And Crawford fought just twice, beating Israil Madrimov in 2024, before jumping two weight classes to fight Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, wresting the undisputed super middleweight world championship belts from the Mexican’s waist in front of 70,000 people at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
And, while Spence may long have been considered Crawford’s signature win, his victory over Canelo may be seen as more impressive — particularly as it’s what the American retired on.
But for Spence, he “wasn’t surprised” at what his old rival was able to pull off against one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elites, before calling the curtain down on his career shortly after.
“He did everything you could do in the sport, so what’s left? He’s got his health, he’s got his kids and his family, he wants to be there for them,” Spence recently told Fight Hype.
“Much respect to him for retiring while on top. A lot of fighters wouldn’t do that.”
As for Crawford, he, too, had high praise for Spence when speaking on The Porter Way Podcast.
“When I look at Spence as a fighter, a great fighter, great champion and a great person. I always stated I’m a fan of Spence, out the blue,” said Crawford.
However, where he strayed from Spence’s sentiment was his long-held belief that he operated at a level above his fellow American.
“Once I came up in the division, I called him right out because I knew our styles matched up.”
“He can’t beat me.”
“Before y’all was even chanting Spence, before y’all knew Spence, he was coming to my fights and watching me,” said Crawford.
“I was champion way before this stuff got started. He got a marketing machine behind him that was great [but] I never had Spence on the level of Canelo, Manny Pacquiao. And people I say I’m hating for that but it’s just facts.”
While Crawford retired with a flawless pro record of 42-0 (31 KOs), Spence, at 28-1 (22 KOs) is linked with ring return this summer against Tim Tszyu.