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Terence Crawford couldn’t help but mock what he sees as another Errol Spence Jr. excuse.
The unified welterweight champion from Omaha, Nebraska, responded to Spence’s insistence made earlier this week that his vision was impaired during their undisputed 147-pound championship last summer, which Crawford won by dominant knockout in the ninth. assault to unify the four belts of the division. (Crawford has since been stripped of his IBF title.)
On his Instagram account, Spence posted a video of himself in a wheelchair with his right eye bandaged, saying he had undergone cataract surgery. He also blamed his eye condition for interfering with his performance against Crawford.
“It’s overdue,” Spence wrote in a post. “Shit! I was covering my eye. Because [do] Do you think they hit me with so many punches and hooks? Still a great brother performance. [Crawford].”
This is the second serious eye problem Spence has had in recent years. In 2021, he had to undergo surgery for a detached retina in his left eye before a scheduled fight with Manny Pacquiao. Spence had to withdraw from that fight, paving the way for Yordenis Ugas to replace him; Ugás ended up defeating Pacquiao on points.
After saying “no comment” on her social media regarding Spence’s claim, Crawford broke her silence a few days later.
“The last thing I can remember is that they definitely check our eyes before every fight, just saying,” Crawford wrote in X. “Any boxer would know that. But casual fans will say and make up anything.”
Crawford added: “Yes, I need 3 surgeries that I haven’t had yet.” [does that make] my disadvantage[ed] also? (three crying emojis).”
Spence had previously hinted that he had been cut in weight ahead of the fight with Crawford and noted that his preference for the rematch is for it to take place at 154 pounds. Spence activated his contractual right to a rematch a few months after the loss, but the choice of weight class belongs to Crawford.
It’s unclear when the two will take part in the rematch, but it seems clear in light of his recent surgery that Spence won’t be ready until later this year. Premier Boxing Champions, the team that backs both fighters, recently signed a new multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video, but there has been no information on a schedule. The first “PBC on Prime” card is expected to take place in March.
In a series of other tweets, Crawford appeared to take issue with those complaining about his lack of activity.
“I wish I could fight more than once a year, but these guys have been running and hiding for years,” Crawford wrote. “Boxing is not like before when everyone fought each other.
“I live in the gym,” he continued. “But my whole career these fighters have been running after people saying I’m on the wrong side of the street, call this guy, call that guy! Make it make sense.”
“I fought against each and every one they put on my table. I never turned down a fight in my life. Even if he was notified late, gaining weight. Short fighters, tall fighters, strong fighters, fast fighters, boxers, wrestlers, etc., I fought them all.”
Crawford even threatened fans with just one more fight before retiring for good.
“I might or might not give them 1 more because they don’t know how to appreciate greatness when they see it,” he wrote.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mob, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.
