As a large portion of the Las Vegas fight crowd celebrated Terence Crawford’s emphatic ninth-round stoppage triumph over Errol Spence Jr. on Saturday, the predictable cries for a rematch had already begun.
“Hell yeah, we gotta do it again,” said the gallant Spence through swollen and bloody lips during his post-fight interview. Despite the former unified champ having the right to exercise a rematch clause, Showtime interviewer Jim Gray had already suggested to Crawford that a return fight would be redundant given how decisive his victory was.
And he's absolutely right!
MORE: Crawford stops Spence to become double undisputed
Sometimes sequels are a bad idea. Nobody had to see The Exorcist 2, Grease 2, Speed 2, or Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos 2. When part one tells you everything you need to know, it just makes sense to move on to other business. After all, being creative keeps your audience happy.
While the boxing community was more than grateful for the Crawford vs. Spence showdown, the fight was years in the making and people were getting impatient. So many hungry young contenders have been unable to secure a world title fight and they’ve just sat in limbo.
And now you’re asking them to go through it again? For what?
Of the eight completed rounds, Spence won one – the first. The Texas-based boxer-puncher was decked in the second and the punishment intensified as each session passed.
By the seventh, the action was becoming uncomfortable to watch, and “Bud” scored two more heavy knockdowns. When referee Harvey Dock mercifully stopped the contest in the ninth, Spence was on the verge of being seriously hurt.
So wouldn’t it make sense for both men to go in opposite directions, at least for now? The Sporting News looks at some of the options available for Crawford.
MORE: Does Crawford or Inoue top SN's pound-for-pound list?
Who will Terence Crawford fight next?
Errol Spence 2
While Showtime’s Jim Gray poured cold water on a rematch, Crawford supported the idea. “The public would buy it,” insisted the new undisputed champ. “Look at how many people came out and showed me and Errol Spence support. If the fight happens again, I’m pretty sure everyone would come out and show support once again.”
You can’t blame “Bud” for wanting to run it back. He made millions, picked up a career-defining win, and left the ring without a scratch on his face. But the oddsmakers will view this as shooting fish in a barrel for Crawford and a second fight would do considerably less business than the first.
If a rematch does happen, then it should be at 154 pounds. That way you have some intrigue because Spence might be able to perform better at the higher weight. However, Crawford, the winner, is a near-perfect welterweight and he’s just been crowned undisputed champion. Will he want to move up?
MORE: Crawford joins list of undisputed boxing champions
Jaron “Boots” Ennis
The 26-year-old Ennis is unanimously lauded as the heir apparent to the welterweight division. A dazzling talent, with the power to match, “Boots” is 31-0 (28 KOs) and he’s the IBF’s No.1 challenger.
“I always said that ‘Boots’ is a great talent and I’ve always told everybody that I support him,” said Crawford in an interview with Fight Hype before the Spence bout. “I’ve been supporting him since he was in the amateurs and he was fighting Gary Russell.”
“I always supported him because they said he reminded them so much of me. But seeing him, I see myself in him. And yes, he deserves a title shot and he deserves it all.”
A matchup between Crawford and the Philadelphia hotshot would be brilliant for the sport.
Keith Thurman
This is one of boxing’s present-day mysteries.
Despite the fact that “One Time” Thurman hasn’t fought since soundly outpointing Mario Barrios in February 2022, the former unified welterweight king still retains his spot as the WBC’s No.1 contender. If that’s not confusing enough, his fight prior to that was a split-decision defeat to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019.
Two fights in four years and Thurman is the WBC's No.1 challenger to face the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) has a solid resume and name recognition, but how excited can Crawford really get for this one?
MORE: Combat sports reactions to Crawford's win over Spence
Eimantas Stanionis
It feels like Lithuania’s Stanionis has been trying to face rising star Vergil Ortiz Jr. since birth, but that snake-bitten matchup has yet to transpire following three failed attempts.
Injury to both fighters has delayed the bout in the past, and, more recently, Ortiz suffered a very serious kidney ailment that nixed a July 8 date.
As the WBA regular welterweight titleholder, Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) is in the running for a shot at the full title. However, there’s a queue ahead of him and the rampaging pressure fighter would do well to stay active and bide his time.
It's a good fight for Crawford, but not a great fight.
Alexis Rocha
Rocha, like Stanionis, is a solid opponent, but he’s yet to showcase the kind of form that would make fans enthusiastic about a fight with "Bud".
It doesn’t seem that long ago that the California-based lefty lost a unanimous decision to Rashidi Ellis (October 2020), and Rocha has done nothing since to suggest that he could live with the pound-for-pound king.
However, the 23-1 Rocha is the WBO’s No.1 challenger and if he keeps winning, then a title shot will eventually come. Realistically, he’s far down the pecking order and should just focus on staying busy and improving his game.