Errol Spence Jr. has revealed the reasons behind his loss to Terence Crawford, attributing it to a poorly executed training camp. In an exclusive interview, Spence opened up about the challenges he faced leading up to the highly anticipated bout, which took place in July 2023. The 36-year-old boxer, known as 'The Truth', lost his WBC, IBF, and WBA welterweight titles to Crawford, dubbed 'Bud', in a ninth-round stoppage. This defeat marked a significant setback in Spence's illustrious career, leaving him out of the ring for an extended period.
Spence's recent announcement about his upcoming fight against Tim Tszyu on July 25 in Australia has sparked curiosity and analysis. The fight will be a catchweight of 158lbs, a higher weight than what Spence is accustomed to. Additionally, he is training under the guidance of new head coach Ronnie Shields, a strategic move that Spence hopes will lead to his first victory since April 2022. In that fight, Spence scored a 10th-round finish over Yordenis Ugas, reclaiming his welterweight titles.
The key to Spence's success in the upcoming bout, according to him, lies in the lessons learned from the Crawford loss. He believes that the training camp for the Crawford fight was chaotic and lacked proper preparation. In the interview, Spence revealed that he had no conversations with his former coach, Derrick James, about the fight strategy. He stated, 'That camp was bulls**t. I did no sparring. The guys didn’t fit – I had no southpaws in there to spar. It was all out of whack.'
Spence's frustration stems from the lack of proper sparring partners, which he believes was crucial for his preparation. He explained, 'Derrick’s [job to pick the sparring partners], he’s the teacher right? We were just working the mitts. You would think he would put on some gloves and have me blocking shots, but it was none of that.' This lack of preparation left Spence feeling weak and depleted, even after working out.
Despite the setback, Spence remains confident in his ability to turn things around. He acknowledges that he needs to improve his training camp management and ensure he is in the best shape possible. However, he also emphasizes that Crawford's performance was exceptional and should not be overlooked. Spence's honesty and self-reflection provide valuable insights into the complexities of professional boxing, where even the most skilled athletes can face challenges due to various factors beyond their control.
