Terence Crawford Explains The Deal He Would’ve Taken To Fight Errol Spence
The highly anticipated clash between two of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., was a fight years in the making. Before their eventual undisputed welterweight championship bout, discussions surrounding the terms and conditions of such a monumental event were often fraught with challenges. In late 2022, unbeaten WBO Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs at the time of the original article’s publication) spoke in-depth on an Instagram live for the first time since the fallout of the undisputed title negotiations with IBF, WBC, WBA titleholder Errol Spence Jr (28-0, 22 KOs).
Crawford explained that he wanted to sit down around a table with Spence and his manager Al Haymon and work out a deal, which Al Haymon stated had never happened in the history of boxing. Crawford responded by stating he had “Never heard of a fighter ever taking $0 guaranteed in a fight” but that was something he was willing to do to make the Spence match.
“I told them, I’ll take no guarantee. I’ll take the less end of the money. Whatever it is you want, I’ll take it because that’s how much confidence I got that I’m gonna beat that man”
Crawford asked that in return there was transparency on the financials of the fight including the PPV numbers and expenses. “If I’m gonna bet on myself, and I’m going to go against all the odds, then I want a little transparency. I want to be able to write off on things that are gonna affect my cheque”
Crawford’s request for transparency did seem reasonable and a final attempt to make the fight. The Omaha native also stated in the live that he was approached with a deal for him and Spence to earn $25,000,000 each guaranteed, a deal which was rejected by Errol Spence‘s manager Haymon.
“Of course, I want to see if the numbers add up to what they’re telling me.” Crawford also acknowledged the problem of illegal streaming earlier in the video and showed pessimism as to how many buys the fight could really do.
The Road to Undisputed: Pre-Fight Context
Leading up to these public statements in November 2022, both Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. had established themselves as dominant forces in the welterweight division. Crawford, known as “Bud,” had an unblemished record, having previously unified all four major titles at junior welterweight before moving up to 147 pounds and capturing the WBO title. His last fight before the Spence bout was a sixth-round knockout victory over David Avanesyan in December 2022, bringing his record to 39-0 with 30 KOs.
Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. was equally formidable, holding the IBF, WBC, and WBA welterweight titles. He had successfully defended his unified titles against Yordenis Ugas in April 2022, securing a tenth-round technical knockout. Spence entered the highly anticipated showdown with a perfect 28-0 record, including 22 knockouts. The boxing world eagerly awaited a clash between these two undefeated champions to determine the undisputed king of the welterweight division, a feat not achieved in the four-belt era.
The Fight Finally Happens: A Historic Clash
Despite the initial hurdles and public negotiations, the monumental undisputed welterweight championship fight between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. finally materialized. The highly anticipated bout took place on July 29, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. The event, billed by some as “The Fight of the Century,” saw Crawford deliver a career-defining performance, dominating Spence from early rounds.
Crawford showcased his elite skill, dropping Spence three times throughout the fight: once in the second round and twice more in the seventh round. The referee ultimately stepped in and stopped the fight at 2:32 of the ninth round, awarding Crawford a technical knockout victory. At the time of the stoppage, Crawford was significantly ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, leading 79-70. The victory elevated Terence Crawford’s professional record to 40-0 with 31 KOs, while handing Errol Spence Jr. his first professional loss, moving his record to 28-1. This historic win made Crawford the first undisputed welterweight champion in the four-belt era and the first male boxer to achieve undisputed status in two different weight classes during this era. The fight generated significant interest, reportedly selling around 700,000 pay-per-view buys and grossing over $59 million in revenue.
Aftermath and Divisional Implications
In the immediate aftermath of the fight, Errol Spence Jr. activated his contractual rematch clause, signaling his intent for a second encounter with Crawford. While a rematch was initially anticipated for December 2023, it appears to have stalled. In January 2024, Crawford posted on X, indicating a potential move away from the rematch, stating, “I done heard it all now @ErrolSpenceJr it’s ok tho because all in all I’m glad it’s over and done with. I wish you well ma brotha.”
Following the undisputed victory, Crawford was subsequently stripped of his IBF welterweight title on November 9, 2023, as the IBF ordered him to face interim champion Jaron Ennis, a fight that did not materialize due to the activated rematch clause with Spence. Crawford has since moved up in weight, further solidifying his legacy. In 2024, he defeated Israil Madrimov to become a four-division world champion. Most notably, in September 2025, Crawford achieved an unprecedented feat by defeating Canelo Álvarez via unanimous decision to capture the undisputed super middleweight championship, becoming the first male boxer in history to become a three-weight undisputed world champion.
Errol Spence Jr., after a significant layoff since his loss to Crawford, is set to make his return to the ring. He is scheduled to face Tim Tszyu on July 25, 2026, in Australia, in a junior middleweight (154-pound or 158-pound catchweight) contest. This fight marks a new chapter for Spence as he looks to rebound from his first professional defeat and potentially establish himself in a new weight class. The welterweight division, now without an undisputed champion, remains a hotbed of talent, with new contenders vying for the vacant titles and the opportunity to follow in Crawford’s historic footsteps.
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