BOXING
Terrence Crawford, Errol Spence agree terms for July 29
The welterweight bout that everyone wants to see looks like it is on for July 29, as Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr come to terms.
Errol Spence Jr has the WBA, IBF, and WBC world welterweight titles. Terrence Crawford has the WBO title. In the long-discussed unification bout that is one of the tastiest in years, these two champions will meet on July 29 in Las Vegas.
Spence is with Al Haymon and reports are that an agreement has been reached with Crawford’s representative Ish Hinson, although neither fighter has signed the contract yet.
Mike Coppinger from ESPN reported that terms have been agreed for the mega-fight nine weeks from Saturday night. Coppinger goes on to report that whoever loses can activate a rematch clause within 30 days of their fight, and which would have to happen before the end of 2023.
Both fighters are expected to earn an eight-figure salary for their work. Barring a no-contest, this would be the first time that the welterweight division was unified in the four-belt era.
Last defenses
Spence Jr. took the WBA belt with his tenth-round TKO of Cuban Yordenis Ugas on April 16, 2022. Since then, the Texas native had planned a fight with Keith Thurman but this now throws that bout into the long grass.
Crawford’s last defense was in his hometown of Omaha back in December when he scored a sixth-round knockout over Russian David Avanesyan.