Errol Spence Jr. won’t face any big names at 147lbs until the end of 2018!

[Enlightened-One]

We’ve witnessed an awful lot of hype, excitement and accolades being lavished upon Errol Spence Jr. over the last couple of days, simply because he delivered the sports’ most recent noteworthy performance, with people even proclaiming that he’s already the pound-for-pound king, whilst also proposing the notion that he is capable of defeating prime versions of Hall-of-Famers like Mayweather Jr, Pacquiao and Mosley…

Anyway, I thought I’d try to become the voice of reason by reminding everyone that the talented Spence Jr. won’t be sharing the ring with another legitimate top-ten world-rated 147lb-er until the second half of the year at the very earliest!

Here’s a link to a separate thread where I provide a detailed the fighting schedule of the current ESPN and The RING top-ten welterweights: "The current state of the welterweight division"

It seems that all the big names are tied-up facing other opponents:

• Keith Thurman is engaging in a tune-up fight against Jessie Vargas, before performing a mandatory defence of his title against Shawn Porter.

• The winner of Thurman-Porter is then obliged to defend their WBC title against the winner of the final eliminator between Danny Garcia & Brandon Rios.

• The clash between Lucas Matthysse and Tewa Kiram will not only determine the WBA “regular” welterweight titleholder, but it also determines who will become the mandatory challenger to Thurman’s “super” championship.

• Jeff Horn is performing a mandatory defence of his WBO title against Terence Crawford, with ESPN & Top Rank seemingly intent on investing their money on their own guys, rather than paying the sort of fees commanded by those affiliated to Al Haymon (i.e. Spence Jr’s $3.5m payday against Lamont Peterson is far greater than anything ‘Bud’ has ever earned).

• Kell Brook has made the jump to 154lbs and will face Siarhei Rabchanka for his next outing and Manny Pacquiao is currently embroiled in his political career.

And as I’ve already stated before, I think that people will probably be disappointed to see Errol Spence Jr’s next outing against a mediocre opponent, such as the eventual winner of the Devon Alexander-Victor Ortiz bout (as all three combatants are with Al Haymon).

No one is “ducking” Errol Spence Jr. A good portion of the congestion for the mandatory defences of the WBA & WBC world titles is a direct consequence of Keith Thurman’s inactivity (due to him having undergone major elbow surgery, but also having suffered a neck injury from being involved in a car accident).

It is what it is and I’m sure we’ll eventually get to see Errol Spence Jr. face more top-ten world-rated welterweight opposition either towards the end of this year or definitely during 2019.

That being said, we will almost certainly not get the opportunity to see ‘The Truth’ face the likes of Keith Thurman or Terence Crawford during 2018, so there’s no point in discussing those match-up’s just yet, because both bouts are a long way off.

Thoughts?

[marvelous marv]

If you look at IBF rankings, non belt holders Pacquiao, Crawford, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia are not in the top 15 therefore they wouldn't be eligible to fight for Spence's title.

Best case scenario is Danny getting ranked after he fights Rios in early February and matching them together in summer.

[armageto]

Spence probably won't fight a big name all of 2018, with no fault of his own. Either between them being reluctant or tied up.

[jockpunk]

If you look at IBF rankings, non belt holders Pacquiao, Crawford, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia are not in the top 15 therefore they wouldn't be eligible to fight for Spence's title.

Best case scenario is Danny getting ranked after he fights Rios in early February and matching them together in summer.

If anyone of those guys asked the IBF to rank them I bet they would. Also, the WBC allows the delay of a mandatory if it is for a unification fight (based on how they have handled stevenson they can delay it for years). Who cares about the WBA belt? Point is, if Thurman really wanted to fight spence there is absolutely no reason it couldn't happen.

[Enlightened-One]

If you look at IBF rankings, non belt holders Pacquiao, Crawford, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia are not in the top 15 therefore they wouldn't be eligible to fight for Spence's title.

Best case scenario is Danny getting ranked after he fights Rios in early February and matching them together in summer.

... the WBC allows the delay of a mandatory if it is for a unification fight (based on how they have handled stevenson they can delay it for years).

I’m not sure if the WBC are entirely responsible for Adonis Stevenson’s inability to perform a mandatory defence of his title when the likes of Jean Pascal, Sergey Kovalev, Marcus Browne, Sullivan Barrera, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez have all rejected opportunities to challenge for their world championship?

[SenorPipino]

If you look at IBF rankings, non belt holders Pacquiao, Crawford, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia are not in the top 15 therefore they wouldn't be eligible to fight for Spence's title.

Best case scenario is Danny getting ranked after he fights Rios in early February and matching them together in summer.

Well if Spence get tired of whipping on mediocrities and craves the big money that accompanies fighting big names, then he can always throw his IBF belt into the garbage can.

Then he doesn't need to worry about who's ranked and who isn't. Spence can fight any top dog welter he chooses, as long as rival promoters can agree.

So he renounces a world title. Does that really matter all that much any more? In this era of countless, diluted "world" championships, the fighters make the title, not the other way around.

As Pernell Whitaker observed as long ago as the 90s, it's not about championships anymore. It's about who's the best pound for pound.

[gilgamesh]

Spence probably won't fight a big name all of 2018, with no fault of his own. Either between them being reluctant or tied up.

That was my thoughts exactly.

I wouldn't completely excuse him though as saying "Through no fault of his own" though. He did sign with Haymon after all so it's kinda his fault when he only fights once a year.

[gilgamesh]

If you look at IBF rankings, non belt holders Pacquiao, Crawford, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia are not in the top 15 therefore they wouldn't be eligible to fight for Spence's title.

Best case scenario is Danny getting ranked after he fights Rios in early February and matching them together in summer.

Well if Spence get tired of whipping on mediocrities and craves the big money that accompanies fighting big names, then he can always throw his IBF belt into the garbage can.

Then he doesn't need to worry about who's ranked and who isn't. Spence can fight any top dog welter he chooses, as long as rival promoters can agree.

So he renounces a world title. Does that really matter all that much any more? In this era of countless, diluted "world" championships, the fighters make the title, not the other way around.

As Pernell Whitaker observed as long ago as the 90s, it's not about championships anymore. It's about who's the best pound for pound.

That, and it's about who's the cash cow or money man. Usually the big cash cow star in the sport is on the P4P list too, but not always #1 like DLH or Canelo for instance.

It's a shame that they've watered down the term "World Champion" so much these days and made it all but meaningless to people.

There are like 80 World Champions in the sport these days and I'll bet you the average person couldn't name you 5 of them, but back in the day when there were only 8 World Champions I'll bet you people could've named 5 or 6 of them then too....because it mattered more then.

Isn't it kinda ironic? More equals less.

[Stuarty]

Spence probably won't fight a big name all of 2018, with no fault of his own. Either between them being reluctant or tied up.

Exactly. The guy wants the big fights

[IKSRTFO]

Spence probably won't fight a big name all of 2018, with no fault of his own. Either between them being reluctant or tied up.

Exactly. The guy wants the big fights

He could always do what guys in that position did in the past and take a fight at 154. He doesn't have to defend his ONE title but ONCE a year. He could move up and fight a Lara or Hurd then move back down. Mayweather and Whitaker have done similar things.

[Ezzard]

147 is moribund. A zombie division. Plenty of talent but all the wrong matchups getting made.

[Stuarty]

Spence probably won't fight a big name all of 2018, with no fault of his own. Either between them being reluctant or tied up.

Exactly. The guy wants the big fights

He could always do what guys in that position did in the past and take a fight at 154. He doesn't have to defend his ONE title but ONCE a year. He could move up and fight a Lara or Hurd then move back down. Mayweather and Whitaker have done similar things.

True mate. Mayweather usually insisted on a catch weight though and carefully selected his opponents. Spence has said he fancies moving up so perhaps this could be an option?

[armageto]

Spence probably won't fight a big name all of 2018, with no fault of his own. Either between them being reluctant or tied up.

That was my thoughts exactly.

I wouldn't completely excuse him though as saying "Through no fault of his own" though. He did sign with Haymon after all so it's kinda his fault when he only fights once a year.

True to a point, though I don't think Al's selling point to get him to sign was you'll fight once a year. I'm sure he promised him activity and big fights.

[SenorPipino]

Exactly. The guy wants the big fights

He could always do what guys in that position did in the past and take a fight at 154. He doesn't have to defend his ONE title but ONCE a year. He could move up and fight a Lara or Hurd then move back down. Mayweather and Whitaker have done similar things.

True mate. Mayweather usually insisted on a catch weight though and carefully selected his opponents. Spence has said he fancies moving up so perhaps this could be an option?

If moving up in weight and fighting HOF boxers de la Hoya, Canelo and Miguel Cotto is "carefully selecting opponents" then I wish all fighters were as cautious as Floyd Mayweather.

[Stuarty]

He could always do what guys in that position did in the past and take a fight at 154. He doesn't have to defend his ONE title but ONCE a year. He could move up and fight a Lara or Hurd then move back down. Mayweather and Whitaker have done similar things.

True mate. Mayweather usually insisted on a catch weight though and carefully selected his opponents. Spence has said he fancies moving up so perhaps this could be an option?

If moving up in weight and fighting HOF boxers de la Hoya, Canelo and Miguel Cotto is "carefully selecting opponents" then I wish all fighters were as cautious as Floyd Mayweather.

I'm not shítting on Mayweathers record but he did carefully select his opponents and fought them on his own terms so wind your neck in ya cock rash.

[SenorPipino]

"Wind your neck in ya cock rash. "

I have no idea what that means but I love it.

Is that a common proper British expression or should you be solely credited for it?

I'm going to try it out at work and see how it goes over.

Do you need to say it with a cockney accent for it to have maximum impact?