Promoter Eddie HearnMatchroom Boxing) does not believe that the holders of all welterweight belts, Americans Errol Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) and Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) will meet in a full-time fight and determine the absolute.
According to Hearn, even if this fight does take place, it will only be a division higher. So he
reacted to the news that Spence will hold his next fight in the light middleweight division: “I think Errol has already stayed too long at 66.7 kg. It is very difficult for him to do this weight. He has a solid mileage behind him, several accidents, retinal surgery and all that. I think it’s even harder for him to make that limit now.”
Hearn is sure we won’t see Spence again at welterweight: “I don’t know him personally. But I remember how back in 2017 in Sheffield, on the eve of his fight with Kell Brook, I was surprised that he fit into 66.7 kg. I respect Spence and his professionalism. But I am sure that he will not return to welterweight. I am sure that his future is in 69.9 kg.”
Spence will make his debut fight in the light middleweight division against compatriot and ex-world champion Keith Thurman. Rumor has it that the fight will take place in April and will be non-title, despite the fact that Thurman is Spence’s mandatory WBC challenger.
WBA World Champion Eimantas Stanionis from Lithuania believes that “this is not fair.” Spence’s other mandatory contender, compatriot Jaron Ennis, speculated about whether Errol would return to welterweight to fight Crawford.