LAS VEGAS – Terence Crawford proved Saturday night what he has assured an army of doubters for five-plus years, that he is indisputably the best welterweight in boxing.
Crawford dominated Errol Spence Jr., dropped him three times and knocked out the previously undefeated former champion in the ninth round of a Showtime Pay-Per-View main event at T-Mobile Arena. Referee Harvey Dock stopped their scheduled 12-round, 147-pound title unification fight at 2:32 of the ninth round, as Crawford hammered a bloodied, battered Spence with an array of power punches that knocked Spence all around the ring.
Spence was on his feet when the fight was stopped, but Crawford dropped him in the second round and twice during the seventh round. No other opponent had dropped Spence in any of his first 28 professional fights.
It was a legendary, masterful performance by Crawford, who completely controlled the action and proved pretty early that he is stronger and better than the courageous Spence in every way.
Crawford, 35, became boxing’s first fully unified welterweight champion of the four-belt era. The three-division champion from Omaha, Nebraska native retained his WBO 147-pound championship and won the IBF, WBA and WBC belts from Spence (28-1, 22 KOs).
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) also earned the distinction as the sport’s first male undisputed champion in two divisions since the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts were all recognized. He was the undisputed 140-pound champion prior to moving up to welterweight five years ago.
Spence has 30 days to exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch, but Crawford can dictate the weight limit for their second bout. Spence told BoxingScene.com on Wednesday that he wanted this to be his last fight at the welterweight limit.
It is also unclear if Spence will want a rematch – at whichever weight – after Crawford defeated him so easily.
Crawford seemingly took the eighth round off before he resumed his vicious assault on Spence as soon as the ninth round began. He finished off his decimated rival soon thereafter.
As a sign of respect, Crawford went out of his way to touch gloves with Spence after he dropped him twice during the seventh round.
A short right hook by Crawford knocked Spence clear off his feet with one second to go in the seventh round. That marked the second time Spence went down during the seventh round and the third knockdown of the fight for Crawford.
A counter right hook by Crawford sent Spence to the canvas for the second time in the fight with just under two minutes to go in the seventh round. Spence again got up quickly, but looked confounded by what Crawford was able to do to him.
Crawford stung Spence with a right-left-left combination a little less than 20 seconds into the seventh round.
Spence held Crawford after absorbing another left hand late in the sixth round. Crawford countered Spence with another clean left with 1:15 to go in the sixth round.
Crawford caught Spence with a right hook to his body with slightly more than a minute remaining in the fifth round. Crawford continued to land hard jabs as Spence came forward with just over 1:40 to go in the fifth round.
A ringside physician examined Spence as Spence stood in his corner before he would allow the fifth round to begin.
Crawford staggered Spence with a stiff jab that connected with just under 40 seconds remaining in the fourth round. Crawford drilled Spence with an overhand left that moved him backward with just over 1:45 to go in the fourth round.
By then, Spence bled from his nose.
Crawford previously landed two left hands with a little more than a minute remaining in the fourth round.
Crawford landed a hard jab with just under 35 seconds to go in the third round. Crawford connected with another jab that backed up Spence about 15 seconds later.
Spence, seemingly motivated by the knockdown he suffered late in the second round, attacked Crawford as soon as the third round began. Crawford fended him off, though, and the action returned to the center of the ring.
Crawford caught Spence with a counter right that sent Spence to the seat of his trunks with 20 seconds to go in the second round. A stunned Spence beat Dock’s count very quickly, but he appeared hurt until the bell sounded to end the round.
Crawford partially blocked Spence’s left hand about 15 seconds into the second round.
The first round was predictably uneventful until Crawford connected with a straight left hand, just after Spence missed with a left, when there were 30 seconds remaining in it.
Spence backed Crawford into the ropes just before the midway mark of the opening round, but Crawford tied him up. Crawford unsurprisingly started their fight in a southpaw stance.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.