Errol Spence Jr made his return to boxing 15 months after his superb fight of the year contender, points victory over Shawn Porter and 14 months after his near fatal car crash in Dallas, where he was thrown from his Ferrari 488 Spider, but miraculously only suffered cuts and bruises.
Naturally, after such a harrowing experience, the speculation and questions were almost instant in regard to Spence Jr’s career. Will he box again? What damage has he suffered?
If he comes back, will he be the same? Has he lost a step? What will his punch resistance be like? Will he have to take a tune up fight before fighter a tougher opponent?
Spence Jr admitted himself after his epic win over Porter he partied a little too hard and continued 12 days later, on the night of the car accident.
It was only a miracle he did not end his boxing career after being thrown from the vehicle, when he was foolishly drink driving and not wearing a seatbelt, which left him in intensive care for a time.
But it seems when you are destined for greatness, you are just destined for greatness.
Although he was already the unified WBC and IBF welterweight title holder, there is still so much he can do and achieve in the sport.
The man that was born in Long Island, New York but spent most of his time in the place he now calls home Dallas, Texas. Admitted that he was getting slightly carried away with himself and enjoyed the spoils and bit too much to the point where he became reckless with not only his boxing career, but his life.
We have seen this story play out in professional sport umpteenth times. Talented and gifted superstar, with the world as his feet, doing great things in his sport of choice.
Loving life a little bit too much, enjoying the spoils of his achievements a little bit too much, losses focus slightly, takes his eye off the ball for a moment and things all come crashing down.
Only, in the realm of things coming crashing down, Spence Jr just had a few broken shelfs with a few dropped books. To escape a near fatal crash with a swollen face, cuts and bruises to be stepping back in the ring just a year later, is nothing less than a bonafide miracle.
I am sure Spence Jr realises how lucky he is for this type of divine intervention.
It could have gone so many ways, inside and outside the ring. If you could have ranked the 50 worst scenarios of how bad things could have gone for him in this situation, then what actually happened would have ranked way down the list between 45 and 50.
Now he has a new found focus, a second chance if you will. He had a unique opportunity to look at his downfall up close, in slow motion, and swerve past it.
That can only bode badly for the rest of the welterweights out there. I guarantee you Spence Jr has been reminded of his mortality and is now on a mission to secure his legacy in the sport.
Taking a fight against Danny Garcia, who was definitely now slouch with a record of 36-2 and 21 knockouts, for me was a statement. I’m sure he had his own questions stepping back into the ring. Not only about his speed, timing and punch resistance, but if he would suffer from any ring rust?
Although Spence Jr won the fight comfortably, I would definitely say he suffered slightly from some ring rust or residual effects of the crash possibly.
However, for me, just taking a fight like that in his comeback and making it look comfortable is ominous.
Yes, there were times there Spence Jr left himself open to be hit, but there were also times he was beating Garcia to the punch and more often than not, had the better of the exchanges.
Spence Jr was still as technical as ever, some may say he put on a clinic against such a credible opponent, who had only lost by split decision to Keith Thurman in March 2017 and unanimous decision to Shawn Porter in September 2018.
Having held multiple titles in two weight classes, Garcia is still one of the best in the division. But a rusty Spence Jr was just too good for him and from the opening bell he established his dominance.
Although Garcia had some success in the fight, it was never enough to overly trouble Spence Jr and was nowhere as close as the classic he had with Porter.
What is ominous for the rest of the division is with a new lease of life and new focus, Spence Jr will only get better from here. If he was to lose, this would have been the fight and it wasn’t even close.
When we are talking legacies, naturally, the only fight that needs to happen is the Crawford fight. This is the fight we have been talking about happening for the past two years.
Although he shook off the cobwebs against Garcia, and at 30, I am sure Spence Jr doesn’t want to waste any valuable time.
I doubt he will jump straight into that mega fight, and may just want one more to get him absolutely ready. And if we are talking legacy, I am convinced he wants a Manny Pacquaio win on his record. I also wouldn’t doubt that Crawford wants a Pacquiao win on his record too.
Even at 41 Pacquiao is still a force, but this could be a perfect fight for Spence Jr to sharpen his skills in preparation for the Crawford fight.
After the Garcia victory, I have read many individuals on social media saying Spence Jr will not get past Pacquiao, with the Filipino’s quick hands and fast combinations.
Personally, I am not so sure about that, Spence Jr, even after the car crash is a younger, fresher fighter, with supreme technical abilities, power movement and body shots to slow down any fighter.
It will not be easy but I truly believe it would be the perfect test for Spence Jr to get things just right to tackle the epic and monstrous task of facing Crawford.
I truly believe a refocused and reenergised Spence Jr, is at the very top of the sport, along with Crawford of course and a fight between the two will absolutely be for the ages.
Everything certainly happens for a reason, the potential disasters loss, is the boxing worlds gain.
As stated previously, when you are destined you are just destined and divine intervention intervened to spare Errol Spence Jr’s career, so the boxing world can witness greatness in all its glory, and I for one thank God for that miracle.
