Errol Spence has not fought since his loss to Terence Crawford, but was in line to face a legend just three years ago.
Errol Spence suffered his first defeat to Terence Crawford in what was branded a 50/50 fight leading up to it. Crawford proved to be on another level, dismantling Spence with three knockdowns and a TKO victory.
He has not fought since, though one fight prior to his loss to ‘Bud’, Spence faced the man who took his opportunity against Manny Pacquiao when he couldn’t.
Errol Spence was forced to withdraw from fight with Manny Pacquiao due to serious injury
Spence was set to face Pacquiao, who had last beaten Keith Thurman two years earlier, in August 2021. Pacquiao named his dog Thurman after the win.
Unfortunately, after suffering a detached retina ahead of the fight, Spence was forced to withdraw from the bout and was replaced by Yordenis Ugas who was 27-4 at the time.
It seemed Pacquiao’s age finally caught up to him, as Ugas was able to beat him by a close but clear unanimous decision.
Frustrated at his missed opportunity to share the ring with Pacquiao, who dropped Juan Manuel Marquez, Spence was forced to do the next best thing once his eye was healed.
He faced Ugas in 2022, and handed him his only stoppage loss in the tenth round after outboxing him beforehand.
Manny Pacquiao wished Errol Spence well after his withdrawal
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Pacquiao, who punished Antonio Margarito after he made fun of Freddie Roach’s Parkinson’s, was asked about Spence’s withdrawal, to which he said:
“I pray for his fast recovery of Errol Spence. Health is a priority, the most important thing.”
He explained that he was glad his hard work in training was not going to waste as Ugas stepped in, and suggested he believed he had what it takes to beat the Cuban.
Pacquiao has since fought in some exhibitions, though has never graced the professional ring since his loss to Ugas. Spence was in talks with Sebastian Fundora, but also hasn’t fought since his loss.