Boxing Challenge: Bud leaves no doubt.

     After all the questions, the opinions, the barbs of who was ducking who, and who was going to be considered the best of the era, for years between Errol Spence and Terence Crawford in what was considered by almost everyone as a fight that could get either way, the anticipated fight wasn't as much a fight as it was a crowning achievement for a fighter that took many barbs and pokes of disrespect as Terence Crawford retained his WBO welterweight title and added the three championships (WBA, WBC, and IBF) when Crawford stopped Errol Spence in the ninth round with referee Harvey Dock saving Spence from excessive punishment.

Spence had taken plenty of punishment already with cuts around his left eye and both eyes suffering swelling, it was a fair stoppage considering Crawford's status as a finisher and Spence's offense declining by the round.

Spence may have won the first round, which was pretty close, and the third saw both men land their share punches in what was the most action-filled round of the fight but other than those, it was all Terence Crawford as he on all cards and only one judge gave him a single round (the third) other than round one.

Crawford knocked Spence down for the first time in his career in the second round with a one-two combination that was more of a flash knockdown than anything that seriously hurt Spence.

It was a different story as the fight moved on with Crawford beginning to take over in the fourth round as his punches began to sting Spence, who was starting to see the damage to his face build up.

In the seventh, Crawford dropped Spence with a short right and would do so again with another right just before the bell.

Crawford pounded Spence in the eighth before the end would come in round nine with a battered Spence in deep waters before Harvey Dock's final wave.

Give Errol Spence credit, he never quit trying but after his mild success in the third round, Spence wouldn't challenge Crawford again as he walked right into the Crawford jab and just about everything else that Bud threw.

I've seen a few comparisons of this fight.

Steve Kim said it was similar to Bernard Hopkins-Felix Trinidad. and I've seen comps by others to Floyd Mayweather-Diego Corrales and Marco Antonio Barrera-Prince Naseem Hamed but the fight that came to mind for me was this- Muhammad Ali-Ernie Terrell,

Yes, the "What's my name" fight when Ali hammered Terrell relentlessly throughout and wouldn't finish Terrell off so he could batter him for fifteen rounds after Terrell refused in the pre-fight buildup to call Ali by his Muslim name and called him "Cassius Clay".

I don't think Crawford was carrying the brave Spence and he wasn't talking to Spence throughout but every punch that sliced through Spence was intended for Al Haymon and his PBC promotion that had excluded Crawford from graphics as a champion, didn't want to give him the chance to fight Spence, and took shots at Crawford's opponents, while never giving him the chance to face their best, although they did allow Shawn Porter to try Crawford after Porter had been defeated by Spence.

Every jab, every combination was coming at Errol Spence but he was taking the ill intent for Al Haymon, the person most responsible for holding Terence Crawford back despite a spectacular career, and like Ali beating on Ernie Terrell for his arrogance, Crawford was beating on Spence for Al Haymon's sins.

And now perhaps we will see again what seems not to be necessary later in the year.

Spence has the option to have a rematch before the end of the year, however, Crawford can select the division where it would take place, and while Spence, who looked very drawn making 147 would love to see the rematch at 154, and Crawford said he would consider that as he wouldn't have to make that weight either.

I wouldn't do that if I were Crawford, not that I think Spence can turn it around in a rematch but why give him any sort of advantage after a defeat?

Unless- Crawford is getting something in return such as agreeing to fight at junior middleweight in return for a rematch taking place in his home state of Nebraska for example, I'd say it's 147 and make Spence decide if a rematch is worth melting down in weight again.

If Spence decides to forego a rematch, I'm not sure what Crawford has waiting for him.

Bud has been talking smack with unified junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo for years. Still, Charlo is fighting Canelo Alvarez next, and should he lose and decide to go back to junior middleweight, he'll have to fight Tim Tszyu next or drop his undisputed title tag.

Without the titles, I'm not sure Crawford-Charlo is a big draw, and even if everything comes together perfectly, does Al Haymon want to sacrifice another star at the altar of Bud Crawford?

Assuming Crawford stays at 147, the parade of mandatories would have to start soon.

IBF minor champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis is the most intriguing fight of these possibilities but Crawford would be taking a sizable risk for a relatively low financial reward.

WBA minor champion Eimantas Stanionis is a strong fighter and might win a round or two but isn't a match for Crawford.

The WBC has inexplicably rated former WBA and WBC champion Keith Thurman as their number one despite Thurman fighting once in the last four years and that was a decision win over Mario Barrios, who spent most of his career at junior welterweight.

Thurman isn't in Crawford's class but he'll talk a good game and maybe Crawford decides to settle another score if the terms are right.

The top contender for the WBO is Alexis Rocha, who fights for Golden Boy so it might be fairly easy to make but Rocha is overmatched against Crawford and GBP may decide a better road to travel would be waiting for Crawford to move up and then fight for a vacant title against the second rated contender which right now is Canada's Cody Crowley of PBC.

I'm not sure if Terence Crawford will ever have a stage similar to Saturday night's ever again but I'm very sure that Crawford's night and dominance will be remembered for a long time.

I haven't had the time to watch Issac Cruz's split decision win over Giovanni Cabrera or Alejandro Santiago's unanimous decision victory over Nonito Donaire for the WBC bantamweight title.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 128 Pts (4)

Ramon Malpica: 115 Pts (1)

Vince Samano: 89 Pts (0)