Crawford obliterates Spence to become undisputed champ, targets Tim Tszyu’s division

The “biggest fight of the year” lived up to the hype on Sunday as boxing fans watched on in disbelief as one champ went nuclear.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 29: Terrence Crawford punches Errol Spence Jr. during the World Welterweight Championship bout at T-Mobile Arena on July 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Terence Crawford is a two-division undisputed champion after putting on a boxing masterclass on Sunday.

Crawford wiped the floor with the previously unbeaten Errol Spence with the win now crowning him the undisputed welterweight champion.

Unified WBC, WBA and IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth’’ Spence Jr. will take on WBO 147-pound world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight World Championship. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >

Through 28 professional fights Spence had never once hit the canvas. That all changed at the hands of Crawford in Las Vegas.

Crawford displayed an absolute masterclass fight as he picked his rival apart in ruthless fashion.

Spence hit the canvas three times before the fight was ultimately brought to an end in the 9th round as the referee stepped in to bring the beatdown to an end.

The fight was as one-sided as any title fight fans have witnessed as Spence looked helpless against the speed and precision on display from Crawford.

Watch Crawford’s demolition job in the video player above

Crawford sent his rival to the canvas for the first time in round two behind a right hand jab, he then doubled up in round seven as he sent him to the mat twice as he picked him apart with brutal counter right hands.

He caught him with a hard right hand in the ninth round that wobbled Spence and charged in to begin pouring it on before the referee stepped in and waved it off.

Crawford beat the hell out of Spence. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rematch coming to Tim Tszyu’s division

Spence confirmed after the fight he would be activating his rematch clause to take on Crawford again.

He also indicated he wants the rematch to be at the heavier super welterweight division — the weight class Aussie Tim Tszyu fights in.

Spence said: “147lbs was kinda hard for me too. I was already talking about moving up and challenging Jermell Charlo, so 154lbs wouldn’t be out of reach.”

It would bring some serious star power to the super welterweights after the division was thrown into chaos by Charlo moving up in weight to fight Canelo Alvarez.

Boxing reacts to Crawford clinic

Fans couldn’t believe the show they were witnessing as Crawford made it an absurd one-sided drubbing.

Boxing champ Devin Haney wrote: “Bud beating the sh*t out Errol.”

Boxing journalist Dan Rafael wrote: “CRAWFORD TKO9 SPENCE!!! Utter destruction. Referee Harvey Dock with a great stoppage. Spence’s legs were gone and he was getting pummeled. Crawford is the undisputed welterweight champion!”

Fight journalist Ariel Helwani wrote: “This is a masterclass from Crawford. Dropped Spence twice in the 7th. He is fighting beautifully. Might not be much left.”

CODE Sports’ Brendan Bradford wrote: “Really thought that was going to be closer. Crawford is levels above anyone. One of the best performances ever.”

NBA journalist Kyle Neubeck wrote: “That level of performance by Crawford in those specific circumstances is probably the best/most dominant boxing performance in my lifetime, that was completely insane.”

2pm - Blood streaming down Spence’s face

Terence Crawford has begun to do what nobody ever has — and that is make Errol Spence look outclassed.

Crawford took control of the fight in the third round and opened up a bad cut above Spence’s right eye.

It turned into a simple beating in the fourth round when Crawford began to land two-punch combinations.

The referee had to examine Spence at the start of the fifth round - but allowed the fight to continue.

Spence’s face began to look a mess in the seventh round with another ugly cut opening up on his left cheek.

Spence was dropped twice in the round and was lucky to survive to the bell.

Spence had never been dropped in his career before this fight, but Crawford has put him down three times in seven rounds.

1.45pm - Spence dropped in second round

Terence Crawford put Errol Spence on his backside in the final seconds to end Round 2.

Crawford caught Spence overcomitting to a punch and followed it up with two jabs straight down the middle.

Spence appeared to be on wobbly legs, but was cleared to continue and only had to endure another few seconds before the end of the round.

Terrence Crawford punches Errol Spence Jr. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

1pm - Manny Pacquiao visits dressing room

Boxing immortal Manny Pacquiao visited the dressing room of Errol Spence just hours before the American made his way to the ring.

Pacquiao posted on Twitter he made the journey to Las Vegas specifically for the fight.

The legendary fighter was supposed to fight Errol Spence in August 2021 before Spence suffered a detached retina.

Terence Crawford visited backstage by Manny Pacquiao ahead of the Errol Spence fight tonight… pic.twitter.com/e7I1z7VcSx

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 30, 2023

1pm - Santiago shines on undercard

Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago earned a unanimous 12-round decision over former four-division champion Nonito Donaire to claim the vacant World Boxing Council bantamweight world title.

Santiago, 27, claimed the first world title of his career as he denied the 40-year-old “Filipino Flash,” who was aiming to rebound from a brutal second-round knockout loss to Japan’s Naoya Inoue 13 months ago.

Donaire, who has held world titles at flyweight, bantamweight, super-bantamweight and featherweight, kept it close in the early going and rocked Santiago with a left hook in the third round.

But he couldn’t match Santiago’s pace as the fight progressed, the Mexican landing a barrage of convincing blows in the ninth round and quickly halting Donaire’s momentum in the when the Philippines fighter came out looking to land a big blow.

One judge scored the bout 115-113 and the other two saw it 116-112 for Santiago, who improved to 28-3 with five drawn and 14 knockouts.

“It’s been an honor to fight such a legend like Nonito Donaire,” said Santiago, who was brought to tears in the ring as Donaire offered a congratulatory hug in the ring.

Donaire fell to 42-8 with 28 knockouts and said he thought he had more go do in the ring.

“Disappointed,” he admitted, but added: “I feel good still. I love the sport so much.” He said he and his wife, Rachel, who trains and manages him, will have a conversation to “see where we go from there.

“But I know I felt good,” he said. “There were just some things that didn’t trigger.” Was that because he’s 40 years old, Donaire was asked.

“I say ‘Hell no’ to that,” he said.

The fight at T-Mobile Arena was on the undercard of the highly anticipated welterweight world title unification bout between unbeaten Americans Errol Spence and Terence Crawford.

— with AFP