As fight fans know, today’s welterweight division is chock full of talent; with excellent fighters Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and others lighting up the weight class in a manner the great Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns would have been proud of (this year‘s epic Thurman-Porter war being something very special indeed). But when it comes to who the very best 147-pound fighter in the world is, it could well be the man who put on a spectacular performance yesterday: Errol Spence Jr.
In destroying a very game and usually durable (never before stopped as a pro) Leonard Bundu, the ludicrously gifted southpaw smashed down the door on the way to a title shot. It’s not clear if Spence, 21-0(18) will face reigning IBF welterweight king Kell Brook next (for whom he is the mandatory challenger) what with Brook packing on the muscle so as to challenge middleweight boss Gennady Golovkin, but whoever Spence fights for the belt, it doesn’t look like anyone will be able to stop him from owning it.
Spence says that his next fight will contest “something that goes around my waist.” The unbeaten 26-year-old has clearly earned his shot – his impressive stoppage wins over Bundu, Chris Algieri and Chris van Heerden, all of whom had never previously been stopped, showcasing his skills and his worth. And right now, as good (or great) as the Thurmans, the Porters, the Brooks and the Garcias are, it would take a brave fan to bet on either man derailing the Spence Express.
Spence seems to have it all (he even took a few good shots to the head from a determined and aggressive Bundu, being totally unruffled as he did so) and he has that look the great ones have as they ascend to the very top. A special fighter? No doubt. The best welterweight in the world after 21 pro fights fought over just under five years? Maybe.
Spence aims to prove he is the top dog and as long as the classy southpaw gets the defining fights, there seems to be nothing, or nobody, to stop him. The welterweight division can look forward to some great, great match-ups and fights – providing the reigning champions do not swerve Spence. But could you really blame them if they did avoid this sharp shooting boxing sensation?
(Photo credit: Ryan Greene/Premier Boxing Champions)
