As boxing slowly returns, the excitement has been relatively mum as no top billed headliners have been announced yet.
That all changed with two tweets as both Errol Spence, Jr. and Danny Garcia confirmed that they are contracted to meet in November.
Done deal the King of the division BACK‼️ Nov.21st on Fox PPV vs @DannySwift 🤝…#Mandown #strapseason
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) July 31, 2020
According to reports, the two will face one another on a FOX PPV fight on November 21st. However, the date could change depending on the spread of COVID.
In addition, government guidelines pertaining to fans at live sporting events will also be a factor. In the new COVID-19 era of sports entertainment, promoters must face the realities of leaving a significant portion of revenue on the table if fan attendance is sacrificed.
Spence aka “The Truth” (26-0, 21 KOs) is the WBC and IBF welterweight champion and is now one of boxing’s top draws. He proved this with his defeat of Mikey Garcia in March 2019 in front of 47,525 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
HERE WE GO! @ErrolSpenceJr Spence on Nov. 21. Signed! Sealed! Delivered! My 10th world title fight its time to crown the king again 🤴🏻
— Danny 'Swift' Garcia (@DannySwift) July 31, 2020
He then followed that up last year selling out to 16,000-plus fans in a victory over Shawn Porter at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, home of the Lakers.
Danny “Swift” Garcia is a former two-division world champion that has held multiple titles. He is no cupcake return for Spence and is also a draw that can demand the ticket sales to rival past Spence bouts.
As expected Errol Spence Jr v Danny Garcia is on!!!
I like this fight a lot and I expect it to be a very competitive 12 round fight.
I’m sure many will be playing on Spence’s recovery from his accident but Danny is no easy fight regardless.
How do you see this one? pic.twitter.com/M2wVdkV4Ag
— Steve Boxman (@SteveBoxman) July 31, 2020
Spence is returning from a horrific car accident back in October 2019. He was driving his Ferrari 488 Spider and, according to Dallas Police, was “traveling at a high rate of speed” and then “veered left over the center median onto the southbound lanes and flipped multiple times, ejecting the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt.
He was released from hospital 6 days later and was charged with a DWI, a class-B misdemeanor by the Dallas Police Department. However, no damage to his seemingly squeaky athletic brand has been noticeable but fans are eager to see how he looks after the accident.
Still many hoped for a clash with WBO welterweight champion, Terence “Bud” Crawford. Many believe the two are on a collision course with destiny rivaling great match-ups of yesteryear like “Sugar” Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran.
Errol Spence Jr. will make his first title defense since his 2019 car crash.
(via @StevESPNKim) pic.twitter.com/BSijd4qlPR
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 29, 2020
However, recently, Top Rank chairman and Crawford promoter, Bob Arum is steering towards a bout for his Nebraska star with former Top Rank fighter, Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is currently the WBA (Super) welterweight champion and although he is 41 years old, he looked stellar against Keith “One Time” Thurman back in July 2019. Thurman lost handily to Pac-Man in that showdown.
Bob Arum has revealed that he is trying to make Manny Pacquiao vs Terence Crawford for November 14th or 21st. He said he's had discussions with potential investors who may pay a significant site fee to stage the fight in their country, but nothing is concrete yet. [@BoxingScene] pic.twitter.com/X49R0e0gUm
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 29, 2020
“The Pacquiao fight, obviously, we’d like to do it,” Arum told Boxing Scene. “Whether we can do it, how we can do it, that’s what we’re figuring out now. Obviously, if it can happen, it will happen, and if it can’t happen, it won’t happen. But nothing is concrete on that. We hope we can do it. We’re trying, but this is not a usual situation.”
Another name that has been floating for Crawford is the tough-as-nails Kell Brook from the U.K. who also has a sizable fan base.
Ironically, Arum has said that Crawford has been informed to prepare for a November 14th or 21st match-up regardless. This would pit his fight either in competition with or ahead of the planned Spence-Garcia bout keeping the welterweights at the top of everyone’s tongue in the fourth quarter.
