Although it’s been three years already, Errol Spence Jr. is still learning life lessons from his 2019 car crash. According to reports from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the current unified welterweight champion recently pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated (DWI).
“The Truth” was sentenced to three days in jail and ordered to pay $3,400 in court costs. However, a DA spokesperson stated that he was reportedly given credit for the three days as time served.
The 32-year-old champion and Dallas native nearly lost his life after bar-hopping with several friends and driving under the influence. The surveillance footage of the white Ferrari flipping over was jarring, and many believed Spence wouldn’t fight again.
‼️ Errol Spence has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in his 2019 car crash. He has received a three-day jail sentence, but been given credit for three days time served. Spence said in a statement: "Don't drink and drive. Not one drink. It's not worth it."
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) June 13, 2022
The Recovery
However, he survived with relatively little injury and has defended his title twice successfully since then.
“As I recovered, I thought of how much I could have lost and how blessed I was to have a second chance at life, but I also know with this platform I can spread a very powerful message,” Spence said in a statement.
“Don’t drink and drive. Not one drink. It’s not worth it,” he said.
Spence explained on “The Pivot” podcast back in April that the accident served as a wake-up call that helped him get his career back on track.
ERROL SPENCE JR Pleads Guilty to DWI in 2019 Ferrari Crash
Spence’s message to everyone after surviving the crash “Don’t drink and drive” pic.twitter.com/HXL2qhnClD
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) June 13, 2022
The Pivot
“Everybody gets led astray a little bit. It got to the point where I was kind of wandering. When you get to a certain age, and you’re making money, and you’re the man, you think you know everything …
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that you have to be disciplined, even when you’re not in training camp. I wasn’t in that type of shape. I was getting up to 180, 185, and I was fighting at 147 pounds.”
Spence also lived in downtown Dallas with access to a young superstar’s trappings. After the accident, he bought a ranch in the country and moved to become a horse owner, among other farming duties, to stay occupied between fight dates.
Wake Up Call
“It was a wake-up call, and most importantly, it gave me perspective,” said Spence. “I had to really sit down. I realized that all that outside stuff is just a distraction. What’s important are the people close to you. Because when it’s over, that’s all you’ve got. I realized that I was playing on borrowed time.
“If the concrete couldn’t break anything in my body, then how could a man hurt me?” continued Spence, explaining how he decided to return to fighting after the accident. “That’s why I came straight out of the gate and fought a strong ex-champion in Danny Garcia.”
Looks like @ErrolSpenceJr is $20K richer after this bet with Ryan Garcia 🤑
Watch #DavisRomero 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 for exclusive footage from fight night: https://t.co/SwIiqQbjnN pic.twitter.com/Sd63DsGPOc
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 7, 2022
Both Spence and Garcia sat next to each other at the Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Rolando “Rolly” Romero fight at the Barclays Center. Garcia videotaped a bet between rising lightweight star Ryan Garcia who bet $20,000 against Spence in favor of the underdog Romero. Spence won and tweeted that Garcia paid him the bounty.
Errol Spence vs Terrence Crawford will be the biggest fight of the year.. Let me remind y'all again have ya MONEY ready.. #Boxing pic.twitter.com/BdQoCoJe6z
— Ray Jackson (@RayJack97010720) June 7, 2022
Spence is the IBF, WBA, and WBC welterweight champion with a 28-0 career record with 22 knockouts. He is angling for an undisputed welterweight fight against WBO champion Terence “Bud” Crawford.
