The last time we saw Errol Spence Jr. in a boxing ring was September 28, 2019, in Los Angeles where he beat Shawn Porter to unify the IBF and WBC welterweight titles in a “Fight of The Year” contender.
Only 12 days after the biggest win in his world class boxing career, Spence had a horrific accident where he flipped his brand new Ferrari five times in downtown Dallas while driving drunk.
READ MORE: Boxing Champion Errol Spence Jr. Seriously Injured In Car Accident
Spence’s crash, which would have killed most people, was so bad it went viral instantly on social media and left many around the world wondering: Would he ever be able to live a normal life or fight at a championship level?
After being released from the hospital six days later and charged with a DWI, a class-B misdemeanor by the Dallas Police Department, Spence was later convicted of the DWI charge but avoided jail time and instead received probation.
Since the accident, Spence has kept a very low key profile nationally and even locally, focused on straightening things out personally and making a comeback in the ring.
“My perspective since the accident has changed some as I appreciate and spend way more time with my loved ones and those who appreciate and care about me,” Spence told The Shadow League.
“Boxing-wise, nothing has changed other than the fact I’m way more disciplined than I’ve been in the last couple of fights.”
After moving to the north Dallas suburbs, one is more likely to find Spence playing with kids, riding horses and enjoying the country life than out and about in the public eye or enjoying the pandemic-mired Dallas nightlife. With his personal affairs back on track, many people around the world now want to know if the talented pugilist can return to the ring with the same dominance that marked his career before that fateful accident.
Many questions will be answered this Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX when Spence takes on former WBC Welterweight champion Danny Garcia in what is being billed as a legacy fight for the two fighters who have been destined to meet in the ring since their amateur days.
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, and his destruction of Shawn Porter later that year.
Danny Garcia Seeks A Signature Win
For Garcia, a win would be the defining moment in a Hall of Fame career that has seen the Philadelphia fighter reach championship highs and split decision lows. He’s never been knocked out or TKO’d.
Garcia also doesn’t want to believe that his career has peaked as he looks to reclaim world champion status. Formerly a two-weight world champion, Garcia lost his title to Keith Thurman.
Is Errol Spence Jr. The Same Fighter?
Spence hasn’t been a friend to the cameras of late. A low key training camp — much more private and guarded than recent ones — has instigated questions throughout the industry surrounding Spence’s ability to return to pre-accident form.
Despite a flood of doubters coming out the woodwork, Spence understands why people are untrusting of his ability at this time, despite him being in the middle of a Hall of Fame career.
“If someone got in the same type of accident I did, I’d probably be saying the same things until I actually saw them in the ring working and sparring and stuff like that so I don’t care for it, but do understand where people are coming from,” Spence said. “It’s definitely understandable why people are questioning my boxing ability post-accident, and it’s my job to answer them by getting a victory over Danny Garcia on Dec. 5th.”
Change For The Better
Thanks to being more active in the community and being determined to use his platform to inspire others, the pugilist specialist from the DFW Metroplex knows a win against Garcia will put an exclamation point on his comeback personally and professionally.
“With everything going on this year, I feel getting a victory in front of my family, friends and fans in Dallas will be a huge moment not only for me but for the entire city as it will show others what we are made out of here in Texas,” Spence said. “I’ve focused more on inspiring others young and old and what better way to do that than to complete my comeback by getting my hand raised over a former champion like Danny Garcia in my hometown.”
If Spence Jr. can defeat the battle-tested Garcia, his total attention will turn to setting up the fight that the entire boxing world wants to see against Terence “Bud” Crawford. It’s a fight that boxing desperately needs, so to a certain extent, in addition to Spence Jr’s accident recovery, fight for sobriety and self-evaluation, the 30-year-old former National Gold Gloves champion carries the weight of the boxing world on his shoulders when he enters the ring on Saturday.
