Last week was a spectacle as two retired fighters in their 50’s fought an exhibition to a draw, but this week we have a legitimate fight in Errol Spence Jr vs. Danny Garcia for Spence Jr’s
For Errol Spence Jr (26-0, 21 KOs) this fight has more meaning than just being a world title fight.
Spence Jr took on a very game Shawn Porter in September 2019 and won via split decision.
Then, less than a month later, he was in an incredibly violent car accident at the height of his career. Spence Jr was speeding in his Ferrari, crossed the median into oncoming traffic, and was thrown from the vehicle. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
He’s also lucky to be alive.
The fact that he is taking on such a polished and accomplished fighter in Danny Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) in his first fight back is incredible, and it raises the question – Will this be the same Errol Spence Jr?
How Garcia can win
Danny Garcia is the epitome of the saying, “jack of all trades, master of none”.
His focus should be on staying inside of Spence Jr. Allowing Spence Jr to keep him at range wouldn’t end well. The mid-range in needs to be Garcia’s sweet spot.
Garcia is more than capable of making Spence Jr have to work hard for everything, and that’s what he needs to do. Get in his face, muck the fight up. Spence Jr thrives on an orderly fight where he is free to jab and throw combinations at will.
If Garcia wants to win, he needs to make Spence Jr pay, and the only way he can make that happen is if he is resolved to the fact that to fight himself inside, he’ll have to absorb some punishment himself.
How Spence Jr can win
If Spence Jr was never in an uber-violent car accident a little over a year ago that left him with broken teeth, a smashed-up face, and in the ICU, I would have picked him to cruise to a tough but relatively undramatic victory.
He was in that accident, and I am not entirely sure which Spence Jr we will get. If Spence Jr is his old self, I don’t think Garcia has what it takes to take down one of the pound-for-pound best in the world.
If this is a different Spence Jr than the last time he stepped into the ring, it could very well be a repeat of his battle with Shawn Porter. Garcia is a tough out, and if Spence Jr can’t bring it the way he could before his accident, it will become a more frenetic fight. A fight outside of where Spence Jr excels.
Prediction
Spence Jr over Garcia via wide, but very competitive, unanimous decision.
Watch Errol Spence Jr vs. Danny Garcia live on FOX Sports PPV tonight starting at 9 pm ET.
If you have any thoughts on Errol Spence Jr vs. Danny Garcia (or well, for anything really I’m not picky), you can share them with me on Twitter @WilliamFKing. Looking for more Will King? I’m right here!
