Is Errol Spence Jr. the Next Dominant Welterweight?

The IBF welterweight champion of the world, Errol Spence Jr., takes his first step toward division domination Saturday when he faces Lamont Peterson. We talked to the champ about his first fight of the year and how he has his sights set on becoming the top welterweight in 2018.

Errol Spence Jr Complex Original 1
Complex Original

Errol Spence Jr Complex Original 1

Errol Spence Jr Complex Original 1

If you’re not familiar with Errol Spence Jr., that’s probably going to change in 2018.

With his sights set on becoming the dominant force in the welterweight division, one of boxing’s deepest and most glamorous, the 28-year-old has one goal in mind and it doesn’t involve what most boxing fans would expect.

“The only thing that will bother me is not fighting three times this year,” Spence said.

What boxing fans expect him to say is something about wanting to square up against the premier welterweight, Keith Thurman. But the Texas native and former Olympian, who only fought once last year, is probably going to have to wait for his shot at unifying the division against Thurman until later in the year—if not 2019. In the meantime, he’s looking forward to kicking off this year with a follow-up to one of the eye-opening performances of 2017.

That came last May when Spence stopped Kell Brook in the 11th round of their championship bout. Spence became just the seventh American to win a title in the UK and in the process sky rocketed himself into the discussion of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world

The IBF welterweight champion of the world takes his first step toward division domination Saturday when he faces Lamont Peterson at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center (9 pm ET, Showtime). We caught up with Spence before the bout to talk about how he plans to take over the welterweight division, why he plans on being so much more active in the ring this year, when he’ll finally get a chance to fight Thurman, and whether or not it’s a good thing for boxing to have old legends like Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather continually flirting with returns to the ring. 

(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.) 

How did life change after the Kell Brook knockout this past summer?
The only thing that really changed for me was the notoriety. The support, really, of the fans in the boxing community. Other than that, nothing really changed. Still working hard in the gym, being a gym rat, and staying focused. 

Mentally you didn’t feel any difference at all?
Not really. I’m more seasoned now. I believe I have a lot more fans under my belt, going overseas and fighting in front of that many fans in [Brook's] hometown and going 11 rounds, further than I’ve ever been. Other than that, everything is pretty much the same, really. 

As a title holder, does the mentality change in the ring or is it business as usual? You now have something to lose.
The belt added something to lose but I always have something to lose. I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can’t lose. It is more added pressure but it does make me work harder and keeps me more focused. 

You only fought once in 2017, some guys like a lot of time off, others like to fight. You only had two bouts in 2016 after very active years before that. Should we expect only a couple of fights from you at this point in your career?
It’s something I’ve talked to my manager about staying busy. I want to stay active and busy. I don’t just want to fight a no-name opponent. I want a decent name or a big name or a world champion somebody who is going to challenge me. That’s just it. I want a big quality fight. I just didn’t want to fight somebody easy. I wanted to fight somebody with notoriety. 

We’ll get to the fight with Lamont Peterson soon because you have to take care of business first and foremost, but everyone wants to talk about a potential matchup with Keith Thurman in 2018. Is he the only one on your radar this year even though realistically that fight might not happen until 2019?
Really it’s the top guys. The top guys in the division. Right now, Lamont Peterson’s a great name. Putting up a great performance against Lamont Peterson will sky rocket me. The goal is to become the No. 1 welterweight in the division so if I keep beating these guys around me and then fight Keith Thurman, people will rate me as No. 1 because I’ve beat the top names and he’s been inactive. That’s why I’m saying you’ve got to take it step-by-step. Lamont Peterson is the first step. Then after that it’s who’s next. But Lamont Peterson is the main guy on my radar. 

Errol Spence 2 Complex Original

If you don’t fight Thurman until 2019 is that going to bother you?
The only thing that will bother me is not fighting three times this year. I should be fighting around May or June and fight again at the end of the year. I don’t have to fight Keith Thurman as long as I fight the top fighters. I’ll fight Danny Garcia, I’ll fight Shawn Porter. Those are top names and at the end of the year I am the No. 1 fighter in the welterweight division regardless of what Keith Thurman is doing. 

Why should you be considered the best welterweight in the world?
They can consider me the best welterweight in the world based off the eye test. My skill level and ability I display in the ring, some people say he can be dominant. He can beat Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter. You look at resume wise, I’ll be the best welterweight in the world based on the fighters that I beat. I just haven’t gotten my chance to prove it yet. 

You’ve sparred with Lamont in the past, so what’s the path to victory?
I can’t really get into a strategy. I know it won’t be an easy fight. He’s a dog. He always comes ready to fight. It’s going to be a good fight. 

You’ve been known to land some thunderous body blows, what’s it feel like to land that punch?
It feels good. It doesn’t matter how many sit-ups you do, your work ethic. I know when I land that punch, and I’m on balance, they’re going to feel it regardless of how strong their core is.

Is it more fun knocking somebody out via the body or a blow to the head?
Probably a shot to head. Let’s see…nah, I’ll say a body blow knockout would be more exciting because it’s rare to see somebody knocked out with a body shot. They might go down for a body shot and curl up. They’re wincing and gasping for air. It’s a more dramatic knockout.

Are older guys like Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and Roy Jones Jr., who are all rumored to be fighting again, good for boxing?
I’m a big fan of Roy Jones and would like to see him retire. He’s already one of the greatest of all time. He’s a future Hall of Famer. I don’t need to see Roy Jones fight again. It’s kind of good and bad. You had guys like Bernard Hopkins who fought on into his 40s and older doing great. Some fighters can do it, some fighters can't. 

One wish for the world of boxing for 2018. What would you like to see?
Top fighters fighting each other. I’d like to see Deontay [Wilder] and [Anthony] Joshua. I’d like to see [Vasyl} Lomanchenko move up to 135 and Mikey Garcia and Lomanchenko fight each other. GGG-Canelo all over again.

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