I have to beat Ugas, then we’ll see: Spence Jr on possible Crawford unification bout

Could the welterweight matchup we’ve all longed for finally happen later this year, after all this time? Rightly, the two-belt titlist is focusing on Yordenis Ugas and his April 16 assignment, but he’s left the door open to a possible unification bout against WBO champion Terence Crawford.

Spence: Ugas first, but read the shirt – it’s strap season

Spence-Ugas is an intriguing title fight, undoubtedly, but boxing fans have longed to see Spence-Crawford for more than three years now – to no avail – and time is running out.

In a sport where nothing is promised to anyone, Spence can attest, having survived a high-speed car accident unscathed weeks after his Fight of the Year candidate clash vs. Shawn Porter.

After coming in on short-notice and surprising many by beating Manny Pacquiao last August, Yordenis Ugas has a golden opportunity to prove that wasn’t a one-off under the bright lights.

At 35, an Olympic bronze medallist in 2008, you can’t afford to overlook nor disrespect him – even if he lost his previous WBC title shot against the aforementioned Porter in March 2019.

“We’ll see. Like I said, I’ve gotta get past [Ugas] first, so once I get past him, we’ll definitely see. But like I said, you read the shirt, right? I’ve been the shot-caller, I’m the big fish, especially at 147, so no, that doesn’t matter at all.”

• Spence answering reporters’ questions about boxing Crawford, then pointing to his T-shirt with Strap Season, his mantra

Crawford, who doesn’t have a fight scheduled, earned a R10 KO win over Porter on November 20 in what ultimately proved Showtime‘s final matchup before announcing his retirement.

Still a promotional free agent after splitting from Bob Arum, it’ll be interesting to see what’s next for Bud – having said he’d be happy fighting the Charlo-Castano 2 victor at light-middleweight.

“If I can’t get the Spence-Ugas winner, I’d love the Jermell and Castano winner. I can have that fight, be undisputed at 154.

The fight fans gotta be the ones that push for it, demand it. I did my part, being professional by going through everybody they put in front of me, don’t know what I can do any different[ly], any more.”

• Crawford on possibly moving up in weight again and being at peace with potentially not fighting Spence

Picture source: Getty Images