Fourteen straight wins with eleven stoppages is not a bad way to begin a professional campaign in the paid ranks of pugilism. This was the number attained by Texan southpaw Errol Spence Jr. having cast aside stepping-stone Noe Bolanos in two rounds on September 11th at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, in the lead up to the Mayweather-Maidana rematch. Victor Salazar (@Boxingvoice_Vic) posed the young prospect some post-fight questions as to the next rung he will grab on his way up the ladder.
This is what Spence had to say about being one of the best prospect in boxing: “It’s good, it means I’m doing something right. People like what they see from me and that’s great. Hopefully I can turn myself in to a contender.” On how far he believes he is from reaching ‘contender’ status he continued, “I think I’m one or two fights away, it’s all about getting the quality fights, getting the name-known fights, them top ten/top fifteen fighters. Hopefully by the middle of next year I can get some of them fighters in the ring with me.”
Spence’s remarks show that he understands the process by which he must progress and that he is willing to accept the responsibility and pressure that will come along with his ascension. Even at this, the embryonic stage of his pro career, he is required to step up his level of opposition. His amateur experience and development up to this point means there is no need for twenty ‘gimme’ fights, and his willingness to bypass this much-maligned phase of many a prospect’s careers is worthy of praise. Even if he takes a a step too far too soon and takes a loss, he will have credibility that is not afforded to some world title-challengers, as wild as that may seem.
He elaborated further when asked how he felt he had been moved so far, as a lot of fighters on the same level are handled differently. He said, “I’ve been moved great. Staying busy, staying active, that’s the best thing for a young prospect. I think next year we’re looking to pick up the competition a lot so be on the lookout for that.”
Overall the impression young Spence gives is one of awareness. He is just twenty-four years old, yet he is aware of his position, the expectations surrounding him, and what steps he must take from here on in. He claimed to feel no pressure fighting on the same week as a Mayweather event as he had done it several times before and hopes to fight once or twice more before year’s end. By the end of 2015 he wants to be a contender, breathing down the neck of those at the top of the welterweight division. There has been nothing so far to suggest this won’t be the case.
