Errol Spence Jr. sustained a retinal break/detachment in his left eye while sparring weeks before his fight with Manny Pacquiao. The 31-year old unified welterweight champion said ESPN.
Spence felt something strange during a session at Dallas' World Class Boxing Gym. He stopped the session and said "My eye, my eyes."
Spence said that his left eye was not working correctly, but he still sparred two days later. Then, during a scheduled medical checkup in Dallas, Spence found out that his fears had been confirmed when the doctor stated that Spence's eyes looked "like dark clouds".
Spence (27.0 KOs, 27 0) was advised not to play until an eye specialist examined him. The doctor advised Spence that he didn't want to lose his eye.
Spence met with Al Haymon, founder of PBC, and immediately flew to Las Vegas for comprehensive prefight medical testing. An eye doctor, Dr. Thomas F. Kelly performed the exam Aug. 9. He told Spence he could not fight and reiterated that he needed to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Spence, ESPN's No. 1 boxer, was diagnosed with a retinal break/detachment. The 4 pound-for-4 boxer was declared unfit to fight in the Aug. 21 pay per view bout against Pacquiao. Spence was able to return to Dallas the next day for surgery. An air bubble was placed on his eye.
Yordenis Urgas, who was given 11 days notice to fight Pacquiao that same day, stepped in. Ugas won the upset on Saturday, thereby ending any chance of Pacquiao-Spence fighting.
"I am grateful that I was able to catch it. It's a career-ending injury for a lot of other boxers. Spence said that it was a career-ending injury and that many other boxers will suffer the same fate. This is his first public comment since the surgery. Many of them don’t get checked up. Even though it would have occurred early in training camp I would still have tried to spar and other such things. It would probably have permanently damaged it.
"I am just thankful it happened when I did, it was sooner than I expected, and I still have a chance to do what I love."
Spence now prepares for another catastrophe.
Spence crashed his Ferrari 488 Spider in October 2019. The single-car crash left Spence in intensive care for six consecutive days. Spence was not wearing a seatbelt and was forced to be ejected as the car flipped several times. Spence was later charged with DWI.
Amazingly, Spence suffered only broken teeth and facial lacerations in the accident. It seemed that way at least.
Spence stated that the doctor believes the injury to the eye could be caused by an accident. It's possible the retina broke after two full training camps and one bout (a December 2020 victory over Danny Garcia).
Nevada requires an exam by an ophthalmologist. Texas, the site of the Garcia fight, requires only an optometrist examination.
Spence, ESPN's No. 1 ranked athlete, said, "I did have an invisible curtain in my eyesight, but in my peripheral; it was like a shadow." The 147-pounder spoke of his eye before the bubble wrapped around it. I was looking at that after sparring and other activities like that. Being a young boxer, I wasn't going to say anything. But, the doctor asked me if there was something wrong with my vision. My left eye looks like a shadow.
Before they can move to the center, retinal detachments affect first peripheral vision. Spence's injury, however, was discovered before it happened.
Spence was told by his doctor that if it reaches the center of your eyes, it will get worse. It would have been worse if you had been hit or something.
Boxing is not the only sport that has a detached retina. Sugar Ray Leonard had surgery to correct the injury in 1982. He later announced his retirement. He was back in action two years later. Before his 1997 final bout, Leonard fought seven times more -- including a victory over Marvin Hagler.
Three-division champion Abner Mares has had detached retinas in both his eyes. In 2008, the left eye was operated on. He was able to return one year later, and he won his first title in 2010. He was scheduled to fight Gervonta in 2019 and had surgery on Mares' right side. Although he has not competed since, he is still training for a comeback.
Then there's Michael Bisping.
"There was an UFC fighter with the same problem, but he began training too soon and lost his sight. ... Spence spoke out about the former UFC Middleweight Champion, saying that he was blind in one eye. "My doctors have told me to relax or take it easy; that's exactly what I'm going do. It's not going to be a pushy thing. I will listen to the doctor. I hope to make a complete recovery.
Spence can't do anything strenuous for the moment. No strength or conditioning. Running is not allowed. No running.
Spence states, "I can't walk without walking." "I gotta sleep on my left side. I gotta put eye drops in. I must put eye drops in. I'm not sure I can spar for more than two months. However, I am optimistic about when I will be able to start jogging. I hope that it will be within the next three weeks."
Despite the criticisms of former boxers like Bernard Hopkins on social media, there is no questioning the legitimacy and authenticity of the injury. Spence granted the Nevada State Athletic Commission permission for him to discuss his medical condition publicly. The commission confirmed the severity of the injury via email to ESPN.
Spence stated, "It's freaking Manny Pacquiao. Future Hall of Famer and legend, undoubtedly the top 10 all-time," "One of the greatest fighters ever. Two weeks before the fight, I had to withdraw from a fight with him. This is absurd. Pay-per-view would be a great way to make money. Two years ago, I called him in the ring. He didn't handpick me. He was asking me to fight him."
Spence has probably lost the chance to add the legend to his resume. He still has the chance to resume his career after another career-threatening event.
