Errol Spence Jr. stops Yordenis Ugas in 10th to unify titles, calls for Terence Crawford next

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As he peered around the ring, Errol Spence Jr. was in a daze.

After Yordenis Ugas connected with a brutal right hand in the 6th round, the referee halted the action to allow Spence to retrieve it. Ugas connected with a left hand followed by a right that sent the distracted Spence careening into the ropes for what could have been called a knockdown.

The series of events seemed to have rejuvenated him, as he was fighting in front of his hometown fans at AT&T Stadium for the third time in four fights. After he buckled Ugas with a left uppercut, he began to attack far more aggressively. The systematic beating he inflicted on Ugas slowly but surely closed the Cuban boxer's right eye before the ringside doctor advised Cole to stop the fight at 1:44 of Round 10.

Ugas was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, to have his right eye examined. The scorecards at the time of the fight were 88-87, 88-87 and 88-87. The eighth round was scored by two judges.

With the victory, he added the Ugas and IBF titles to his collection. If Crawford wins the WBO title, he will become undisputed 147-pound champion.

Everybody knows who I want to fight next, and I want Crawford next. I'm coming for that belt.

For years, Crawford and Spence have circled each other, but never come close to agreeing on a fight. Crawford's win over Shawn Porter in November was the last bout of his long-term deal with Top Rank, a promotional company that rarely does business with PBC.

The greatest roadblock to the match up has been removed, and it appears to be a genuine possibility later this year.

The real fight will happen after the great fight, Crawford said.

The superfight with Crawford appeared to be slipping through the grasp of Spence midway through the bout. After he was sent crashing into the ropes as the favorite absorbed the punishment, Ugas continued to unload on him. Cole finally paused the bout this time, even though there wasn't a lull in the action. After the bout resumed, the delay appeared to allow Spence to recover, as he began firing punches at Ugas.

I thought the ref stopped the fight so I stopped, and then he hit me with three or four. That is my fault. That was a new mistake. I did not protect myself at all times. I was on my feet. He hit me when I turned and looked at my mouth.

The last stand was the sixth round. During the first half of the bout, Spence mostly boxed off the back foot, but now he is attacked with relentless pressure. The adjustment made the difference. As his activity dipped, it paid off as he was targeted in the midsection.

According to CompuBox, 70 of the 216 punches were to the body. In a fiery Round 8, Spence threw a fight-high 110 punches and connected on 46.

Ugas was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 Cole paused the bout to allow the doctor to examine Ugas after he was hurt in Round 8. The action resumed after a short time. Ugas received a reprieve.

Ugas said through a translator that he felt sad and respected Errol Spence. He is a great champion. The referee stopped the fight, but I wanted to keep going. I had a chance to win the fight in the sixth round, but he recovered well.

It was the left eye of Spence that led to this fight. The doctor diagnosed him with a detached retina and he withdrew from the fight.

Ugas stepped in on 11 days' notice for the life-changing opportunity as Spence underwent surgery. Ugas was already a champion and had dropped a controversial decision to Porter in a title bout earlier in his career, but this was a chance to establish himself as one of boxing's elite.

Ugas won a unanimous decision in an upset and sent Pacquiao into retirement. Another opportunity presented itself after the passing-of-the-torch fight disappeared like a puff of smoke.

After he recovered from the surgery, he passed up the scheduled tuneup bout and went straight into the title unification with Ugas. The bout was the fourth in a row on pay-per-view and the third at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

I had no doubts at all. I believe in myself. I did not want a tuneup fight or someone I know I can beat. I knew Ugas was going to bring the best out of me and I wanted someone who was going to bring the best out of me.

Following a serious injury, he proved once again that he is one of the top fighters in boxing. He was involved in a single-car crash a month later after defeating Porter in one of the best action fights of the year.

After losing several teeth and spending time in the hospital, Spence returned in December 2020 with a decision victory over Danny Garcia to retain his titles. In his first fight back from eye surgery, he scored another impressive victory over one of the best welterweights in the world.

A long-awaited meeting with Crawford is all that remains for Spence in the welterweight division.