LOS ANGELES — It will be a case of repeat rather than revenge for Terence Crawford should his rematch with Errol Spence Jr. materialize at super welterweight next year.
That’s according to Golden Boy Promotions stud Alexis Rocha, who had been linked with a Crawford fight at welterweight earlier this year.
“It would be the same outcome if they were to move up to 154,” Rocha told ProBox TV recently.
On July 29, in what many — including ‘Lex’ Rocha — considered a 50-50 bout heading into the show, Crawford dropped and stopped his career rival Spence in such thrilling fashion that it’s considered one of the most significant wins in the history of the 147-pound division.
The pair had been linked with a box office bout for years and, with all the major championships on the line, it now leaves a question mark as to whether a do-over will take place in the same division, or 154-pounds.
On the night, both fighters appeared to agree that it should take place at super welterweight, however, though Spence is believed to have triggered the rematch clause within the time frame required, the bout is yet to be confirmed.
Paramount confirming to staff that Showtime Sports, which broadcast the historic bout earlier in the summer, will be sunset by the end of the year, may have only added to any ambiguity regarding a fight that would likely do well on pay-per-view regardless of how one-sided the first fight was.
And so the fight may only become official once Premier Boxing Champions, the event organizer involved, confirms its new broadcast partner — which has been rumored to be Amazon Prime.
Regardless, if and when the second fight does get made, it is one Rocha believes Crawford comfortably wins.
“Crawford is that guy and one of the best out there, if not the best,” Rocha told ProBox TV.
“He's so intelligent in the ring. Ring IQ, the distance, where you want to be, and not want to be. I thought it was a 50-50 fight [before the bell rang] but when Crawford came in, he knew it was time.
“He went out there, the opportunity was there, and he took full advantage.”
Rocha, meanwhile, is hoping to take full advantage of his own welterweight fight Saturday at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
The 26-year-old, who has put together a seven-fight winning run since Rashidi Ellis upset him three years ago, risks his record against Giovani Santillan — a 31-year-old southpaw whose best win to date is a majority decision win over Antonio DeMarco in 2020.
The card airs on DAZN.
