Opinions and Observations: Spence-Crawford

It was early in the seventh round when I knew that the fight was over. Errol Spence landed a thunderous overhand left, the type of untraditional shot that could cause real damage, and yet it was he who hit the canvas immediately after throwing the punch. Before Spence's shot even landed, Terence Crawford had connected with a perfectly placed counter right uppercut. Spence's shot was eye-catching, but had no lasting impact; Crawford's was destructive and demoralizing. I thought to myself, well, that's a wrap. 

 

If Spence could land his hardest punch, and one that had an element of surprise to it, and yet he suffered because of it, there was little else he could do. Crawford was still opening his bag of tricks as late as the seventh round and despite Spence's attempt at subterfuge, Crawford pounced on this opportunity with a master's eye and execution. He saw the opening and uncorked a wicked counter. He was too sharp, too prepared and hit too hard for Spence. 

Crawford (right) with Spence out of position
Photo courtesy of Ryan Hafey

The theme of Spence-Crawford emerged as early as the second round. Spence would stalk Crawford with pressure, land good shots, but couldn't take what was coming back at him. Crawford exploited holes in Spence's defense. Spence would lunge to get his shots home, he didn't return his hands to a defensively responsible position fast enough, and his feet were often tangled. At the end of the second round Spence landed a lead shot, but Crawford countered with a straight left and then a ramrod right jab to send Spence to the canvas for the first time in his career. This pattern of Spence's good lead work negated and bettered by Crawford's sharper counters manifested throughout the fight. 

 

It was Crawford's counter jab more than any other punch that was the clear separator in the fight. Spence couldn't get out of the way of the jab and it consistently shook him up. Crawford spoke after the fight how he and his team practiced a hard counter jab specifically for Spence and that preparation paid off emphatically in the ring. Spence couldn't handle the punch. The combination of its speed, power and accuracy was too much for him.

 

Crawford knocked down Spence three times and with a different punch for each one: right jab, right uppercut, and right hook. It always impresses me when a fighter can drop guys with multiple punches in a bout. This is a sign of a fighter firing on all cylinders, one who has varied weapons, can see openings, and is executing at a high level. Crawford's right hook has been his bread-and-butter throughout his career, but he didn't even score a knockdown with the shot until the fight was essentially over (the bout was officially stopped by the referee in the ninth round). Crawford was that sharp that he didn't even need to rely on his best punch to dominate an elite fighter. 

 

Spence never stopped trying and again he landed good stuff in the fight, but his power failed to do enough damage. He got home with a number of left hands to the head and hard hooks with both hands to the body. However, Crawford proved to be the sharper puncher, the stronger man, and the one with far superior punch resistance.

 

Saturday was only Spence's second fight in over two-and-a-half years. His reflexes looked off. He didn't have the same sturdy base in his legs that had allowed him to take big shots in the past. These are not excuses for his performance; they in part contributed to it. Spence had several traumatic episodes out of the ring with car accidents and eye issues and although he had performed very well in his last fight against Yordenis Ugas, another long layoff didn't serve him well on Saturday. He looked as if he hadn't had a lot of reps. His hand positioning was a mess on defense. He was overshooting punches in a way that was uncustomary for him. His legs were brittle. 

 

There are of course two people in the ring; Crawford was the one who exposed these issues. It was only because Crawford's counters were so hard and accurate that it became easy to see how Spence couldn't defend himself properly. It's because Crawford's offensive weapons were so sharp and numerous that Spence's scrambled footwork was exploited. Maybe Spence could have beaten other top welterweights on Saturday, but he wasn't anywhere close to Crawford's level. He was outgunned in every facet. 

Crawford celebrating after the victory
Photo courtesy of Esther Lin/Showtime

With the win, Crawford has now become an undisputed champion in his second weight class, a tremendous achievement and one that stamps him as a historically great fighter. But more than the wins, the manner of his performances speaks to his sublime skill level. He's now 35, in his third weight class, and has yet to lose a single scorecard. Whenever his fights have been competitive in the early rounds, he has ended them with knockouts. There are no coin-flip victories on his ledger or debatable decisions. He has left no doubts. 

 

Spence-Crawford resolved the welterweight discussion of this era. There is no more debate. But more than that, it provided the opportunity for one great fighter to rise above another great one. And it gave fans a chance to witness excellence, something magnificent for their era (not their grandfathers'), something that will further bind them to the sport. 

If Crawford is able to accomplish anything else noteworthy in his career, I would consider that gravy. I've already seen enough to comprehend his greatness. I know how special he is and the breadth of his accomplishments speak for themselves. His win on Saturday was one of the most impressive performances I have witnessed in my years following the sport, one that will stick with me. It was my privilege to watch him operate at that rarefied level on Saturday. 

 

"Kids, if you want to see a masterpiece, pull up that Spence-Crawford fight from 2023. Watch greatness in action. That's who Terence Crawford was. And that's why we still talk about him today."

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. 

He's a contributing writer for Ring Magazine, a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

Spence-Crawford: Preview and Prediction

It's finally here after years in the making – the fight for the whole enchilada at welterweight between Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) and Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs). The two undefeated champions will fight for undisputed status and the best of the era at 147 lbs. on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  

The background politics as to why the fight didn't happen sooner has been spelled out over countless, "breathless" articles, but there are a few things in the delay that are worth noting. One, Spence has had to overcome two car crashes and a detached retina. Additionally, both fighters are now removed from their physical primes, with Spence at 33 and Crawford at 35. Although both are still elite talents, it's safe to assume that neither is at his athletic best – more on this later.  

Spence enters Saturday's fight coming off a 17-month layoff. And although he looked excellent in his last outing against Yordenis Ugas, such a long time out of the ring is rarely beneficial.  

Spence (left) and Crawford at their introductory presser
Photo courtesy of Amanda Westcott/Showtime

Below will be my keys to the fight. I'll have a prediction at the end of the article.  

1. The punch volume gap 

Spence is a more active fighter than Crawford in the ring. It's typical for Spence to throw 50+ or even 60+ punches a round while Crawford is more often in the 30s. If Spence can maintain this edge throughout the fight, it would be a huge advantage for him in piling up points on the scorecards.  

At welterweight Crawford has been a knockout artist, stopping everyone he has fought. He often gives up early rounds while he takes a look at his opponents. And this has happened whether it was against Shawn Porter, Mean Machine Kavaliauskas, Jose Benavidez or Kell Brook.  

If Spence fights to his strengths and Crawford takes his customary time in studying an opponent, it's likely that Spence will be ahead going into the middle of the fight, which could help Spence significantly down the stretch. With an early lead, he can afford to take fewer risks, because much of his work has already been accomplished. 

It would certainly behoove Crawford not to fall behind too far early in the fight. Yes, he has stopped everyone so far at 147, but what if he doesn't? He certainly went the distance several times earlier in his career. Spence is not the fighter to play catchup against in an attempt to win on the scorecards.  

2. Both have better offense than defense 

There was a time, a number of years ago, when Crawford in the southpaw stance had terrific defense. It used to be that when he was orthodox, he was more offensively oriented and when he was southpaw, he was more defensively responsible. But even that distinction has evaporated. In the last few years his defensive reflexes have declined. Crawford now gets hit quite a bit and it doesn't seem to matter the type of opponent. He got hit hard from Mean Machine from distance whereas Porter had lots of early success against him at mid-range and closer. Although Crawford's chin has been solid over his career, he's been wobbled against Gamboa and Mean Machine. He can be vulnerable to a big shot. 

Spence also can be hit, especially from range. Porter, with his unpredictable punching patterns, landed plenty on him. Danny Garcia detonated a number of big right hands on him from distance. Ugas temporarily stunned Spence with a right hand.  

Ultimately, this fight may come down to chins more than any other factor, because both will get hit with quality shots. Spence will work Crawford up and down with volume and Crawford will try to be at his sharpshooting best. Who can take the other guy's best will be vital in determining the winner.  

3. Hot vs. Cold 

The demeanor of each fighter in the ring I believe will play a pivotal role. I think that Spence has a more relaxed style in the ring, fighting within himself and not trying to force things (the Porter fight was a glaring exception though). Spence knows when to take his foot on and off the gas and paces fights very well.  

Crawford to me is more hot-tempered. When he gets hit hard, he immediately wants to get it back. When he senses an opponent may be hurt, he will go all out for the stoppage. Crawford will swing for the fences when he senses blood in the water, but he does leave himself open for a guy who can remain calm under pressure. There is a degree of recklessness when Crawford closes a fight. It makes for tremendous theater. To this point Crawford has been in the lion's den without too much suffering, but Yuriorkis Gamboa had Crawford in bad shape and staggered under this very circumstance. Now that was a long time ago, but I still think that Crawford can be vulnerable when he believes that he has the upper hand.  

Photo courtesy of Amanda Westcott/Showtime

4. Crawford the closer 

Crawford's fights often turn on a dime. Whether it was the Porter fight or the Brook bout, an opponent is doing well against Crawford...until he isn't. And then suddenly it's over. Crawford in my opinion is the best closer in the sport. His ability to throw multiple knockout weapons from either stance is unmatched. In particular, his right hook out of the southpaw stance is one of the best punches in boxing. For whatever reason, very few opponents have been able to avoid that punch on a consistent basis. Part of the reason is he can throw it in different ways. He can use it as a check right hook, he can arc it with a higher trajectory, he can take it downstairs, he can widen it. However he throws it, he has a preternatural ability to land it.  

With the exception of the Ugas fight, where it was clear that Spence got stung by a right hand, Errol usually has a great poker face after getting hit with a big shot. However, Crawford has a sixth sense when an opponent is ready to go. Spence won't have the ability to back away or reset on the outside after taking a big punch because Crawford will be on him. 

Hopefully Spence understands the importance of tying up and buying time. If he's hurt and decides to trade with Crawford, I wouldn't like his chances on a consistent basis. Yes, there are opportunities to hit Crawford when he rushes in, and if Spence has a clear head he should take them, but making it to the next round will be even more important.  

5. The body 

Each guy can reduce the effectiveness of the other by going downstairs to the body with big shots. By going to the body early, Crawford could sap Spence's willingness to take the fight on the inside, where he would like to use his close-range fighting skills to wear Crawford down. For Spence, one way to reduce Crawford's effectiveness in the later rounds is to deplete him early with body shots. Thus, when Crawford inevitably lands something hard, he might not have the same agility level to follow up at maximum capacity.  

Going to the body for both will be a risky gambit because each can counter effectively. Crawford can skirt out of the way and counter with a hard hook. Spence will meet a lunging opponent with a mean left uppercut or a straight left to the body. But both fighters must take their chances going downstairs. It will help thwart the other's game plan.  

Prediction:  

In my mind this fight has two overriding factors in determining who wins:

1. Spence has a structural advantage in winning rounds.

2. Can Spence stay on his feet?

Crawford has played a dangerous game at welterweight of losing rounds early only to make it up in the second half of the fight with a knockout. But not everyone gets knocked out. And if Spence can't be put down for good, can Crawford do enough to win seven rounds on the scorecards? If he's down three or four rounds, can he make it back on the cards? I have my doubts.  

But, and this is a big but, Spence will have to stay on his feet to win, a feat that no welterweight has accomplished against Crawford. And again, it's not as if Spence is some kind of defensive marvel. To win the fight, Spence will need to build a lead and respect Crawford's power. So, if he's hurt, he should do whatever it takes to stay in the fight, not necessarily win that particular round. Spence's trainer, Derrick James, will be vital in the corner in providing Spence with the right instructions during moments of duress.  

I have no doubt that Crawford is going to land some vicious shots in the second half of the fight. Spence will need to show his survival skills and be able to recuperate. If he understands what he's up against, he could hold his way out of some scary moments, but if he does get caught up in a battle of machismo, he will get knocked out.  

Since I am forcing myself to make a prediction, I like Spence to win the fight based on his ability to win rounds and that he has a great trainer to help settle him when things get rough. But Derrick James will only matter if Spence can get back to the corner. Spence is going to have to survive for 30- or 45-second intervals of intense duress. If he can do that, I think that he will have put enough rounds in the bank to win by a decision. 

Let's call it eight rounds to four for Spence in a fight where he might have to get off the canvas, or even survive a 10-8 round where he doesn't go down. Ultimately, I think that Crawford's inability to match Spence's output early in the fight will be his undoing on the cards. Crawford will remain dangerous to the final bell and he will always be a threat to score a knockout, but I think on Saturday it will finally catch up to him that he gave up too many early rounds. We shall see. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. 

He's a contributing writer for Ring Magazine, a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

Opinions and Observations: Spence-Ugas

Every once in a while, a trainer and fighter come together to devise and execute a masterful game plan that makes boxing a joy to watch. Errol Spence's comprehensive victory over Yordenis Ugas on Saturday was such a case. Trainer Derrick James did his homework on Ugas. He understood exactly what was in front of him. Ugas was a counterpuncher who could be outworked. In addition, James determined that Ugas' counter right hand was his best weapon, and that he needed space to throw it. Thus, James created a brilliant game plan, where Spence would crowd Ugas' left side and attack with volume, which in theory would significantly reduce the effectiveness of Ugas' right hand. 

A game plan can be great, but a fighter needs to buy in to it, to commit fully for it to be realized. And where Spence deserves credit is that he understood a certain portion of his skill set would be required to win the fight, but other attributes of his could be detrimental to the cause, such as power shots from range and utilizing his back foot. Furthermore, Spence needed to commit exclusively to inside fighting, a style that he hadn't totally embraced in recent years. Over his last few fights, Spence had blended aspects of fighting from all ranges, but against Ugas, he agreed to the grueling and risky approach of coming right into the kitchen and working relentlessly. 

Spence (left) landing his left uppercut
Photo courtesy of Amanda Westcott

The results were stunning. Spence scored a tenth-round stoppage as Ugas' right eye completely closed from the inside carnage that Spence had administered. Ugas at best won two or three rounds and after the sixth he was reduced to sporadic single shots here and there. 

The geography of the fight was mostly Spence operating on Ugas' left shoulder, where Spence could work his left hand freely, but he was at such an angle where Ugas couldn't throw his right hand with much effectiveness. Spence and James were giving Ugas the opportunity to use his left, especially to the body, but they correctly gambled that by taking away Ugas' right, Spence would hold a huge advantage in the fight. 

Ugas wasn't ineffectual every second of the fight. He was able to land some cracking counter rights at the end of the third and he did unload on Spence during an unusual moment in the sixth where Spence lost his mouthpiece and was looking at the ref to stop the action; Ugas connected with his best right in the bout, which flung Spence to the ropes. And in fairness, a knockdown should have been called at that moment since the ropes kept Spence from going down. But those were really all of the highlights from Ugas' performance. He did get through with some solid body shots on occasion, but he seldom was able to put punches together or seize momentum in the fight, even for small periods.  

Spence's left uppercut was his money punch on Saturday. James and Spence noticed that Ugas leaned his head forward with a high guard, protecting straight shots to the head. But there was room between his gloves, especially coming from underneath. Spence landed his uppercut dozens of times throughout the fight and they were punishing blows. Ugas was never able to make a defensive adjustment to neutralize the punch. 

Spence mixed in other power punches from close range as well. His right hook to the body cracked Ugas on numerous occasions. His straight left to the body was pulverizing. 

Often, we talk about boxers who make fights harder for themselves than they need to be; but Spence-Ugas was the opposite. Ugas is a skilled and rugged fighter who has proven that he can defeat top-level welterweights. However, Spence looked levels above anything that Ugas had to offer. But I want to stress that it didn't have to be that way. Spence capitalized on Ugas' weaknesses and succeeded. It may have looked somewhat easy, but that's only because he followed a great game plan. If he decided to fight at mid-range or retreat, it could have been a much different fight, a much more competitive one. 

Spence and his team celebrate the victory
Photo courtesy of Amanda Westcott

It was not a great night for Ismael Salas, Ugas' trainer. Round after round, a similar pattern of the fight manifested and yet Ugas remained tethered to the spot right in front of Spence. Ugas rarely tried to move forward. And except when he was hurt, he rarely used his back foot. Ugas has the capacity to attack or retreat and be effective, but he chose to do neither of those things. Instead, he remained a target for Spence, as if he couldn't process what was happening to him. The fight demanded a radical adjustment for Ugas to turn it around, but nothing of note was implemented. 

Let's also give Spence credit for additional aspects of his performance. Having survived a car crash that wrecked his body and undergone retinal surgery on his left eye, it would have been perfectly understandable and even reasonable if he insisted on fighting Ugas with more caution. But Spence attacked ferociously the enitre fight, demonstrating that he had put both traumas behind him. Furthermore, Spence's agility and stamina looked much better than it had in his last fight, against Danny Garcia. Spence made weight without any outward signs of difficulty and moved around the ring on Saturday like a much younger version of himself. He didn't labor. He didn't need to take a round or two off. There was no retreating to avoid wear-and-tear on his body. He was fresh and energized. 

Spence did not look like a fighter in decline on Saturday. His commitment to the sport was evident in how he fought and how he prepared for the match. Yes, he can be hit, but he hits back, and he keeps coming with power and volume. He remains a force at welterweight, a big draw, and one of the best in the sport. Fortunately, injuries didn't derail his career. He's an elite talent and I'm thankful that we'll get to see more of him.    

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

Spence-Ugas: Preview and Prediction

Errol Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) and Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) meet Saturday for a three-belt welterweight unification at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In addition to the inherent drama of two of the top fighters at 147 lbs. squaring off, Spence's physical health brings added intrigue to the matchup. Spence was slated to meet Manny Pacquiao last year, but he failed an eye exam. Ugas stepped in as the late-replacement opponent and won a unanimous decision over Pacquiao. Spence subsequently had retinal surgery and let's also not forget that he recently had missed a significant period of time due to a serious auto accident. 

Spence's left eye may be the most important factor in this fight. Retina injuries can be career-threatening and although Spence has received the all-clear from the relevant organizing authorities, there are physical and psychological concerns about his injury that are important in assessing the fight. Will Spence's repaired eye allow him to go 12 hard rounds against a top-level fighter? Ugas's counter right hand might be his signature punch and that lines up perfectly with Spence's left eye. You can bet that Ugas will target it. 

And then there are the psychological ramifications of the eye injury. Will Spence try to limit exchanges because of a concern for his eye? Will he fight with the same type of aggression and comfort level that he had prior to his injury? These are all open questions heading into the fight and shouldn't be minimized. Spence in theory has edges over Ugas in terms of volume and being the effective aggressor (a scoring criterion), but if he fights more passively, does he lose those two advantages?

Spence and Ugas at the fight announcement
Photo courtesy of Amanda Westcott

This leads to a discussion about fighting styles. Ugas is a counterpuncher. He can carve up opponents that have defensive shortcomings. He can counter well with either hand. His top three weapons are his counter right to the head, his straight right to the body and his left hook to the body. He's accurate with his punches and he's also rugged on the inside. He can work expertly in the clinch and he is also adept at catching, blocking and parrying shots. Ugas does hits solidly, but he's not a knockout puncher. You won't find a stoppage over a champion or a legit contender on his resume. 

Spence is one of the few fighters in the sport who excels at every range. He has a great jab when he wants to use it. He can slug it out from the outside or at mid-range and he's adept at coming inside and throwing combinations in tight quarters. He's a vicious body puncher and often finishes up combinations with a pinpoint right hook. 

As Spence has matured as a fighter he has learned how to pace himself. He'll have rounds where he applies a lot of pressure, but then he also knows when to take a breather on the outside and use his legs. He can hold his ground and trade or use the ring to his advantage. 

Both Spence and Ugas will have distinct advantages early in the fight. The angles of Ugas' counters often surprise opponents. Many of his shots, especially to the head, are somewhere between a straight punch and a hook. He'll also throw wider hooks with both hands. It often takes fighters several rounds to acclimate to his punching style, and some never do. 

Spence's length and expert combination punching trouble opponents. When he's in his groove, his punches flow effortlessly. He puts four and five shots together with ease and he expertly varies his punches to the head and body. And his game isn't about hand speed, but precision. He takes the extra split second to land his shots. This premeditation also allows him to be more defensively responsible. He doesn't wing shots off-balance or out-of-position. His feet are in the right position and he throws his punches with perfect weight distribution. 

Where Spence can get into trouble is against the unconventional or when he misjudges range when leaving the pocket. He never seemed fully comfortable against Shawn Porter's ferocious onslaught, which included many untraditional punches. He also got tagged by a number of Danny Garcia right hands from distance late in their fight. Spence wasn't in danger of losing that bout at any point, but there were a few occasions were Spence thought that he was out of range, but really wasn't. And make no mistake, despite the relatively lopsided scoring of the fight, he got hit with some very hard shots. 

In my estimation I don't see either guy winning by stoppage. Ugas doesn't have KO power and Spence has been slightly more risk averse as he has matured. If the knockout isn't there for him, he's not going to force it. I believe that the judges will have a hard task in this fight. They will need to determine if Spence's overall offensive package or Ugas' sharp, single counter shots will carry each round. And it might not be an easy task to arrive at that conclusion. 

Prediction: 

I must admit that I've changed my pick since the fight was originally announced. Initially I liked Ugas to win because I think that he'll be able to land his counter right frequently against Spence. And I also believe that he'll surprise Spence with the quality of his body shots. 

However, I think that optics and politics will play a big role in the scoring of the fight. Remember, aggressors have an inherent advantage in scoring rounds. Effective aggression is a scoring criterion in it of itself. Spence will more often be making the fight. He'll have the crowd behind him. He's the bigger star. There will be periods of the fight where he will land three shots to Ugas' one, and although Ugas' connect will be solid, it still might not be enough to nullify Spence's success in the exchange. 

Counterpunchers need to win rounds clearly, especially when they are the B-side. They can't leave doubt among the judges. Spence will be doing more work and I will expect him to end the fight with more punches thrown and landed. Although I don't think that he will dominate, I believe that he will do enough to have his hand raised at the end of the night. And I am also assuming that his eye holds up.  

I believe that Spence-Ugas will be an intriguing tactical fight that will contain periodic moments of excitement where both will land impressive shots. And I think that we'll also see high-level exchanges between two who are masters of their craft. But Spence will let his hands go more frequently and that will be enough to carry the day. Punch-for-punch, these two fighters might have similar effectiveness. But when things are close, the natural tendency will be to gravitate to the fighter who is doing just that little bit more.  

Errol Spence defeats Yordenis Ugas, winning 7 or 8 rounds in the fight. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.  

Punch 2 the Face Podcast

In this week's Punch 2 the Face Podcast, Brandon and I previewed Pacquiao-Ugas. We welcomed noted cutman Mike Rodriguez to the show. Mike will be working Pacquiao's corner this weekend and has worked multiple Ugas corners. We also recapped a huge boxing weekend. We cover who impressed and who disappointed. To listen to the podcast click on the links below: 

Apple podcast link:

Spotify link:

I heart radio link:

Stitcher link:

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

Pound-for-Pound Update 3-29-21

It's been many months since the last Saturday Night Boxing Pound-for-Pound Update and in the interim much has changed throughout the Rankings. To start at the top, there's a new sheriff in town as Saul Alvarez moves up to #1 after his note-perfect domination of 168-lb. titlist Callum Smith in December. He also stopped mandatory challenger Anvi Yildirim after three rounds in their fight in February. Canelo slides up one spot from #2 to #1.  

Elsewhere in the upper end of the Rankings, Juan Estrada defeated Roman Gonzalez by split decision to avenge his 2012 loss. Although many thought that Gonzalez had done enough to earn the victory, the fight was close and Estrada winning the fight was by no means a robbery, despite a poor scorecard from one of the judges. With the win, Estrada moves up from #6 to #4. In addition, Gonzalez, even at his advanced age, showed that he still has enough to compete with the elite in the sport. He rises to #14 from #18. 

Canelo, the New Saturday Night Boxing #1 Fighter
Photo Courtesy of Ed Mulholland

Staying in the junior bantamweight division, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai moves up one spot from #11 to #10 after stopping Kwanthai Sithmorseng, who was a former strawweight champion many years ago. Sor Rungvisai stopped his foe and fellow countryman in three rounds. 

And in another display of the fantastic talent at junior bantamweight, Kazuto Ioka knocked out three-division titlist Kosei Tanaka in the eighth round. Ioka, now a four-weight world titleholder, achieved the signature win of his career with that stoppage. He re-enters the Rankings at #15. With the loss, Tanaka, who had been #16, exits the list. 

In another change, Errol Spence moves up one spot in the Rankings after his unanimous decision victory over Danny Garcia. He ascends to #7.

The final change in this update sees Miguel Berchelt exit the Rankings after his tenth-round knockout loss to Oscar Valdez. Berchelt had been ranked at #19. It was a coin flip to me as to whether Valdez or Jermall Charlo should enter the Rankings. I picked Charlo, but both are deserving of praise. Charlo enters the list at #20. 

One final note, due to the COVID pandemic and the related difficulty around the world in putting fights together, I have not removed any boxers from the list who have been inactive for over a year. For the next update, that rule will be reintroduced and any applicable fighters who have been inactive and have nothing scheduled will be removed.

Here is the complete Saturday Night Boxing Pound-for-Pound List: 

1. Saul Alvarez
2. Naoya Inoue
3. Terence Crawford
4. Juan Estrada
5. Oleksandr Usyk
6. Teofimo Lopez
7. Errol Spence
8. Gennadiy Golovkin
9. Jermell Charlo
10. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
11. Artur Beterbiev
12. Manny Pacquiao
13. Tyson Fury
14. Roman Gonzalez
15. Kazuto Ioka
16. Vasiliy Lomachenko
17. Mikey Garcia
18. Josh Taylor
19. Kenshiro Teraji
20. Jermall Charlo

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.