Errol Spence Jr. Says Family Got here First Before Terence Crawford Fight

“I knew that this maximum payout goes to handle my family. Even when I’m not here, it’s going to handle my family,” said Spence to Andre Ward’s channel. “It’ll handle me. I didn’t know if I used to be going to box again ever again.

“That’s why I took so long off. I didn’t know if I used to be going to box again, do anything. So, I used to be like, ‘Bro, I’m still going to fight.’ It just is what it’s. I’m not going to make no excuses about it. Whatever criticism comes with it, whatever criticism comes with it. But at the top of the day, I’m doing it for an even bigger picture.”

Spence said he entered the bout believing it could still be competitive, but admitted his body had been giving him warning signs for weeks before fight night.

“I used to be drained, bro. I already knew,” Spence said. “In my mind, I assumed this fight was going to be competitive, and I could win, but I’d been feeling it for probably a month and a few change. I sort of felt prefer it might be bad, but at the top of the day, you’ve got to be a person. I wasn’t going to not fight.”

Quite than withdraw, Spence accepted the danger, knowing the purse would offer long-term security for his family whatever the end result.

The defeat ended Spence’s reign atop the welterweight division and shelved an instantaneous rematch with Crawford. He as a substitute stepped away from boxing for nearly three years, saying the break allowed him to get well physically, improve his health, and spend more time along with his family before deciding to resume his profession.