The Streetsweeper Errol Spence Jr. – Inside SCOPE

By: Kirk Jackson

Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 KO’s) is a special individual. He’s a family man, a son, brother, and father. He’s an Olympian, representing the United States back in 2012. He’s also one step closer to becoming undisputed in one of boxing’s historic weight divisions, standing now as the unified IBF, WBC, and WBA welterweight champion of the world.

Spence is known as “The Truth,” and also goes by “The Big Fish.” As his destiny continues to manifest and publicly unfold before our very eyes, another fitting term to address the Texas native is “The Streetsweeper.”

In all respect to the late Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay, a renown disc jockey in the world of hip-hop, famous for his mixtape and subsequent album series “The Streetsweeper,” boxing’s version appears to be Spence.  

It’s no secret what the biggest fight to make in boxing is. It’s a fight everyone has clamored for going on four plus years now. This fantasy, soon to become reality match-up features the aforementioned Spence and the three-division world champion, formerly undisputed at super lightweight world champion, current WBO welterweight champion, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KO’s).

The Nebraska native, for his part, has been public about his desire to face Spence.

While there have been various narratives casted about who wants to fight who, sides of fans and even sports reporters divided on who will win, who is trying to fight, who is avoiding the fight, it appears a collision course is inevitable.

“Everybody knows who I want next,” Spence said in his post-fight interview with Jim Gray.

“I want Terence Crawford. That’s the fight that I want. That’s the fight everybody else wants. Like I said, I’m going to get these straps then go over there and take his too. Terence I’m coming for that belt!”

Albeit Spence called out Crawford after his victory over Yordenis Ugas this past weekend, Spence had been stating his intentions regarding Crawford well before his fight against Ugas and even stated what the plan was dating all the way back to 2018.

“Well, basically, let me clean up my side of the street,” Spence said in an interview leading up to his mandatory IBF welterweight title defense against Carlos Ocampo.

“Basically, I’m saying my side of the street, you know, Al Haymon and Showtime. Let me clean up my side of the street and I’ll come over there and take up that side of the block, too. That’s what I’m doing.”

“I mean, we’ve got a lot of fighters signed with Al Haymon. We’ve got Danny Garcia, we’ve got Shawn Porter, we’ve got all these – you know, we had Lamont Peterson, we had Keith Thurman, but he’s doing whatever he’s doing right now. So let me clean up my block. Then I’ll come over there and take over their block later on.”

At the time, Crawford was aligned with Bob Arum and Top Rank promotions, which may have been a roadblock towards their union anyways.

Former world champion, Top Rank fighter, current ESPN boxing analyst Tim Bradley, claimed historically, the two sides (Premier Boxing Champions and Top Rank) do not do business together. And while it can be difficult for two companies to work together, anything is possible – see Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao and Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury.

Not that it matters now, Crawford is a free agent, Spence is the top dog at welterweight and arguably all of boxing.

Both Spence and Crawford are top pound-for-pound fighters, exceptionally gifted and possess generational talent. A pending match between the two, may leave significant ramifications comparable to the other historical welterweight bouts in this sport’s rich history. Think Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad, Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns, Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao.

Spence “The Streetsweeper” has cleared up his side of the street and it’s time to see he and Crawford collide. The winner walks away not only as the supreme fighter at welterweight but establishes position and holds reign as the king in boxing.