By Ryan Burton
IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence (22-0, 19 KOs) is hoping to make the first defense of his title this fall in his native Dallas. While an opponent, date and venue haven't been set, Spence is looking forward to the prospects of fighting at home.
In the sport of boxing nothing is every certain until a contract is signed and the fighters step in the ring.
While Spence is looking forward to homecoming bout, he said that he is more than willing to bypass a Texas fight if he can secure one of the division's big names.
One of those big names is former two division world champion Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs), who last saw action in March when he lost a twelve round decision in a unification showdown with Keith Thurman, who walked away with the WBC, WBA world titles.
Spence is very interested in facing Garcia. The two boxers are both advised by Al Haymon and fight under the Premier Boxing Champions umbrella.
"Everyone at home is behind me and supporting me and hopefully I fight in Dallas but if not, if a Danny Garcia fight happens or something like that, then I am willing to fight outside of Dallas but hopefully I can fight in Dallas in my next fight," said Spence.
As for the time frame of his next fight, Spence wants to step in the ring in October at the very latest.
"Hopefully I can fight in September or early October but hopefully it's September," Spence explained.
The 27-year-old 2012 U.S. Olympic captured his title with an 11th round stoppage of Kell Brook in May in a scintillating bout in Brook's backyard. Prior to the Spence fight, Brook's only loss had occurred when he moved up two weight division's to face Gennady Golovkin.
2023-10-18 22:22:17
