Errol Spence Jr. believes that he is in far better shape than he was when he fought Danny Garcia back in 2020.
The IBF and WBC welterweight champion fought Garcia after a serious car accident in October 2019, one that could have ended his career, and resulted in eye surgery last year.
That surgery cancelled his involvement in Manny Pacquiao’s last and potentially final outing as a professional, but he is now set to fight this weekend when he faces Yordenis Ugas. Ugas was the fighter who stepped in to take on Pacquaio, winning the WBA strap and making this next fight a unification clash.
Spence has suggested that his comeback fight was a tough one for him physically, but the 32-year-old American now feels ready to go against his Cuban rival at the AT&T Stadium.
“I feel like I’m a better fighter [than in] the Danny Garcia fight because … I mean, I came off a car accident,” Spence said at a press conference on Thursday.
“You know, and I flew 40 in the air and landed on concrete. So, of course, with time, I’m gonna become a better fighter than the Danny Garcia fight. I mean, my body was still kinda banged up and I still won the fight. So, I feel like I’m just a better fighter overall. I’ve been in the gym a lot longer and just been training harder and just been more focused than ever.”
His trainer Derrick James agreed, telling BoxingScene.com: “I’m looking forward to greatness.
“Think about this – to be able to shut Danny Garcia out for 12 rounds, and to not be at 100 percent, is amazing. But now, coming into this fight, he’s even better. He’s even stronger, more physical. So, I think that you’ll see the great version of Errol Spence.”