Terence Crawford up for rematch after TKO victory of Errol Spence Jr

Referee stops the fight in Round 9 to see Crawford crowned undisputed welterweight champion

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  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 29: Terrence Crawford celebrates with his championship belts after defeating Errol Spence Jr. in the World Welterweight Championship bout at T-Mobile Arena on July 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Al Bello / Getty Images / AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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  Errol Spence Jr is knocked down by Terence Crawford - one of three for Spence. EPA

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  Terence Crawford, right, throws his last assault against Errol Spence Jr before the referee intervened to call a halt to the fight in Round 9. EPA

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  Errol Spence Jr hits the canvas, one of three knockdowns at the hands of Terence Crawford on the night. EPA

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  Errol Spence Jr, right, in action against Terence Crawford. EPA

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  Terence Crawford, left, connects with a punch to Errol Spence Jr. AP

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  Terence Crawford, right, in action against Errol Spence Jr. EPA

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  Errol Spence Jr lands a left hook on Terence Crawford. EPA

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  Terence Crawford lands a right jab on Errol Spence Jr. EPA

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  Terence Crawford celebrates after his victory over Errol Spence Jr. EPA

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  US rapper Eminem attends the fight. EPA

Terence Crawford put on a dominant performance against Errol Spence Jr in Las Vegas to become the undisputed welterweight champion.

A flurry of punches in Round 9 by Crawford wobbled Spence, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

It took just two rounds for Crawford to land his first of three knockdowns, with the next two coming in Round 7.

Spence was brave throughout the bout, hanging on in a fight he was significantly behind in, but eventually Crawford took it out of his hands.

Crawford showed his respect to his downed opponent after the fight and said he would be up for a rematch.

“It was a good stoppage. I was on the verge. The referee did what he was supposed to do to protect the fighter,” Crawford said.

“If the fight happens again I am pretty sure the support will come out again for both of us.”

Spence said he would be up for a rematch.

“We've got to do it again,” Spence said. “I would be a lot better.”

Crawford (40-0, 31 knockouts) already owned the WBO belt, and took the WBC, WBA and IBF titles from Spence (28-1). Crawford also ran his KO streak to 11 matches, the second-longest active stretch.

The American, 35, has won titles in super lightweight and lightweight in addition to welterweight, capturing the latter after moving up in 2018. He is the first male boxer to become the undisputed champion in two divisions in the four-belt era.

“I only dreamed of being a world champion,” Crawford said. “I’m an over-achiever. Nobody believed in me when I was coming up, but I made everybody a believer. I want to thank Spence and his team because without him none of this would have been possible.”

“He was just better tonight,” Spence said. “I make no excuses. He was throwing a harder jab. He was timing with his jab, and he had his timing down on point.”

A big fight night on the Strip still brings out the stars, with recording artists Cardi B and Andre 3000 of Outkast, actor and Las Vegas resident Mark Walhberg, NBA star Damian Lillard and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at T-Mobile Arena. They were among the celebrities that also included former boxing champions such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

Eminem introduced Crawford and his song Lose Yourself played as he walked into the ring before a sellout crowd of 19,990 at T-Mobile Arena.