Terence 'Bud' Crawford defeats Errol Spence by TKO, unifying every belt in his weight class

Hundreds of people gather for a hometown send-off for Terence “Bud” Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Boxing’s angels floated just west of the Las Vegas strip. Floyd Mayweather. Mike Tyson. Evander Holyfield. Manny Pacquiao. Legends circled the ring at the T-Mobile Center, awaiting the anointing of the next name worthy of their company.

All stood witness. Perhaps not to a legendary fight — with Bud Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. ending their night sooner than one might assume of a generational matchup — but to a legend unifying all four belts - IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO - in the 147-pound welterweight class.

There Crawford stood, rushing to the corner of the ring to stand just shy of the top rope before official Harvey Dock could finish waving his hand. With ninth-round TKO, The Omaha boxing great convincingly won the biggest fight of his life, advancing to 40-0 in his career.

From that rope, Crawford stood atop the world.

“It means everything, because of who I took the belts from,” Crawford said afterward from the ring on Showtime's Pay-Per-View broadcast. “They tried to blackball me, they kept me out, they talked bad about me, they said I wasn’t good enough, I couldn’t beat these top welterweights.

"I just kept my hand to the sky and kept praying to God I could show the world how great Terence Crawford really is. And tonight I believed I showed how great I am.”

Crawford played his role to the T. He resurrected rap recluse Eminem to escort him to the ring. He emerged from smoke to the keys of “Lose Yourself,” a net wrapped around his torso in a scene seemingly omitted from movie 8 Mile.

As the two fighters touched gloves, Crawford never shook his gaze. The wheels were turning early as he hoped to pick apart Spence’s attack and survey his swings. He spent roughly the first five minutes feeling out his opponent before snagging control.

Then came the first knockdown toward the end of the second round. It was the first of Spence’s professional career, an exchange that Crawford followed with a couple of leftover licks in the round’s final 10 seconds to let viewers know he was getting comfortable.

Crawford tactically weaved past Spence’s wide swings. Everything is bigger in Texas, after all. Crawford was quick. But preceding every masterful response felt an unusual amount of power in his jab.

“Normally, in camp, we do a flickin’ jab,” Crawford said, “but we knew that wasn’t going to work with Errol Spence because he’s durable, he’s strong, so we had to practice on a strong, firm jab to jab with him and stop him in his tracks.

By round four, Spence’s ice white gloves were smeared with the blood leaking from his nose. By round five, Crawford seemed to be swinging for a knockout. By round 7, Spence (28-1) appeared outclassed.

With one second remaining in the round, Crawford connected on a pair of right hands to send Spence to the canvas for a jaw-dropping third time — his second in the round.

By round eight, Spence’s eyes were pummeled to a squint.

A potentially legendary bout turned into a comfortable decision. That decision then tipped over into a waiting game, counting the rounds, perhaps even seconds, before Crawford would deliver the final blow. Crawford unleashed sheer dominance, a convincing nod as the world’s undisputed premier pound-for-pound fighter. Equal parts masterclass and massacre.

Dock had seen enough. As Spence, who said he wants a rematch, stumbled through his final punches, Crawford called upon history: The first male boxer to be undisputed champion in two divisions in the four-belt era.

The two faced different circumstances, but both felt similar stakes. Spence aimed to live up to the hype. Crawford hoped to silence those that questioned his resume. Both hoped to punch their permanent ticket into boxing lore.

Crawford cemented his status before just about as profound a panel as there might ever be.

“I’m up there,” Crawford said of his place in history. “I always want to pay homage to the fighters that came before me, because without them, there would be no me. Wherever they want to put me, I’m up there. It ain’t my job to put me where I want to be. It’s y'all job to put me where I belong.”

Terence “Bud” Crawford plays basketball with people during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gather for a hometown send-off for Terence “Bud” Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Terence “Bud” Crawford plays basketball with Isaiah Louis, 11, of Omaha, during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Terence “Bud” Crawford gets a photo with LJ Mason, 7, of Omaha, during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Terence “Bud” Crawford signs autographs during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Terence “Bud” Crawford signs autographs during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Terence “Bud” Crawford high-fives Henry Heiser, 7, of Omaha, during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

O.NE Finest dancers perform during a hometown send-off for Terence “Bud” Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

O.NE Finest dancers perform during a hometown send-off for Terence “Bud” Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gather for a hometown send-off for Terence “Bud” Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Ezekiel Hemphill, of Omaha, and his son, also name Ezekiel, watch Terence “Bud” Crawford play basketball with people during a hometown send-off for him ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

Steven Nelson, left, and Terence “Bud” Crawford celebrate Nelson's birthday early during a hometown send-off for Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol Spence on July 29. Photographed at B&B Sports Academy in North Omaha on Saturday.

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World-Herald staff writer

Hundreds of people gather for a hometown send-off for Terence “Bud” Crawford ahead of his fight with fellow welterweight world champion Errol …

The City of Omaha will hold a parade Aug. 12 in downtown Omaha in honor of acclaimed and undefeated boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford.