“He’s not back in the gym”: Ahead of Rematch with Terence Crawford, Derrick James Gives Big Update on Errol Spence Jr’s Current Situation

What is Errol Spence Jr.’s next strategy to redeem himself from the scathing loss he registered against Terence Crawford? A more rigorous training camp? New tactics? Or is it an entire overhaul of his training team? While the boxing world awaits the confirmed dates of the Spence Jr.- Crawford rematch,  Spence’s coach Derrick James has weighed in on the rumors of the fighter seeking a new coach.

On July 29th, a historic fight occurred at the iconic T-Mobile Arena of Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a fight for the unification of welterweight titles between Spence Jr. and Crawford. While the boxing community expected a close tie, Crawford established his dominance in the ring instantly. He emerged as the undisputed champion via a 9th-round technical knockout. Moments after the fight concluded, Spence Jr. activated the rematch clause in their contract. As the rematch looms, a new conversation ensues about Spence’s training camp. Does he remain keen on replacing his trainer, James?

Why hasn’t Errol Spence Jr. gone back to the gym?

At the press conference of the upcoming Ryan Garcia- Oscar Duarte fight, present was Garcia’s ace trainer, Derrick James; also Spence’s trainer. In a conversation with K.O. Artist Sports, the trainer briefly spoke about Spence’s preparation for the rematch against ‘Bud.’ When asked about where the negotiations had reached for the fight, the trainer in his brazen style brushed it off. But then came his revelation that raised some eyebrows. He noted that Spence has not yet gone back to the gym to begin the training camp. He said, “Nah, I mean he’s not back in the gym.” Even though a date for the fight has not been announced, why hasn’t Spence begun training with James?

The trainer has recently caught the ire of boxing enthusiasts after his key fighters underperformed in their fights. One, of course, remains Spence’s fight against Crawford. The other is Jermell Charlo, who lost to Canelo Alvarez via a UD in a disappointing way. Amidst the criticism, rumors emerged that his fighter Spence was leaving him and looking for a new coach to improve his style of fighting ahead of the rematch. What does James think about these rumors? He discarded them. He substantiated his argument by stating, “His mind is right, that’s all that matters.” 

Why is there a holdup with the rematch dates?

As soon as Spence exercised the rematch clause, speculations regarding the date for the fight emerged. Initially, most believed it would take its course before the year ended, so perhaps a December fight was envisioned. However, with months passing and the arrival of December, the speculations have fallen flat. There has been no fight date that has emerged so far. While both the fighters have not delved into when the rematch would happen, Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza hinted that the rematch could take place sometime in 2024. Crawford has made his priorities clear. It is the rematch that takes precedence for him. However, he has also been seeking a fight against Canelo.

Also Read: “Remember Ali Came Back and Won”: Ahead of Comeback Fight, Ryan Garcia Reflects on the Impact of Errol Spence Jr and Jermell Charlo’s Loss in Dereck James’ Gym

With Spence not even beginning his training camp, it would be safe to assume that the rematch is not slated to happen anytime before 2023 ends. However, the excitement and jitters around the rematch continue to  excite the boxing realm. Will Errol Spence Jr. be able to redeem himself from the devastating loss he encountered at the hands of Terence Crawford?

Moreover, do you think Spence needs to change his trainer? Let us know in the comments section below.

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