Derrick James, the head trainer for unified WBC and IBF champion Errol “The Truth” Spence, believes his boxer can fight at weights as high as the middleweight limit of 160-pounds.
Spence will collide with WBA champion Yordenis Ugas in a three belt unification this Saturday, April 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
A victory will place Spence in position to become the undisputed champion - should he decide to face WBO champion Terence Crawford next.
Another possibility, is a move to the junior middleweight limit of 154-pounds.
“We can go up to whatever weight he wants to go. We spar heavyweights on a consistent basis. Errol’s very physical as a fighter and he can fight up to 160, and maybe even higher. I’m not saying that’s what we’re going to do. He’d probably be comfortable with that because we are comfortable with being in there with bigger guys all the time," James said.
Before a move to 154 can be explored, Spence has to overcome the task of beating Ugas, who is guided in the corner by veteran trainer Ismael Salas.
James has studied a decent amount of footage to pick up on Ugas' flaws.
“Ugas’ trainer is looking for the same things I’m looking for on film. Salas is smart. He’s supposed to look for patterns and see what kind of shots the opponents’ throw. That’s what trainers are supposed to do. I’ll watch some of his fights; I watch enough. Just to pick up on tendencies and shots he throws and how he throws his punches so I can mimic them. And I’ll let Errol know that this is coming, or that is coming," James said.
“Ugas’ biggest threat coming into this fight is what you can’t see. It’s his heart and his fortitude. It’s his desire to want to be great."
