By Ryan Maquiñana
Errol Spence enters Thursday night’s eight-round welterweight clash with Noe Bolanos as the unequivocal favorite, but the unbeaten 24-year-old will hear nothing of it.
“I have to stay focused,” Spence told BoxingScene.com after Wednesday’s weigh-in in between bites of chicken alfredo. “A lot of prospects have been losing over the past year and a half, and if you take anyone for granted, it can happen to you.”
Spence (13-0, 10 KOs), a rising southpaw from DeSoto, Texas -- a stone’s throw from Dallas -- is aware that the Mexican Bolanos (24-10-1, 16 KOs) is mired in a five-bout losing streak. However, the precocious lefty has spent camp leaving nothing to chance in a fight that will take place at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and air on Fox Sports 1.
“I know (about Bolanos' losing streak), but I can’t really think about that,” Spence said. “I’ve seen a couple of his fights, and he’s a strong guy who likes to come forward. He can punch. I have to go to the body when necessary and make sure I keep my hands up.”
As an amateur, Spence dominated the 152-pound welterweight division, celebrating a three-peat at nationals (2009-11) before representing the United States in the 2012 London Olympics, where he was the only American to advance to the quarterfinals.
In the pro ranks, the Texan has come in lighter, taking advantage of his 5-foot-10 frame and 72-inch reach -- traits one would peg for a pure boxer.
“I can make 147 (pounds),” he said. “It’s not always easy, but I can make the weight, so I plan to win a title at 147 and then move up to 154 later.”
But while Spence is proficient at using the ring and winning rounds, he has made a name for himself in his early career for his murderous body punching, highlighted by an electric right hook to the ribcage. Such a repertoire made him an ideal sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather in preparation for Robert Guerrero last year.
The southpaw’s sharpened skill set was on full display in June, when he dismantled solid veteran Ronald Cruz in one-sided fashion over the 10-round distance. Though Bolanos represents a step down in difficulty, Spence appreciates the opportunity to stay busy in his fourth fight of 2014 and even offered a self-assessment at this stage in his early career.
“After the Cruz fight, I think I’m ready for a top 15 welterweight now, but I’ll leave it up to my team to take care of that,” Spence said. “Being able to fight in the same city in the same week when Floyd’s fighting (Marcos) Maidana, I know there are a lot of important people in the sport and well-known writers coming in early who will watch me fight.
“I go into every camp thinking that you’re only as good as your last fight, and whoever I’m fighting, I know I have to look impressive,” he said. “I want to look my best.”
Ryan Maquiñana is the Boxing Insider at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and the Editor-in-Chief of Norcalboxing.com. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @RMaq28 or email him at rmaquinana@gmail.com.
