By Ryan Burton
In recent months IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence (22-0) has seen his name linked to WBC/WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman and former lightweight and super lightweight champion Terence Crawford, who is making the move up to the welterweight division in his next fight.
The Texas native has been very open in his interest in facing both men. He has never backed down from wanting to face the top competition at 147 pounds.
It seems like a fight versus either man is a ways a way from happening. Thurman is looking for a tune up fight after having elbow surgery last May and there is talk that he will fight again in April. Crawford is the mandatory challenger to Jeff Horn’s WBO welterweight title and will likely face him on an April date in Las Vegas.
Nevertheless Spence is confident that he will step in the ring with both men.
"It is going to happen. It is going to happen as long as we are top welterweights and we keep winning it is definitely going to happen. I am not shying away from any competition at all in my weight class," said Spence.
As for which one would present the more difficult challenge, Spence said that he hasn’t put much thought into it and that he is focused on his January 20th opponent Lamont Peterson.
"I really don't know,” Spence stated. “Keith Thurman is more of a mover. Terence can move but Terence likes to fight. I can't tell right now. It is something that I really haven't thought about - comparing them two together."
Spence-Peterson will be broadcast live on Showtime from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Robert Easter will defend his IBF lightweight title against Javier Fortuna in the chief supporting televised bout.
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