Joey Spencer knew he was at the crossroads of his career from the moment the bell sounded to end his most recent fight.
Another eight-round decision win was in the books for the 22-year-old junior middleweight prospect, who soundly outpointed Ravshan Hudaynazarov this past March 26 in Minneapolis. It was a rare non-televised bout for Spencer, who’d frequently appeared on Fox and FS1 during his young career. This particular bout didn’t need an audience, as it was more of the same—which even Spencer knew and never again wanted to experience.
“When I got out of my last fight, I said to myself, I don’t want fights like that anymore,” Spencer told BoxingScene.com. “I want fights that are going to really catapult me and push me to be at my sharpest. I feel like I’ve only shown very, very little of what I’m able to do in the ring.”
The brass at Premier Boxing Champions took note, as Spencer will experience his first true step up in class.
Spencer (15-0, 10KOs)—a Michigan native who now lives and trains in Union City, California—next faces Kevin Salgado (14-0-1, 9KOs) in a scheduled ten-round battle of unbeaten junior middleweights as part of a Fox telecast this Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. The bout will immediately precede a four-fight Fox Sports Pay-Per-View telecast headlined by a WBC heavyweight semifinal eliminator between former titlist Andy Ruiz (34-2, 22KOs) and two-time title challenger Luis Ortiz (33-2, 28KOs; 2NC).
Whereas Ruiz and Ortiz both face a must-win scenario, Spencer is at a point where he aims to transition from prospect to contender. A win on Sunday will put him on that track, along with taking a major step towards satisfying the demands of his critics—himself included among that group demanding more.
“I really feel like this is going to bring out a better version of me,” Spencer insisted. “I have literally put absolutely everything into camp. No stone has been unturned for this fight. I’m excited for the bright lights. I’m excited for it to get chaotic in there and for it to be a good scrap. I know he’s going to bring it. He comes to fight and I come to fight. So, it’s got to be a good fight. There is no room for complacency here.
“I’ve been doing this since I was eight years old. I was extremely accomplished as an amateur. I fought the best of the best as an amateur and was successful and won on an elite level. I’m not used to fighting opposition that doesn’t bring that out of me. I have more experience fighting guys like this.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
