Don’t mistake Errol Spence’s self-confidence for arrogance.
Or go ahead and do it, as far as he’s concerned.
“If I’ve been feeling myself, then I’ve been feeling myself since my career started,” noted Spence (25-0, 21KOs) during a recent edition of Inside PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) Boxing when asked to comment on such a claim made by upcoming opponent and fellow welterweight titlist Shawn Porter (30-2-1, 17KOs). “I been saying I can beat all the top guys in my division.
“It’s not that I’m arrogant, it’s just now they hear me because I’m at the top of the mountain.”
Spence has remained a steady betting favorite ahead of their welterweight title unification clash, which airs live on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View this Saturday from Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Most experts believe the bout will be more competitive than was Spence’s last outing, a 12-round shutout of Mikey Garcia, who moved up two divisions from their PPV clash of unbeaten pound-for-pound entrants this past March.
Still, few if any have yet to pick Porter to win, a fact which—along with Spence’s pre-fight guarantee of a knockout‚—has the squat Ohio native believing it’s begun to go to his opponent’s head a little bit.
“I honestly feel that Errol is feeling himself,” insists Porter. “When you’re dominant and the guy who is the champion right now, I get it. But I believe he’s feeling himself a little bit right now.”
If Spence firmly believes he’s the best welterweight in the world, he certainly has plenty of company. Most respectable outlets have him ranked in that very position, which is quite a statement considering the current state of the historically rich division. The closest he’s come to being challenged came in his title winning effort versus Kell Brook, making necessary mid-fight adjustments to score an 11th round stoppage in their May 2017 clash on the road in Sheffield, England. From there came a trio of one-sided title defenses against respectable opposition including back-to-back previously unbeaten foes in Carlos Ocampo and the win over Garcia.
As the late, great Muhammad Ali often repeated, it ain’t bragging if you can back it up.
“That has nothing to do with feeling myself,” stated Spence. “All that arrogant stuff, it’s all gone out the door. I’m training hard, I’m truly focused and I’m ready to fight.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re arrogant or not, as long as you’re training hard, staying focused and listening to your coach. I’m doing everything possible to ensure me a victory.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
