The July 2023 bout was thought by many to be a 50-50 fight entering, but Crawford made sure it was anything but that, using his ring savvy and sweet science brilliance toward three knockdowns and the punctuating stoppage.

Spence has not been back in the ring since.

And that brings us to DAZN News’ seventh New Year’s Resolution for boxing in 2026.

For Errol Spence Jr. to return to the ring

Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

The way Crawford decimated Spence has given many boxing fans and even critics a case of selective memory over just how good the latter was and perhaps can still be.

Spence (28-1, 22 knockouts) is a boxer who did everything from batter Kell Brook to a late stoppage, entertain and dominate a Mikey Garcia who moved up in weight to challenge him, and edge a rugged Shawn Porter in a split-decision powered by a late knockdown.

He defended his unified welterweight titles and delivered a unanimous decision over Danny Garcia and stopped a tough Yordenis Ugas to grab the lion’s share of the straps at 147 pounds.

In this stretch of roughly five years, Spence was as dominant as any top fighter in boxing. That run in building his fight profile and showing his skills, whether ripping the body ferociously or being razor-sharp with his counterpunching, Spence didn’t just beat opponents — he broke their wills.

As of late, there has been a clamour to have ‘The Truth’ return to the ring, only amplified by his ringside appearance at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas when Vergil Ortiz Jr. made quick work of Erickson Lubin.

“It was good to see him looking good, shining, smiling and being around the fight game,” Andre Ward said on his podcast for All The Smoke Fight. “I miss Errol Spence around the fight game and it looked like to me that fans miss Errol Spence and I think he deserves that.”

That same podcast in November had Roy Jones Jr. revealing that he was supposed to travel to Dallas to meet with Spence, vowing “I don’t have to be his trainer, I just want to help him get going and see what he can do.”

Jones later followed up on Spence, telling FightHype.com “he looked good” and I saw that glow in him again” after their meeting.

There were plans for Spence to challenge Sebastian Fundora at 154 pounds last year but they ultimately did not pan out. Another year removed, perhaps 2026 can be the year for Spence’s return to the sport.

Spence, who turns 36 in March, has overcome everything from a detached retina to a horrific October 2019 car crash. He can surely make it back from the lone loss on his ledger and give boxing whatever he has left, perhaps silencing naysayers along the way.

And that’s ‘The Truth.’ Let this be the year he does it.

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