Errol Spence Looks to Become Undisputed Welterweight Champion Tomorrow in Vegas

Desoto native and undefeated unified welterweight world champion Errol "The Truth" Spence, 28-0 (22), looks to join his stablemate Jermell Charlo as an undisputed champion in his weight class. The feat has been accomplished nine times in the four-belt era. It was last accomplished by Japanese KO artist Naoya Inoue, in the Bantamweight division in late 2022. Charlo, a Houston native, captured all four belts in the 154-pound division in May, 2022 by stopping Brian Castano in the 10th round of their rematch.

Spence, who currently holds three of the four welterweight belts (WBA, WBC, IBF), will step into the ring with WBO title holder Terence "Bud" Crawford, 38-0 (30), of Omaha, Nebraska, in what is being-touted as the biggest fight of the year. Crawford is also one of the nine men who held all the straps in the four-belt era. He accomplished the task when he stopped Julius Indongo in the third round of their 2017 showdown. Crawford will look to be the first-ever man to hold the undisputed crown in multiple weight classes. Evander Holyfield accomplished the feat in the three-belt era.

If Spence, who is a slight betting underdog, +120 according to DraftKings, can pull the minor upset, that will mean all eight world title belts from 147 to 154, will not only be held in the great state of Texas, they will be held in the same gym. Both fighters train with Derick James at his World Class Boxing Gym in Dallas. Additionaly, Charlo will have a unique opportunity to hold all four belts in two separate weight classes when he steps into the ring with legendary Mexican champion Canelo Alvarez who holds all the belts at 168 on September 30th in Las Vegas. If both Texans are successful, all of the world titles in the 147, 154 & 168-pound divisions will all be held by Texans.

Ryan Garcia Jones Coach Derrick James in Dallas

Dallas native and "Trainer of the Year" is growing perhaps the most prolific stable in the boxing world. He has recently added former unified heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua to his gym. Now he's adding a Pay-Per-View star and one of boxing's most recognizable faces to his World Class Boxing Gym in Dallas. Ryan Garcia, a Victorville, California, native will embark on his run to a world title run in the incredibly deep and talented 140-pound division alongside Coach James. Garcia has made a habit of changing camps. He split ties with Joe Goosen following his seventh-round stoppage loss to Tank Davis in their pay Per View blockbuster that generated well over a million PPV purchases. The southern California native, who is just 24, took to Instagram and posted a picture with his new trainer. "I'm searching for greatness, I'm looking to improve. I'm looking to be a champion with Derrick James. I feel he can guide me and mentor me." the fighter said. 

Garcia previously was trained by his father and had worked with Goosen as an amateur. In 2018 he began working with Canelo Alvarez's trainer Eddy Reynoso and his team. Garcia went 5-0 and had all five wins by knockout. He then switched camps and began working with Goosen following a long layoff due to mental health concerns that kept the 24-year-old out of the ring. Garcia returned in April of 2022 and fought Emmanuel Tagoe in the Alamodome and scored a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision.

James's incredibly deep stable includes Joshua, as well as unified welterweight champ and DeSoto native Errol Spence, as well as Houstonian Jermell Charlo, who has all the belts in the division north of Spence. James also works with undefeated, blue chip lightweight Frank Martin who is coming off the best win of his career against Michel Rivera. Now adding Garcia, puts James in a position were he could, in the relatively near future, control world titles at every weight class from 135 to 154. James was a solid professional and compiled a professional record of 21-7-1 (12), competing mainly between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. 

Dallas-Based Trainer, Derrick James, Gets AJ Back in the Win Column

Dallas-based trainer and owner of World Class Boxing Gym Derrick James accepted a new challenge, a giant challenge, perhaps the largest of his career. James accepted the test to try and get 2x former heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua back to the top of the division, to get the fallen champ back to the top of the mountain, and to regain the most prestigious title in the world, The Heavyweight Champion of the world. The first stop in the journey back to the top was Saturday at the 02 Arena in London. Joshua, of London UK, took on Saginaw, Michigan, native Jermaine Franklin in the evening's main event. Joshua passed that test. He was calm and in control throughout the scheduled 12-rounder. The Brit boxed well from the outside and fired off a snappy jab that seemed to be landing with the impact of a power shot. Joshua appeared to fatigue a bit as the fight progressed. However, he remained in control, working well on the inside and scoring on the inside and in spots landed with his patented right uppercut. He rolled to a wide but competitive and hard-fought unanimous decision. The judges rendered scores of 118-111 and 117-111 x2. The Texan-trained Brit moved his record to 25-3 (22), and it was a less-than-spectacular but still dominant performance over a borderline top-ten heavyweight. A good heavyweight that isn't a pushover or a tune-up, but a legitimate threat.

James is a trainer of the year award who currently trains unified welterweight champ, Errol Spence of DeSoto, and undisputed Jr Middleweight champ Jermell Charlo of Houston. He also trains undefeated lightweight prospect, Frank Martin. This is the first world-class heavyweight James has trained. It's going to be a journey back to the top, and Joshua has had three trainers in his last three fights. It's going to take some time to adjust and get comfortable with one another. However, Saturday was a test, and it was a test passed with flying colors. Joshua gave credit to working with Spence, saying it serves as motivation. When you’re amongst other great fighters, it does help. We all train at different times, because there’s only one Derrick James, but we kind of cross each other's paths... It gives you motivation because you can see the good and the bad from a distance. Success breeds success, you put a dog with sheep, and it will become a sheep.”

Saturday in London was the first win for Joshua since 2020. He had lost two in a row and three of his last five. Despite the numerous losses, AJ has remained one of the sport's biggest stars.