Should Errol Spence Jr's Recent Bizarre Blipped Out Lapses In Concentration, Be Of Greater Concern?

ForemanJab · Jun 16, 2022

His brain seems to short circuit for a sec whenever he’s caught with a good shot now. Could be an effect from the crash. There’s no way he walked away from a wreck that bad without some residual brain damage.

Reinhardt · Jun 16, 2022

CST80 said: ↑

We all wondered after the horrific accident that Spence was involved in, if there would be any lingering after effects once he got back in the ring. Thus far, since returning from it, he's fought twice, and while he won both matches with relative ease. Two incidents that happened during them, that his fans seem to be in denial of, really bothered me a great deal. While sure, I've never been the biggest fan of Spence, he's still a father and seems like a really good guy, so I do not want to see him hurt at all. But his fans and fans in general really should be paying far closer attention to the spells he had in both of those matches, where he he seemed to get his bell rung, by both Danny and Ugas, then froze up, seems to short circuit and forgets where he is, and wanders off, looking at the canvas. While I tried to shrug it off, and hoped nothing was wrong, the recent tragic passing of Simiso Buthelezi really bothered me, the images of him punching an opponent that wasn't there, were absolutely haunting. And immediately I thought of what happened with Spence, in two matches, back to back, after he in all likelihood, suffered some form of TBI, in his car accident. The similarities are very hard to ignore. I hope it's nothing, I hope it's just a coincidence, I hope nothing is wrong with him. But I'm also not naive, and seeing several people who've suffered TBI up close in my personal life. I can't help but think there's something wrong. Because, while the damage doesn't appear on an MRI, and while the person manages to pass most tests, their cognitive abilities and reaction time erode over time. So the idea that someone who gets punched in the head for a living, that suffered severe damage to his head in that accident, might be starting to show the after effects a year or two later, is not far fetched.

So, do you think that PBC should be more forthcoming about his test results? Should they be far more concerned for their fighter? Sure, he's been cleared, but as we all know, some doctors are far more lenient than others. Hell, Margarito and countless other boxers who show the negative side effects in their slowed response time and slurred speech, are allowed to continue fighting on. Jermain Taylor was allowed to continue boxing, even after suffering a minor brain bleed, which is utterly appalling. So let's be honest, promoters don't always have the best interest of their fighter in mind, they have the profit they can make off of said fighter, as their primary concern. So while I know, it's the dream match everyone wants to see, but the fact of the matter is, Terence Crawford hits a hell of a lot harder than Ugas and Garcia, and he's a hell of a lot more accurate, with a genuine sadistic streak. He's going to mercilessly punish Spence when they get in the ring together. So, in light of recent events, and what happened in those two matches, Should the testing be far more stringent and far more thorough before they allow this potential matchup against a very dangerous spiteful fighter, to take place?

Here's the episodes I was referring to, timestamped.

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This re-enforces my belief that Crawford stops him late

Serge · Jun 16, 2022

JOKER said: ↑

If only professional boxing looked down on illegal holding with as much rancor and disgust as the AIBA. Team Slick would vacate the sport en masse.

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Shame they didn't have that ref for any of Dre's fights or his Olympic semi-final where he literally spent half of the fight holding like an octopus/bear hybrid.

Jalolov had a point deducted by the US ref the other night, in round 4. Weird because you can get away with holding like an octopus for 12 rounds over there if you're a home fighter.

CST80 · Jun 16, 2022

Reinhardt said: ↑

This re-enforces my belief that Crawford stops him late
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I've always thought Crawford would beat Spence with relative ease, I'm now more convinced than ever. That being said, I'm not really in the mood to see it at the moment, because I do think something is off with Errol and I really hope they put him through a battery of tests, by doctors looking for problems, that are willing to make unpopular decisions, instead of yes men. Completely clear him as healthy and capable of fighting, before this fight gets made. No amount of pride or desire to see a match by fans is wort man's long term health or possibly life.

941Jeremy · Jun 16, 2022

If this was the case then this would be a recurring issue during sparring as well and no way would they allow him to continue boxing if this was routinely happening.

YCGS · Jun 16, 2022

I see what you're saying and we all hope it isn't more serious.

What I had finally settled on was that I think in the accident he lost several of his teeth and I feel like in the fight when the mouthpiece comes out he sort of flashes back to that moment and it is a sort of self conscious "fear" of losing his teeth. (I know a common dream people have is losing their teeth for example) The reason I came to that conclusion and not something worse as you shared concerns about was by how quickly he dials back in and gets to work. Totally just my theory though.

Ph33rknot · Jun 16, 2022

CST80 said: ↑

I'm not buying that, even remotely. That happens after a fighter gets dropped and needs to buy some time. Spence isn't an idiot, or a dumb fighter, and in both of those cases, the ref could've easily waved the matches off, because he turned his back on the action. That's a very dangerous position to put yourself in, both from the ref's perspective, and from the opponent's, who could've easily capitalized, and looped a punch around, and hit him in the jaw as he was walking away. Protect yourself at all times. He seemed to lose track of what he was doing and that he was even in a match. Those were moments of genuine confusion.
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I missed both those fights but you can totally see something is not right he literally looked lost in both those videos

Oddone · Jun 17, 2022

Reinhardt said: ↑

This re-enforces my belief that Crawford stops him late
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If Spence has a confused moment against Crawford, Crawford will viscously move in for the kill and be all over him.

Crawford within eight is how I see it at the moment.

BoB Box · Jun 17, 2022

Cally said: ↑

I agree, my thoughts exactly, seeing simiso haunted me too

It's very strange, its more than spitting out his guard, he's completely switched off mid engagement and wandered off in a world of his own.

Hope not but it doesn't seem right to me either.
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Right, and then ate Ugas best shot so that probally didnt help either. ( by the way Ugas should have earned a knock down, looked like the ropes held Spence up)

JOKER · Jun 17, 2022

Reinhardt said: ↑

This re-enforces my belief that Crawford stops him late
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Always was, is, and always will be the case.

JacK Rauber · Jun 17, 2022

CST80 said: ↑

We all wondered after the horrific accident that Spence was involved in, if there would be any lingering after effects once he got back in the ring. Thus far, since returning from it, he's fought twice, and while he won both matches with relative ease. Two incidents that happened during them, that his fans seem to be in denial of, really bothered me a great deal. While sure, I've never been the biggest fan of Spence, he's still a father and seems like a really good guy, so I do not want to see him hurt at all. But his fans and fans in general really should be paying far closer attention to the spells he had in both of those matches, where he he seemed to get his bell rung, by both Danny and Ugas, then froze up, seems to short circuit and forgets where he is, and wanders off, looking at the canvas. While I tried to shrug it off, and hoped nothing was wrong, the recent tragic passing of Simiso Buthelezi really bothered me, the images of him punching an opponent that wasn't there, were absolutely haunting. And immediately I thought of what happened with Spence, in two matches, back to back, after he in all likelihood, suffered some form of TBI, in his car accident. The similarities are very hard to ignore. I hope it's nothing, I hope it's just a coincidence, I hope nothing is wrong with him. But I'm also not naive, and seeing several people who've suffered TBI up close in my personal life. I can't help but think there's something wrong. Because, while the damage doesn't appear on an MRI, and while the person manages to pass most tests, their cognitive abilities and reaction time erode over time. So the idea that someone who gets punched in the head for a living, that suffered severe damage to his head in that accident, might be starting to show the after effects a year or two later, is not far fetched.

So, do you think that PBC should be more forthcoming about his test results? Should they be far more concerned for their fighter? Sure, he's been cleared, but as we all know, some doctors are far more lenient than others. Hell, Margarito and countless other boxers who show the negative side effects in their slowed response time and slurred speech, are allowed to continue fighting on. Jermain Taylor was allowed to continue boxing, even after suffering a minor brain bleed, which is utterly appalling. So let's be honest, promoters don't always have the best interest of their fighter in mind, they have the profit they can make off of said fighter, as their primary concern. So while I know, it's the dream match everyone wants to see, but the fact of the matter is, Terence Crawford hits a hell of a lot harder than Ugas and Garcia, and he's a hell of a lot more accurate, with a genuine sadistic streak. He's going to mercilessly punish Spence when they get in the ring together. So, in light of recent events, and what happened in those two matches, Should the testing be far more stringent and far more thorough before they allow this potential matchup against a very dangerous spiteful fighter, to take place?

Here's the episodes I was referring to, timestamped.

This content is protected

This content is protected

Click to expand...

Yes, like you, I am very concerned with what I have seen with Spence. I like Spence a lot and I would hate to see him suffer serious damage. He does not seem to be the same fighter that he was prior to the accident. I think it is much more serious than they let on. He has a heart of a lion but that could lead to long-term problems.

Serge · Jun 17, 2022

I've been saying I don't like the way he reacts to getting hit for years. Even though he's barely fought any punchers, let alone ones his own size, he pulls ouch that really hurt little girl faces when he gets tagged by light-average punchers. He reacts like he's been clipped by bombs from power punchers when in reality these guys are not big punchers at all and this whole spitting out his mouthpiece business he keeps doing to buy more time when he's been buzzed or hurt only confirms my initial observations. Even if you're afflicted with the sadly all too common WMS (weak mandible syndrome) you don't ever show your hand like that. That's a cardinal rule. You put on your best poker face.

box33 · Jun 17, 2022

JOKER said: ↑

I don't think it's residual effects from the car accident. In both cases, Spence was buzzed right before and he tried to buy time by spitting out his mouthpiece.
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There was a video someone posted here a while back, was surprised though not completely sure as the quality sucked, if it's true then it could be a strategy he employs and we have just missed it.

box33 · Jun 17, 2022

Serge said: ↑

Videos are unavailable over here but the spitting out the mouthpiece thing has happened three or it might even be four times now and at least one of these instances was pre crash

One of his opponents in the Olympics actually did the same thing when he fought him

'LONDON -- A few hours after the U.S. men's boxing team thought it was done at the Olympics, amateur boxing's governing body decided Errol Spence deserved to fight on.

AIBA overturned Spence's loss to Indian welterweight Krishan Vikas late Friday night, five hours after the defense-minded Vikas had apparently clutched and grabbed his way to a 13-11 victory.

After the American team protested the result, AIBA's competition jury reviewed the bout and ruled Vikas had committed nine holding fouls in the third round alone. He also intentionally spit out his mouthpiece in the second round, which should have resulted in at least four points of deductions'
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Good post & yeah i think the OP didn't see that video but clearly he's been reacting like that long before the accident occurred.

Serge · Jun 17, 2022

box33 said: ↑

Good post & yeah i think the OP didn't see that video but clearly he's been reacting like that long before the accident occurred.
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Thanks

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Should Errol Spence Jr's Recent Bizarre Blipped Out Lapses In Concentration, Be Of Greater Concern?

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