Errol Spence Jr.’s Unusual Incident During Fight
In a recent revelation, Errol Spence Jr. recounted a peculiar incident that transpired during his welterweight unification bout against Yordenis Ugas in 2022, which surprisingly had nothing to do with physical blows exchanged in the ring. The fighter has undergone significant dental procedures since a near-fatal car accident in 2019, which narrowly avoided ending his boxing career altogether.
Dental Challenges and Comeback
While appearing on the podcast All The Smoke, Spence discussed his dental challenges leading up to his comeback fight in 2020 against Danny Garcia. He disclosed that dental professionals had installed several implants, explaining,
“I can’t spar yet because I got my teeth knocked out. They put three posts in my mouth. I’m waiting for them to heal before I can get my permanent teeth.”
Moment of Distraction in the Ring
The odd moment in question occurred in the sixth round of his fight with Ugas, during which Spence appeared to lose focus momentarily. This lapse allowed Ugas to land a significant blow while Spence was seemingly distracted by a concern regarding his dental situation. The referee ultimately intervened to halt the bout while the situation was assessed.
After Ugas prompted a discussion on social media regarding the strange sequence, Spence clarified that in the heat of the moment, he was concerned that his newly fitted dentures had dislodged alongside his mouthpiece. He shared with Ugas,
“I had a new denture and tripped out and thought my dentures fell out with my mouthpiece.”
Victory and Aftermath
This friendly exchange on social media illuminated the complexities present during the intense match, which required considerable endurance from both fighters. Spence ultimately claimed victory, stopping Ugas in the tenth round and succeeding in unifying the WBC, IBF, and WBA welterweight titles. Just fifteen months later, however, Terence Crawford would take all three belts from Spence.
About the Author
Phil Jay, a seasoned boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience, served as the author of this story. He has been the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, where he has captured moments from the sport and engaged with numerous world champions throughout his career.
