Errol Spence Jr Bio
Errol Spence Jr. (born March 3, 1990) is an American professional boxer who has held multiple world championships in the welterweight division, including the WBA (Super), WBC, and IBF titles between 2017 and 2023. Competing under the ring name “The Truth,” he is recognized for his power, skill, and accomplishments across more than a decade in the sport. A former Olympian and three-time United States national amateur welterweight champion, Spence turned professional in 2012 and quickly established himself as one of the top fighters of his generation.
With a record of 28 wins and 1 loss, including 22 knockouts, Spence has built a reputation as a southpaw technician with finishing ability. He lives in Dallas, Texas, and continues to compete at the highest levels of professional boxing.
Early Life and Background
Errol Spence Jr. was born on March 3, 1990, on Long Island, New York. He is of Jamaican descent through his father and African-American descent through his mother, and he spent the majority of his childhood and adult life in Dallas, Texas, which he considers his hometown. The Dallas area shaped much of his upbringing and remains central to his personal identity.
Spence took up boxing at the age of 15, beginning a journey that would carry him from local gyms to the international stage. He is the father of two daughters and a son, and his family has been a consistent presence throughout his career.
Path to Boxing
Spence developed rapidly as an amateur, winning the United States National Golden Gloves in 2009 and capturing three consecutive national amateur welterweight championships from 2009 to 2011. He also reached the quarter-finals at the 2011 World Championships, where he lost to Serik Sapiyev, and concluded his amateur career with an outstanding record of 135-12.
In 2012, Spence represented the United States at the London Olympics in the welterweight division, advancing to the quarter-finals before losing to Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy. Shortly after the Games, he decided to turn professional, signing with Premier Boxing Champions and beginning a fast ascent through the professional ranks.
Errol Spence Jr Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Errol Spence Jr. made his professional debut on November 9, 2012, at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, knocking out Jonathan Garcia in the third round. He fought eight times in 2013, winning all of his bouts and securing six stoppages, finishing the year with a 10-0 record. By the end of 2014, he had extended his unbeaten streak with shutout decisions and mid-round stoppages on prominent cards in Las Vegas.
His Showtime television debut came on June 27, 2014, against Ronald Cruz at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, a ten-round shutout victory that signaled his growing presence on national broadcasts. He closed the year with a fifth-round TKO of Javier Castro at the MGM Grand, establishing himself as a prospect to watch.
IBF Welterweight Champion (2017–2019)
On May 27, 2017, Spence traveled to Sheffield, England, and stopped Kell Brook in the eleventh round to capture the IBF welterweight title before 27,000 fans at Bramall Lane. The victory made him a world champion and announced his arrival among the elite of the division. He defended the title against Lamont Peterson in January 2018, forcing a corner stoppage in round eight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Spence continued his dominance with a first-round knockout of Carlos Ocampo in June 2018 at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, and a twelve-round shutout of Mikey Garcia in March 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in his pay-per-view debut. The Garcia fight drew a crowd of 47,525 and generated more than 360,000 pay-per-view buys, confirming Spence’s drawing power.
Unified Welterweight Champion (2019–2023)
On September 28, 2019, Spence unified the IBF and WBC welterweight titles by defeating Shawn Porter via split decision in Los Angeles, dropping Porter in the eleventh round of a fight widely regarded as a Fight of the Year candidate. Following a serious single-vehicle car accident in October 2019, he returned to the ring on December 5, 2020, and outpointed Danny Garcia over twelve rounds at AT&T Stadium to retain his unified titles.
In April 2022, Spence added the WBA (Super) welterweight title to his collection, stopping Yordenis Ugás in round ten after the ringside physician advised the stoppage. His reign as unified champion came to an end on July 29, 2023, when he was stopped in the ninth round by Terence Crawford at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, falling short in his bid to become undisputed welterweight champion.
Driving Style and Strengths
Errol Spence Jr. fights from a southpaw stance and uses a 72-inch reach to control distance with a stiff jab and punishing left hand to the body. He is known for his high-volume combinations, ring generalship, and ability to break down opponents over the course of a fight, working methodically from head to body until stoppages or wide decision victories emerge.
Notable Events and Milestones
Spence’s amateur career included three consecutive United States national welterweight titles and a quarter-final appearance at the 2012 London Olympics. As a professional, he captured world titles in three organizations, unified the welterweight division, and headlined multiple pay-per-view events, including a record-setting 2016 eliminator against Leonard Bundu that drew more than six million viewers on NBC, the largest American boxing television audience in over a decade.
Errol Spence Jr Career Wins
Errol Spence Jr. has compiled 28 professional wins against just one loss, with 22 of his victories coming by knockout. He has won world titles at welterweight across the IBF, WBC, and WBA (Super), and has recorded signature stoppages against champions Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia, Carlos Ocampo, and Yordenis Ugás.
Welterweight Highlights
Spence first won a world title by stopping Kell Brook in the eleventh round in Sheffield in May 2017. His most recent world-title victory came in April 2022, when he stopped Yordenis Ugás in round ten to claim the WBA (Super) welterweight crown and unify three belts. Among his most memorable wins is the twelfth-round shutout over Mikey Garcia in 2019, in which he landed 345 of his punches while limiting Garcia to just 75.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his world-title reign, Spence earned ESPN’s Prospect of the Year award in 2015 after extending his unbeaten record through a series of knockout wins on the Premier Boxing Champions series. He recorded consecutive stoppages over Samuel Vargas, Phil Lo Greco, Chris van Heerden, Alejandro Barrera, Chris Algieri, and Leonard Bundu, building the foundation that led to his first world-title opportunity.
Errol Spence Jr Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Errol Spence Jr. was raised primarily in Dallas, Texas, where he took up boxing at the age of 15 and built the foundation of his career. His father is of Jamaican descent and his mother is of African-American descent, a heritage he has acknowledged as an important part of his identity.
Personal Life
Spence is the father of two daughters and a son. He resides in Dallas, Texas, and has been widely supported by his family throughout his professional boxing career. In 2019, he was involved in a serious single-vehicle accident in Dallas but recovered to continue competing at the highest level.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Errol Spence Jr. has been linked to potential comeback bouts at super welterweight as he seeks to rebound from his 2023 loss to Terence Crawford. Earlier in the year, he entered negotiations with WBC super-welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora, though those discussions did not produce a finalized bout.
Spence has also been publicly mentioned as a possible opponent for Jermell Charlo, with his cousin Jacob Spence issuing a public warning to Charlo about a potential matchup. According to reporting in September, his team and Charlo’s representatives were in talks to fight in 2026.
Spence parted ways with longtime trainer Derrick James during this period, a split tied to a disagreement over compensation. As he works toward a return, Spence remains one of the most recognizable names in boxing, and any 2025 appearance is expected to carry significant attention from fans and broadcast partners.