In preparation for a highly anticipated rematch with Terence Crawford later this year, former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) has taken a detour to address his eyesight. The Texan pugilist recently revealed on social media that he has undergone cataract surgery to improve his vision.
In a Monday Instagram post, Spence candidly shared the necessity of the procedure, stating, “It’s been past due. Sh!t was covering my eye. Why [do] you think I got hit with so many jabs and hooks? Still a great performance by bro [Crawford].” Alongside the statement, he posted footage featuring his bandaged eye while being transported in a wheelchair.
Cataract surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic, involves removing the cloudy lens of the eye and often replacing it with an artificial lens. The procedure aims to rectify vision issues caused by cataracts. Full recovery typically occurs within eight weeks.
This marks Spence’s second eye surgery, the first being left retina surgery in August 2021, forcing him to withdraw from a scheduled bout against Manny Pacquiao. Yordenis Ugas stepped in and secured a unanimous decision win over Pacquiao, who subsequently retired after the bout. Spence later revealed that had he fought Pacquiao, he might have faced blindness and jeopardized his career.
Following his recovery from the retina surgery, Spence returned to the ring in April 2022, securing a stoppage win against Ugas. However, in a rematch against Crawford, whom he faced on July 29 and suffered a ninth-round stoppage defeat, Spence is expected to be the underdog.
Acknowledging the challenges he has faced, including a near-death car crash in 2019, Spence expressed during the lead-up to the previous Crawford fight, “I mean, everything I have been through throughout these two, three years, I mean, I should be the underdog.”
Spence has activated his rematch clause and aspires for the sequel to take place at 154 pounds. The 33-year-old boxer now lists himself as a 154-pound fighter on his Instagram profile, signaling a potential shift in weight class for the upcoming clash with Crawford. The boxing world awaits the much-anticipated rematch between these two formidable fighters.
