Errol Spence Jr continues to dominate

Undefeated Errol Spence, Jr. didn't lose a round and may have made the transition from prospect to contender in a dominating unanimous decision victory (100-90 three times) over the durable Ronald Cruz in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME® from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

 

Spence (13-0, 10 KOs) was remarkably efficient with his power punches, landing 282 shots compared to Cruz's 65 at a rate of 58 percent. Looking like a potential future world champion, the 2012 U.S. Olympian was technically sound and sharp with his punches, picking apart the courageous Cruz (20-4, 15 KOs) as he went past the eighth round for the first time in his career. Conditioning certainly wasn't an issue for the 24-year-old, who threw more punches in the 10th and final round (114) than he did in any other round in the fight.

 

"After this fight, I learned that I can go the full 10 rounds and sustain my energy for all the rounds," Spence said. "I blocked, banged, threw the punches, stayed composed, and stuck to the game plan. I came into this fight in great condition and I can attribute that to a great training camp.

 

"I honestly thought I was going to knock him out in the sixth or seventh, but he's tough and he came to fight. I've seen his fights before and he always comes in with a lot of pride."

 

Fighting a southpaw for the first time, it was impressive the outmatched Cruz made it to the final bell with the amount of punishment he was taking. He suffered a cut over his left eye due to accidental headbutt in the second round and another cut over the right eye from a punch in the seventh.

 

"I don't know what went wrong in there. It was hard to see out of that eye from the cut and he kept landing that straight left. I didn't want them to stop the fight because I still thought I had a chance."

 

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated middleweight prospect Dominic Wade kept his perfect record intact with a unanimous decision victory over previously once-beaten Nick Brinson, scored 96-94, 97-93 twice.

 

Wade (16-0,11 KOs), who went past six rounds for the first time in his career, was relaxed and controlled the pace from the opening bell. His speed and efficiency was the difference, as he kept Brinson (16-2-2, 6 KOs) at a distance and consistently landed power shots and combos with ease. Wade slowed a bit in the later round as he entered previously uncharted waters, but he fought carefully, kept his distance and didn't allow Brinson to disrupt his game plan.

 

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