Speed and counters kill: Terence Crawford floors Errol Spence Jr. three times, wins by stoppage

Entering tonight’s super fight, Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford were undefeated and world champions. 

By 9:15 P.M. Pacific Time, it was Crawford who remained undefeated and is now undisputed, knocking Spence down three times and winning the fight by stoppage in round nine at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

The time was 2:32 seconds into round nine.

"Man, I’m so blessed," said the unmarked Crawford. "Nobody believed me. I made everyone a believer." 

You said it. 
  
In the opening stanza, Crawford, who switches between orthodox and southpaw, faced lefty Spence in the same stance. He’d fight southpaw the entire night. Spence brought the pressure and jabbed. Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) returned fire, landing a good right near the end of the heat. 

Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) opened round two by jabbing - and firing a combo. Crawford landed his own combination a minute later. Spence landed a left to the body.

A swift left-right floored Spence for the first time in his career. He got up quickly, a surprised look on his face. It was the first time he had been knocked down in his career. Trainer Derrick James as him if he had been off balance. 

Spence landed an overhand left in round three. Crawford fired a speedy left that connected. Spence kept jabbing - while Crawford countered. In round four, Crawford punched to the body and head. Spence worked but ate two left hands. Crawford’s hand speed was giving Spence problems. A Crawford jab jolted Spence badly. His sharpness was drawing blood. 

Crawford continued to pick apart Spence in round five. Spence worked the body to no avail. Crawford countered Spence with sharp shots to the chin. Spence clipped Crawford with a big left. No effect. Crawford countered Spence again to round six. His accuracy and timing were masterful. 

Spence’s face was puffy. There was no quit. He went back to the body. What else could he do? Crawford jolted Spence with a shotgun jab and sweeping left.

Crawford, a unifier in two divisions now, got off first again in round seven. Spence landed a long right. The blow didn’t bother Crawford. A counter right uppercut sent Spence down for the second time. He got up with a puzzled look on his face. Crawford worked up and down.

Spence was soon down for the third time, courtesy of a right hook.   

Crawford backed up Spence in round eight. His punches were precise - and Spence was feeling it. A right hook staggered Spence. The Texas native tried to rally, but Crawford was in complete control.

Spence lunged with a left in round nine. The cool and focused Crawford eyed him. The assassin in waiting. Spence punched. Crawford jabbed. He looked like he wanted to end things. He let fly, landing powerful hooks that wobbled Spence multiple times before referee Harvey Dock waved off the fight. 

All three judges had Crawford ahead 79-70 at the time of the stoppage. 

His domination had been complete.