Errol Spence Jr. is the high-profile professional boxer who was injured when his Ferrari crashed in Dallas, Texas, but he’s expected to survive, according to a CBS 11 reporter. NBC Dallas reported that the Ferrari driver was in the intensive care unit at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Spence, the world welterweight champ, is making waves in pro boxing with his 26-0 undefeated record.
His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
“Errol Spence Jr., IBF/WBC unified welterweight world champion, was involved in a serious, single-car accident in Dallas early Thursday morning and is being treated at a Dallas-area hospital,” Tim Smith, Premier Boxing Champions spokesman, told Heavy in a statement. “Spence is awake and responding and his condition is listed as stable. He did not sustain any broken bones or fractures, but has some facial lacerations. He is expected to make a full recovery.”
He added: “He is currently resting with his family by his side. They want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes and are extremely grateful to the Dallas first responders who rushed to the scene to attend to Errol after the accident and the doctors who are taking care of him at the hospital.”
“Pro boxer ERROL SPENCE JR is the ‘high-profile man’ @Dallaspd says was seriously injured after being ejected from the #Ferrari he was driving during a rollover crash on Riverfront Blvd. He was transported hospital, but expected to survive. #BREAKING,” reported journalist Madison Sawyer on Twitter. Heavy has a call in to Dallas police for more information. Authorities have not formally confirmed that Spence was the Ferrari’s driver.
Journalist J.D. Miles wrote on Twitter that Spence suffered broken teeth and shared these videos:
#Breaking More exclusive security camera video showing the crash that injured Championship Boxer Errol Spence Jr when he lost control of his Ferrari and it rolled over multiple times on a Dallas street. He was ejected from the vehicle and injured but expected to recover
#BREAKING Exclusive video from a nearby security camera shows the crash that injured Championship Boxer Errol Spence Jr when he lost control of his Ferrari and it rolled multiple times ejecting him. Fortunately he survived and expected to be ok
Spence holds the WBC welterwight title. A fight with Shawn Porter a month ago led to another victory in a split decision for the IBF welterweight title. His Instagram profile reads, “26-0 (21 KO), WBC & IBF Welterweight WORLD CHAMPION • 2012 Olympian & 7x National Champ • Dallas, TX.”
Spence’s most recent opponent, Shawn Porter, offered prayers.
“My dad always tells me ‘this boxing thing is a part of your life but it’s not going to last forever. U still have a lot of life to live after that.’ With that, I’m praying for @ErrolSpenceJr & his family because he has a lot of life to live and I pray he recovers quickly & fully,” he wrote on Twitter.
The crash happened around 3 a.m. The exact nature of Spence’s injuries were not yet clear. However, Fox 3 reported that he was seriously injured.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Photos Show Spence’s Crumpled Ferrari
Photos from the scene show the damage to the Ferrari. It sustained serious front and back end damage. Spence was ejected from the Ferrari, according to CBS 11 reporter J.D. Miles.
Errol Spence Jr. is one of the biggest stars in boxing. He’s a 147-pound world champion. He’s also an Olympian. Tim Smith, who manages Spence’s career, confirmed he was in the crash to the Dallas Morning News.
#ThisJustIn Boxer Errol Spence Jr. is seriously injured when he is ejected from his Ferrari after a roll over crash near downtown #Dallas
Fox4 reported that it was a single vehicle crash. Word leaked quickly to the Dallas news media that the Ferrari’s driver was a well-known person before the reports that the driver was Spence.
Two hours before revealing Spence’s name, also on October 10, 2019, journalist Sawyer wrote, “@DallasPD say a ‘high profile man’ driving a Ferrari has been involved in a major crash in downtown Dallas on Riverfront Blvd. just south of I-30. @CBSDFW working to get more details.” You can see photos and videos of the Ferrari throughout this article.
2. Police Say Speeding Was Involved in the Crash & the Ferrari ‘Flipped’ Multiple Times
#Update Latest information from @DallasPD regarding an overnight crash that seriously injured boxer #ErrolSpence. Spence was ejected from his #Ferrari in a single vehicle crash near downtown #Dallas. Latest @GoodDayFox4 @FOX4
Dallas PD told CBS 11 that, at 2:53 a.m., a Ferrari was “traveling at a high rate of speed northbound in the 500 S. Riverfront Blvd. The Ferrari veered left over the center median onto the southbound lanes and flipped multiple times ejecting the driver who was not wearing a seatbelt.”
NBC Dallas reported that Spence was hospitalized.
Spence is a major boxing star who defended his welterweight title in 2018 and 2019 against Carlos Ocampo and Mikey Garcia.
People offered prayers for Spence on social media. “The news about @ErrolSpenceJr is so sad this morning. Life is so moment to moment. Enjoy each one. Focus on the moment you are in. The older I get, the more it hurts me to hear when something terrible happens to a young person,” wrote one man on Twitter. “I pray that Errol Spence makes a speedy recovery. Hope everything is okay,” wrote another.
3. Spence Got Into Boxing Because of His Father & Oscar de la Hoya
Spence’s parents were at his side at the hospital, according to the Dallas Morning News, which reiterated that his injuries are not life-threatening.
In a bio posted by Team USA for the Olympics, Spence was asked why he got into boxing. He responded, “My dad and watching Oscar de la Hoya.” The 5-10 Texan started boxing in 2005 and revealed his biggest strength in the ring is “speed.” His career highlights at that time were listed as “2009, 2010, 2011 USA National Champion, 2009 and 2010 National Golden Gloves Champion.” He credited his mother with being his biggest influence.
A southpaw, Spence “began boxing at age 15 under his father’s guidance,” the Premier Boxing site reports. Spence is from Desoto, Texas.
On September 26, Spence shared a family photo on Instagram and wrote, “I Keep my mom & pops close all this could end today an I know their love won’t change God forbid anything would happen but I know my mother & father would wipe my ass & feed me if need be moral of the story keep the PEOPLE who really love you for you close an treat them right‼️ (don’t get caught up in the hype)??? #tbt #jamamerican #jamaica.”
4. Spence Caught the Eye of Floyd Mayweather Early On
Way back in 2013, Spence impressed no other than Floyd Mayweather when he was asked to spar with him. “He pushed me and made me get in tip-top condition, and once I was in tip-top condition, I was ready and the best I could be. He’s a hell of a fighter,” Mayweather told ESPN at that time.
After he added Shawn Porter to his string of victories, Spence told The Associated Press: “This is a lifetime dream. It shows hard work pays off. … Shawn Porter is a rough and awkward fighter…He’s a true champion. He made it tough… all my punches have bad intentions.”
5. Spence Has Been Active on Social Media Celebrating His Victory
Before the crash, Spence’s tweets dated to September 29, when he wrote, “Got to keep my weight in control for now on ain’t nothing cool about blowing up 25+ pounds an having to spend camp losing that shit” and “No nutritionist or strength & conditioning trainer ?.” He last posted on Instagram two days before the crash. Six days before he wrote, “Dallas, Let’s celebrate my victory this Friday at Park Avenue! I want the whole city out it’s going be a movie!”
He sometimes posts pictures of two small children, writing, “my babies Keep me hungry & focused?.” One photo with the kids showed him sitting in front of a Range Rover.
This post is being updated as more information is learned about the Errol Spence Jr. crash.
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Errol Spence Jr. Ferrari Crash: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know