ERROL SPENCE JR admitted he has been given ‘a second chance in life’ and third in boxing.
The unbeaten American escaped death in October 2019 when his Ferrari flipped following a high-speed crash.
Errol Spence Jr after his 2019 car crash
Errol Spence Jr suffered an eye injury last year
Spence, 32, would make a miraculous recovery to fight one year later, beating Danny Garcia, 33, on points in December 2020.
He then signed to fight boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, 43, last August but was forced to pull out after suffering an eye injury in training.
Again, the welterweight champion recovered by undergoing surgery and now faces Yordenis Ugas, 35, the Cuban who replaced him against Pacquiao.
Spence will defend his WBC and IBF titles against Ugas’ WBA version on April 16 at the 80,000-seater AT&T Stadium in his home of Texas.
He said: “It feels good to be back. It’s a blessing to be in this position.
“Most people take life for granted until they’re given a second chance, and I’ve been given a second chance in life and a third chance in boxing.”
Ugas went on to retire Pacquiao and put himself in line to welcome Spence back to the ring.
The US pound-for-pound star has been training for half a year now as he prepares to again return to the ring after overcoming adversity.
Spence said: “This is going to be a great fight. Ugas always comes to compete.
“With all respect to Pacquiao, I’m a way different fighter than Pacquiao and at this point I’m a better fighter.
“Ugas is a real warrior, but I’m hungry too. I’m not letting this opportunity pass by me.
“I’ve been feeling strong. My nutritionist that I added for this camp has been the missing ingredient.
“I was struggling to make weight and I think that’s the reason that I haven’t gotten a stoppage in my last few fights.
“This is the first camp in a while that I haven’t put the sauna suit on. It’s been a breath of fresh air. I’m really having fun in this training camp.”
Errol Spence Jr will fight Yordenis Ugas on April 16
