First came the victory, now comes the victory tour for newly crowned 147-pound world champion Errol Spence Jr.
After a couple of days to celebrate with family and friends back home in DeSoto, Texas, following his star-making 11th-round TKO of Kell Brook in Sheffield, England, last Saturday, Errol Spence Jr. went to New York on Thursday to receive his coronation.
Media stops during his time in the Big Apple included interviews at Sirius XM Radio and Sports Illustrated, but it was all sandwiched around a media luncheon at The Palm in Manhattan. There, the 27-year-old champion was presented with the first of what could be many world title belts by IBF president Daryl Peoples.
Spence (22-0, 19 KO) told the gathered media that since returning home he’s tried to keep his life as simple as it was before winning the title, but that he can already see subtle changes around him.
For example, he found himself mobbed by fans wanting pictures when he was spotted in line during a late-night taco run. He obliged while patiently waiting for an order of beef tacos he’d been craving for months while in camp.
After receiving his belt Thursday, Spence stopped to watch a replay of his stoppage of Brook, which was playing on a TV in the restaurant.
“He was retreating, and you could tell in his face that the fight was beat out of him,” Spence said. “I finally won and finally accomplished one of my goals. It was a great feeling just to get that weight off my shoulders.”
Spence headed back to Texas late Thursday, and will take a couple of weeks off before getting back into the gym with his focus set on a homecoming fight in the Dallas area in either late fall or early winter.
For a complete recap of Brook vs Spence, including highlights, visit our fight page.
