As the saying gos, "truth is often stranger than fiction."  The idea of a 15 year old walking into a boxing gym, with little more than natural athletic ability and a handful of streetfights, then parlaying that into three national titles by of the age of 19, sounds like a movie script.  But that's the real life story of Errol Spence, Jr.

Errol Spence Jr.

Born March 3rd of 1990, Errol Spence Jr.'s earliest boxing memories are of watching pay-per-view bouts with his father, at a barber shop in Pleasant Grove.  "I remember watching Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis and an Evander Holyfield fight.  We watched a lot of Lennox Lewis though.", Spence recalls.  Over the years, this has become a pastime for the 19 year old.  "He watches a lot of fights; he studies them.  Roy Jones, Floyd Mayweather, but his guy is "Sweet Pea" Whittaker." Errol Sr. says.

The southpaw Spence Jr. acknowledges the brevity of his boxing tutelage, but is nonchalant about it for the most part.  "I walked off the street knowing nothing about boxing.  I had a couple street fights, not many, and that was it."  There's no trace of bravado when Errol reveals that he handled himself well in those few altercations, only quiet confidence.  Another example of this reserved self-assurance lies in the fact that Spence isn't exactly sure what his record is.  He estimates that he's had roughly 70 or 80 fights, but knows for a fact that he has 10 losses.  "He's won about 20-25 straight though", Errol Sr. adds.

Spence attended DeSoto high school and got his G.E.D. so he could pursue boxing full-time.  Along with his coach, Gene Vivero, they make no secret of the fact that they're shooting towards the 2012 Olympic Games (to be held in London, England) and then a professional boxing career.  Ironically, promising super bantamweight, Roberto Marroquin (7-0, 5 KO's) also works out of the Vivero Boxing Gym.  Marroquin participated at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials in Houston.  Spence is fully aware of Marroquin and the other talented fighters in the area; 2008 U.S. Olympian, Luis Yanez (1-0) and 2008 U.S. Olympic alternate, Charles Hatley (3-0, 3 KO's).  "All of those guys are very good, with the potential to be world champions as pros.", Spence says.

Watching Spence hit the mitts was a pleasure.  His speed and accuracy are uncanny and the sound that his punches elicit are unlike most I've heard; a clear indication that this kid has power.  As quick as his hands were, Errol was even quicker in answering when I asked what his biggest asset is as a fighter.  "My ability to counter punch is my biggest strength.  I can also anticipate what my opponent is gonna do before he does it.  I still need to work on my patience a little bit.  I still get anxious at times, but that'll get better with more experience."

Errol Spence, Jr. is a grounded, respectul young man with loving parents and a good coach around him.  Though it took longer than most for Spence to take up the sport of boxing, he adores it, is undeniably good at it, and successfully making up for lost time.