The car accident Errol Spence Jr. experienced in October 2019 is widely considered the turning point of his career. While he remained a world-class champion afterward, the consensus among analysts and fans is that the crash significantly altered his physical "ceiling" and longevity.
Despite the Ferrari being totaled, Spence survived with no broken bones, which was called a "miracle." However, he suffered significant facial damage, lost several teeth (which required partial dentures), and dealt with long-term hip pain and PTSD.
He successfully defended his titles against Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugás after the crash. To the casual observer, he still looked like "The Truth," but many purists felt his punch resistance and reflexes were slightly dimmed compared to his peak.
His devastating 9th-round TKO loss to Terence Crawford in 2023 is where the "accident" debate peaked. Many fans believe the cumulative damage from the crash, plus the layoffs, made him a shell of himself, while others argue Crawford was simply that much better.
The 2023 loss to Terence Crawford is the primary evidence used by those who say he was "affected." Spence looked uncharacteristically slow and his chin, once thought to be iron-clad, failed him.
So, did the accident "affect" his boxing? Yes. While he remained a champion afterward, most experts agree he was never quite the same "invincible" force he was before that night in Dallas.