ESPN’s Mike Coppinger Blocked from Covering Spence-Crawford Fight

ESPN boxing reporter Mike Coppinger had his credential rejected from covering Saturday night’s highly-anticipated fight in Las Vegas between undefeated stars Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford. 

News of the credential block was first reported by the New York Post. The decision to block Coppinger’s credential was made by the fight’s promoter, PBC, FOS has learned. But the reason for Coppinger’s rejection remains unclear. FOS reached out to a PBC spokesperson but could not be connected.

A source with knowledge of ESPN said the network does not know why Coppinger’s credential was blocked. The source added that ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith will be on-location at T-Mobile Arena to cover the fight, which will air live on Showtime pay-per-view. 

Coppinger declined to comment when reached by FOS. Before joining ESPN in 2021, Coppinger covered boxing for The Athletic starting in 2019 and was previously USA Today’s lead boxing writer from 2015 to 2017. 

Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) and Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) will be fighting for the undisputed welterweight championship while Coppinger’s credential rejection is a blow to ESPN’s coverage of what many view as boxing’s biggest fight since Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2015.

Crawford and Spence will each earn eight figures guaranteed from the fight, Coppinger reported in May.