Unexposed Errol Spence Jr Yet To Prove Himself

Unexposed Errol Spence Jr Yet To Prove Himself
10:36, 26 May 2017

The bookmakers rate American Errol Spence Jr as the odds-on favourite to beat Kell Brook at Bramall Lane on Saturday night, and that is a measure of the hype surrounding the man from Texas.

An Olympian in 2012, Spence Jr has blitzed his way into the mandatory position for Brook's IBF strap, and plenty are even suggesting that he is a future player in the pound-for-pound rankings. That is a big mantle for any young fighter to hold but it is purely based on visual impression, rather than the opponents he has beaten, with a whole host of "B list" names on his record.

If Spence Jr was a horse he would fall under the "could be anything, but needs to improve again" category, which is the perfect cliche for this precious young talent.

Errol Spence Jr's Last Fight Fights

  • 21/08/2016 - Leonard Bundu - KO
  • 16/04/2016 - Chris Algieri - TKO
  • 28/11/2015 - Alejandro Barrera - TKO
  • 11/09/2015 - Chris Van Heerden - TKO
  • 20/06/2015 - Phil Lo Greco - TKO

The best name on Spence Jr's record is probably Chris Algieri who had previously gone 12 rounds with both Manny Pacquaio and Amir Khan, and it is far to say that the young pretender dealt with him in very impressive fashion.

Leonard Bundu was dispatched in equally impressive style last time out and he does offer a solid yard stick, but there is nothing on that record anywhere near to the level of Kell Brook. Spence Jr has admitted himself this week that his fight with the Sheffield World Champion will be by far the toughest test of his career but he is confident he can rise to the challenge.

Going away from home to fight for a World title is always a tough ask, and recent history is littered with Americans who have come to these shores with lofty reputations. Most will remember Jeff Lacy arriving in the UK surrounded by massive hype only to be comprehensively out boxed by Joe Calzaghe, and that is a warning shot for any one expecting Spence Jr to do the business. For every Lacy though, there have also been some successful raids with the brilliant Terence Crawford beating Ricky Burns to spark his career into life, and even last weekend we saw Gervonta Davis confirm himself as a future star with an easy win over Liam Walsh.

Will Spence be another Lacy, or will he leave these shores as the new face of American Boxing?

Kell Brook goes into this fight as the underdog with the bookies but he has the experience and the home crowd on his side which will give him plenty of hope at Bramall Lane.

Like Spence Jr, Brook was once also considered to be untested at the very highest level but he has proven plenty of those doubters wrong over the last three years. Special K went to America back in 2014 unbeaten and considered a good prospect but most expected him to come up short as he faced Shawn Porter in his first tilt at a World Title bid.

Brook produced one of the most memorable performances in recent memory by a British fighter away from home to wrestle the title away from the highly respected Porter in a clear decision win. Before that night, Brook had proven his class but not his ability at the highest level, but those doubts were put to bed in no uncertain terms. Something Spence Jr still needs to do.

In the wake of winning that World Title, Brook enjoyed three cup cake defences against fighters that didn't deserve to be in the ring with him before he finally landed his big fight.

The Sheffield man stepped up two divisions to fight the fearsome Gennady Golovkin for the Middleweight crown, and although he would leave the ring with his first loss and a broken eye socket, he also left that bout with an enhanced reputation. He went toe-to-toe with one of the pound-for-pound kings in the sport and din't take a step back.

Unlike Spence Jr, Brook has proven his durability, his chin and his bravery.

Kell Brook's Last Five Fights

  • 10/09/2017 - Gennady Golovkin - Lost - TKO
  • 26/03/2016 - Kevin Bizier - Won - TKO
  • 30/05/2015 - Frankie Gavin - Won - TKO
  • 28/03/2015 - Jo Jo Dan - Won - RTD
  • 16/08/2014 - Shawn Porter - Won - UD
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