Showtime Fight Preview

Kell Brook vs. Errol Spence Jr.

On Saturday night two of the better welterweights in the sport will face off in a fight that will be extremely important for both of them.  Those fighters are Kell Brook and Errol Spence Jr. and they are scheduled to go 12 rounds with Brook's IBF welterweight title up for grabs.  The reason it is so important is because Brook is fresh off a knockout loss and needs to prove that was an aberration while Spence will be looking to prove he truly belongs in the discussion of the best welterweights.   

Brook landing an uppercut on Gennady Golovkin

Brook is a skilled fighter who can do a little of everything.  His hand speend is good and while he isn't a massive puncher he certainly hits hard enough to get respect.  He works out of the orthodox stance and flashes a very good jab that can control the distance and pairs perfectly with his high ring IQ.  The left hook of Brook is a very good weapon and he also has a strong right hand and with all of his punches he does a nice job of catching opponents on the way in.  However, in his last fight he was stopped by Gennady Golovkin and suffered a fractured right eye socket and there is no telling how he will hold up going forward.  

Most of Brook's career fights have come in the U.K. and this fight will be in his hometown of Sheffield.  If this fight is close you can expect Brook to get the hometown decision, something he's even benefited from in the United States when he fought Shawn Porter.  That win over Porter was probably the best of Brook's career and his career record is 36-1 with 25 knockouts.  Outside of his fights with Porter and Golovkin he has faced mostly upper B-level competition so how well Spence is able to do should tell fans a lot about both fighters.

Spence landing a stiff jab on Leonard Bundu

Spence works out of the southpaw stance and he is a unique combination of skills and power.  Like Brook, Spence works behind a stiff jab and he will follow that jab with an accurate straight left hand that can do damage.  Along with the jab and straight left, Spence also has a strong right hook and his fast hands and power make him a very difficult opponent for anyone.  With his excellent offensive skills, Spence is also a skilled defensive fighter who uses his feet well and can slip punches in the pocket.  Actually Spence and Brook are very similar fighters except for the fact that Spence has heavier hands.  

The resume of Spence is similar to Brook's except he lacks any big names like Porter or Golovkin.  His best wins have come over opponents like Chris Algieri and Chris Van Heerden and Brook will definitely be a step up and by far his most significant fight.  As of now Spence has a perfect career record of 21-0 with a very strong 18 knockouts and if he were able to beat and knockout Brook it would really elevate his status as a top fighter.

This fight should be a very good one and one that remains very close.  However, that all depends on how well Brook recovered from his first loss and injuries against Golovkin.  His confidence may have taken a hit and there is really no telling how well his face will hold up against a strong and accurate puncher like Spence.  Spence also has the longer arms so if this fight takes place from the outside Spence should have an easier time landing his punches.  

PREDICTION: Kell Brook is a very good fighter but his resume doesn't really read that much better than Errol Spence Jr.'s does.  So far Spence has looked like the real deal and in this fight he will be slightly busier while Brook attempts to hold on the inside and that will be the difference as Spence gets the very close majority decision victory.