By Keith Idec
Errol Spence Jr. understands the perception of his skeptics.
They point to Spence’s record, the shortage of noteworthy names on it, and question whether he is ready for the significant step up in competition he’ll take Saturday night in Sheffield, England. Spence’s advice to those that doubt him is to watch what happens when he challenges Sheffield’s Kell Brook for the IBF welterweight title at Bramall Lane, a soccer stadium expected to be filled with about 30,000 Brook supporters.
“This is my time, this is my era,” Spence told Sky Sports following a public workout Wednesday in Sheffield. “You know, this is my time to shine, this is my time to get the belts, this is my time to unify and become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. So this is just another steppingstone to get to where I wanna be and my ultimate goal.”
The 27-year-old Spence still recognizes that Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) represents the toughest test of his four-year pro career. The strong southpaw’s biggest professional win thus far is a fifth-round stoppage of former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri (21-3, 8 KOs) 13 months ago at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
“It’s a good step up,” Spence said. “Kell Brook, he’s a good fighter. He’s a guy who can fight, has a lot of great skills and I welcome that step up. It’s something that I’ve been asking for for a long time, and I’m finally getting my opportunity.”
Spence (21-0, 18 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for Brook’s championship, a title Spence was worried Brook, 31, would give up rather than defend it against him. The 2012 Olympian from DeSoto, Texas, didn’t hesitate to travel overseas for his first title bout because Spence is certain he is destined for greatness.
“My confidence comes from my hard work,” Spence said. “I know the hours and the time that I put in the gym. I know hours and the time that the people around me put into me. I know I work hard, I’m a student of the game, I give it 120 percent every time I’m in the gym and every time I’m in training camp. So I’m 100-percent focused and I’m 100-percent ready to give the fans what they want, a real great fight.”
The Brook-Spence showdown will air on Showtime in the United States (5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT). In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports Box Office will televise Brook-Spence on pay-per-view (6 p.m. BST; £16.95 in HD).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
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