By Peter Lim
Conventional wisdom suggests that, sans any unforeseen collisions of styles, sleights of hand, or tricks under their sleeves, Errol Spence (21-0, 18 KOs) should emerge victorious in this encounter. His slick southpaw mode of combat coupled by a PhD-level ring generalship, rooted in his decorated amateur career, should allow him to out-maneuver Kell Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) to a close but unanimous decision.
But all things are never equal and conventional wisdom is often defied in a sport where two men of similar size do battle in a 20X20 square foot ring. Unexpected intangibles usually come into play.
Brook's A-plus caliber punch resistance is irrefutable. That, as a welterweight, he stood up to Gennady Golovkin's murderous middleweight punches for five rounds while managing return fire in spurts is testament to his anvil chin. But while Golovkin blasts away like a cannon, Spence is more of a sharpshooter whose potency stems from accuracy, timing and immaculate technique, which can have a different impact than sheer brute punching power. Riding a 12-fight KO streak, Spence has scored knockouts against fighters who had never previously been stopped in his last six bouts.
Punch for punch, Spence is probably the deadlier of the two, but Brook is no slouch in the rocking and socking department either. In addition, he throws punches in bunches and has the propensity and audacity to return fire a split second after getting nailed. A quintessential bully, Brook imposes his will on his opponents simply by being rougher, tougher and more alpha. He hits harder than any fighter Spence has previously faced, and guess what, Spence's chin has never been significantly tested before.
It's almost a given that Spence will try to make this a tactical affair while Brook attempts to instigate a prison brawl. If Spence can rattle Brook with his pinpoint power punches, will he risk rallying for the knockout or simply cruise? And what if Brook effortlessly absorbs Spence's best shots as he has done with every other welterweight he's faced? Will Spence be able to maintain sufficient poise to outbox and keep the rabid pit bull at bay for 12 rounds?
Even if Brook were to walk through Spence's best punches, can he muster enough aggression to stop or outpoint the wily former U.S. Olympian? Will Spence's chin be exposed as brick, brittle or somewhere in between in this fight? If it goes the distance, will the judges favor Spence's superior boxing ability or Brook's ferocity and dogged determination?
In any case scenario, it promises to be a good, action-packed scrap.
Read prediction of Brook vs. Spence at: peterliminator.blogspot.com/2017/05/kell-brook-vs-errol-spence.html
