Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard believes unbeaten Olympian Errol Spence Jr. (21-0, 18 KOs) is the "real deal."
This coming Saturday night at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, Spence will challenge IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) before a hostile crowd. The fight will be televised by Showtime and Sky Sports Box Office.
Brook, who captured the IBF belt in 2014 with a close points win over Shawn Porter, is coming back from his first career defeat which took place last September when he moved up to middleweight to challenge Gennady Golovkin.
Leonard has followed the career of Spence from the very start and he's very impressed with his in-ring abilities.
"This fight is so intriguing and I like it because the winner is going to be based upon who carries out their game plan and who doesn't get too cute, who doesn't get too comfortable. The guy who fights this fight, wins this fight. From what I've seen, Errol Spence is the real deal. I watched this young man from day one and I've seen improvements in him," Leonard said to Sky Sports.
"I see he has gained experience and that's why I think the world is excited about this particular fight with Kell Brook and Errol Spence. Spence has his asset of speed, poise and balance. He is a young man who has the whole package and, again, I watched this young man from day one. Every time he gets into the ring, he improves."
More than 30 years ago, Leonard jumped to the middleweight division to win a close decision over the much bigger Marvin Hagler.
Leonard believes Spence should use some of the tactics that he used against Hagler to overcome Brook, who is likely going to rehydrate by as much as 20 pounds by the time he enters the ring.
"That additional five pounds, 10 pounds or 20 pounds makes a huge difference," Leonard said. "One thing I did against Hagler was I didn't necessarily stand toe to toe with him. I picked my shot, I kept my balance and I used my speed to kind of nullify his power. I think that's the same approach that Spence has to take."