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May 17, 2017:
Sugar Ray Leonard
Spence is one of those fighters that can fight and he knows when to pull back and hold. He is a natural. And Kell Brook also has something you cannot teach - his chin. Everyone doesn't have the power of Gennady Golovkin, but he took it. Someone has said it's a 50-50 and I can go along with that too because of the intangibles - for both fighters. I came in liking Spence Jr but watching what I've seen of Kell Brook, it could easily be him. I wouldn't put my house on it, that's for sure.
Dan Birmingham (Thurman's Trainer)
There are so many ifs and buts and it is that close. I don't mind who wins but from an American angle, Spence has got to hurt Brook early to get his respect. If he does, it may be his. If he doesn't I can see Brook out-boxing him and I am probably expecting him to win. He is fighting at home, he's the man with the championship, the experience and he is the more seasoned of the two. Spence might have the hunger but I am giving Brook the edge on points.
Jim McDonnell (DeGale's Trainer)
Everyone I have spoken to are split: one says Brook, one says Spence and some even are calling it a draw! You can flip a coin and of course, I would love to see Kell pull it off and do it in style. I think this goes down to whoever gets everything right, not just in the fight, but in the build-up too - and that means the weight is going to be crucial. But Brook has been there, seen it, done it, he will feel invincible after how he did against Golovkin. It might be close but I am going for Brook, on points, just because of what he's done.
May 24, 2017:
Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO
Undecided: I think that Spence may be the best young fighter in boxing. So I have to question why his management has rushed him into a fight as tough as this one overseas. While Spence is a terrific young talent, he will be jumping into the deep end of the pool here. Spence will be fighting an experienced and capable opponent in Brook, who will be backed by an entire arena full of motivated and loyal fans. If Spence can pull off a win here, then he truly is the “next big thing.” Brook is quite a big test for Spence. And I have no idea who will win.
Doug Fischer, ******.com editor
Kell Brook KO Errol Spence: After the Golokvin fight, I started thinking this is the right time (for Spence) to catch Kell Brook, coming off the brutal knockout loss. He’s having to push his body in another way in getting down to 147 after testing his physiology, allowing him to fight at a more natural weight. So I thought he’ll probably be drained, and there may be some physiological residue from not only losing for the first time but having his face broken. All that made me favor – slightly – the young American.
But as we’ve gotten closer to the fight, I’ve kind of swung back to Brook, thinking he’s got hometown advantage and that he’s going to bring a lot of confidence into the ring as the battle-tested veteran. When I look at Spence’s resume, I don’t see anybody he’s fought that he wasn’t supposed to beat. The same, for the most part, could be said about Brook, but Brook had the gut-check against Carson Jones (first fight). He came back and beat the American gatekeeper (by stoppage) in the rematch. He had his title fight against Shawn Porter and that was a 50/50 fight. Maybe Porter was slightly favored because the fight was in the U.S. He was an underdog and he traveled and fought as the underdog in the other guy‘s country. That shows us his character, and to beat Porter’s not easy – it’s an ugly style, a physical style, a guy who can hit you quite hard, and I thought Brook handled himself well and outclassed Porter with his boxing ability and athleticism. When I look at Spence‘s record, I see he’s been a 10-1 to 20-1 favorite to beat every single guy he’s beat so far.
When I look at the best names on his resume, nobody was able to hit back with a lot of authority, not a single guy. (Leonard) Bundu is not a puncher at all. Chris Algieri is not a puncher. And beyond those two, who do you have? Chris Van Heerden – is that the third-best guy on Spence’s resume? That’s not exactly a murderers row, and I’ve got to wonder what Brook would have done to the same collection of fighters. I think he would run through those guys. When you look at what Spence has done, the hype exceeds his accomplishments. So I sway back to the older guy. I’m going on a hunch and taking the experienced defending champion to win via mid-to-late stoppage.
Tom Gray, ******.com
Kell Brook SD12 Errol Spence Jr.: I still think that Brook will be a formidable force at 147 pounds, despite the weight loss. I spoke to him nine days out from fight time and he sounded confident, energetic and was only marginally over the welterweight limit. Regardless, I still think he’ll have to work like hell to win this fight. Spence is an exceptional young talent and he is wonderfully athletic. Even though he’s a terrific boxer on the outside, the challenger does most of his damage at mid-range, where he unleashes hooks and uppercuts, up and down, with abandon. Brook is also a quality operator on the outside; his right hand is always on point as a lead or a counterpunch and it’s a terrific weapon. The champion will have to pick his punches very well and make Spence pay when he attempts to close the gap. He also has to make sure that Spence doesn’t get into a rhythm behind that southpaw jab. It’s a hard night’s work but my guess is that Brook’s superior experience and home advantage gets him over the line – just.
https://www.******.com/501352-fight-...rol-spence-jr/
May 26, 2017:
Spence (21-0, 18 KOs), after all, is considered perhaps the best prospect in all of boxing. But he’s never seen a pro boxer on the level of Brook, a wonderful fighter himself who beat Shawn Porter to win his title and then gave Gennady Golovkin problems in the early rounds of their fight last year.
Though Spence is a -225 favorite (you’d have to wager $225 to win $100) and though most boxers are predicting that the 27-year-old Texan will win the fight, Brook likely will make life difficult for him.
In fact, two of the three Forbes boxing experts believe the 31-year-old Brook will prevail and retain his title in front of his countrymen...
As Mazique said, “Brook-Spence is one of the toughest fights to predict this year. It will likely be a close one that comes down to the judges, but at the end of the day, Brook's experience, jab and toughness have me leaning in his direction. I firmly believe Spence will be a world champion, just not on Saturday night in Sheffield.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshkat.../#3418b888354c
So you and your (cut an paste) list felt that Brook's crushed skull would be just the advantage he needed to beat Spence. I along with most people thought the savage beating he took and the caved in skull would be a handy cap.
In the end, I along with most others, were proven correct and you and everyone on your list were wrong.
Glad we got that out of the way.Last edited by factsarenice; 06-24-2018, 02:21 AM.Comment
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The point of the predictions was to show that there were plenty of people in the boxing world who thought Brook would beat Spence Jr.! Now after Spence beats him, suddenly it's not a big deal! By the way, a fractured orbit is not the same as a "crushed skull!" People don't say that Erislandy Lara "crushed" Angulo's skull! But when GGG does it to Brook, it's a feat of superhuman strength? I guess Spence Jr. must have the same superhuman strength as Lara and GGG!Comment
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Most people? Are you talking of ghosts?
**** even a blindman would see spence winning!,
bias ****s, How can someone fight at 100% with fractured skull? I dont know if your all dumb enough to think that "PWD brook" has a chance with spence.
He will be my favorite if he goes up and fight ggg and beat him..
Brook had courage and tried. Why wont spence?Last edited by -Makunouchi-; 06-24-2018, 11:31 AM.Comment
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Titanium" orbits or simply having healthy uninjured orbits would not have given Spence the luxury of easy access bodywork.........Golovkin tore open a "brave" or "too brave for his own good" Brook with sledgehammer middleweight shots to the grill
which then changed the potential and dynamics for an even boxing match4
....
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A fractured orbit IS part of a CRUSHED SKULL, it may not be smashed in like in a cartoon (Tom & Jerry)lol, but the entire one "skull" is affected no less! It aint an independant left arm or a right shoulder that can eventually heal and used less. The "skull" will ALWAYS be targeted in a fight and CONSTANTLY hit, and its where the brain & eyes are (obviously), and MOST needed "physically" in ANY SPORT, it's the same way "mentally" confidence and a well rounded skill set is needed in ANY SPORT!
Brook was a sitting INJURED rubber duck just waiting for a good shot to land on that fractured delicate marshmellow tenderized skull of his......Brook may still be too "brave" for his own good....this guy now needs to try accounting...... You'd be hardpressed to have found "unbiased" fans picking Brook to win after what he'd been thru.....nobody thought his surgery would have brought him back to the "way he was before".....I can't even recall a fighter with that type of freak accident injury......A detached retina - yes.....orbital "head fracture?" - I can't say I have...Comment
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I actually posted "unbiased" people (Sugar Ray, Kathy Duva, R!ng TV writers, etc.) who thought Brook was going to win! Did Angulo sustain another fractured orbit after Lara? I don't think so, and I know he got hit in the face a lot by Canelo! Maybe Brook just had bad luck? Nah, I think Errol Spence Jr. had a lot to do with it!A fractured orbit IS part of a CRUSHED SKULL, it may not be smashed in like in a cartoon (Tom & Jerry)lol, but the entire one "skull" is affected no less! It aint an independant left arm or a right shoulder that can eventually heal and used less. The "skull" will ALWAYS be targeted in a fight and CONSTANTLY hit, and its where the brain & eyes are (obviously), and MOST needed "physically" in ANY SPORT, it's the same way "mentally" confidence and a well rounded skill set is needed in ANY SPORT!
Brook was a sitting INJURED rubber duck just waiting for a good shot to land on that fractured delicate marshmellow tenderized skull of his......Brook may still be too "brave" for his own good....this guy now needs to try accounting...... You'd be hardpressed to have found "unbiased" fans picking Brook to win after what he'd been thru.....nobody thought his surgery would have brought him back to the "way he was before".....I can't even recall a fighter with that type of freak accident injury......A detached retina - yes.....orbital "head fracture?" - I can't say I have...Comment
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