Vinny’s Views: A Portrait of Errol Spence, JR a Fighter Who May Become the Face of Boxing!
By Vinny “Glory Days” Lucci
As always, the winds of change are upon us and there is a good vibe transcending across the boxing faithful, while the last days of eager anticipation melt away mounting tensions of the biggest match of the year. While we await Kovalev Vs Ward the internet is buzzing with both promoters and fighters calling for heads like the Roman Empire has returned. Most of this is just smoke and mirrors behind posturing and chess moves.
Everyone things they can control the board game and many put up better smoke screens then they back up predictions inside the ropes, but let’s remain optimistic for monetary reasons. Nobody in ’16 were bringing the big matches to fruition making money and the low tide is rising again. Oscar De La Hoya, who was part of the problem and admitted so this past week is looking to get his rivals committed to engage, while many of the walking wounded should be available for action in the New Year.
It’s a good sign and perfect time to hi-lite a special talent that is poised to make waves with the onset of opportunities unfolding before us. For several months running Errol Spence, JR. has been installed as the IBF number one contender for Kell Brook’s welterweight title. On paper, should this fight see the light of day is a better and more artistic scrap then the unification between WBC champ Danny Garcia and WBA champ Keith Thurman this March. Spence, JR. is a wonderfully gifted southpaw who owns a perfect record of 21-0, 18 KO’s. Standing 5’9 and a half he is blessed with fast hands and respectable power and has already ignited fans imaginations of a future great waiting in the wings.
The good news is I believe the kid is for real and he is eager to prove his talent will rise above a star-studded division even agreeing to fight Champion Kell Brook in the United Kingdom. The bad news is twofold. First off, the IBF welterweight rankings are pitiful. This isn’t to say Errol doesn’t deserve the ranking, but when we’re discussing 147 pound boxers this must be kept in perspective. Yes, Errol passed his last two tests with flying colors, but there are at least six fighters in this division that would have racked them up also.
His last fight in August against Leonard Bundu was hardly the kind of match to install the winner as a mandatory contender. Bundu said good night in the sixth round, but more importantly he was 41, which is ancient for a welter. On paper his most notable credential was a loss to Keith Thurman by decision. In 36 fights leading up to scrap with Spence, JR., he had was 33-2-1. Sounds impressive until you see he only won 12 by knockout and the picture gets clearer that he was brought in as a useful test, but hardly a threat to derail the Spence, JR. express. Go back to the previous fight against Chris “Rubber Band” Algieri and you are forced to put his career in proper perspective. I tease about Chris’ “A Game” and he’s a talented kid, but he has been dropped no less than eleven times in his past four bouts. Not exactly a utopian hurdle that Errol had to climb to move up in the rankings, but more like a downed tree he needed to step over. Get the point? If this was the glorious Hearns/Leonard era these wins would not have allowed Errol entrance into the top ten where vicious boxers for eking out a living were eliminating journeymen and fighting their way through a plethora of contenders.
While Tommy and Ray held belts none other than Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez, Pipino Cuevas, and Carlos Palomino, were vying for top slots to regain belts on top of a horde of household name contenders and journeymen. The fact that there were two belts, not four, kept the rankings on both sides from being watered down. Today’s four title Albabet party is not Spence, JR.’s concern nor is it the fault of any fighter, but what we have here is a convoluted hierarchy over who actually controls supremacy at 147.
Australian Jeff Horn owner of a mere 16 bout ledger 15-0-1, 10 KO’s has been installed as the IBF number two contender. Here’s where it gets promising and pathetic at the same time. Follow me here, there may be a quiz that follows. Kell Brook has been back in training just five weeks after sustaining a fractured skull (broken eye socket) in a brave and daring bid to rise two weight classes to challenge middleweight beast Gennady Golovkin.
While Kell looked absolutely ripped at 160 and is reported to have entered ring actually heavier than “GGG”, he immediately announced he would drop down to 154 and contend with the junior middleweight echelon. Just last week he spoke out about not willing to simply vacate title he fought so hard for and was looking forward to the respectable challenge and skillset Errol brings to the dance.
No sooner did the internet buzz on this one get pulses fluttering with anticipation than the contradictory announcement by promoter Eddie Hearn that he was looking to match Kell with British rival Amir Kahn. With Amir coming back from a career ending reconstruction of his hand there is no guarantee that it won’t crumble as easily as his often tested chin.
Brook’s dilemma, if he passes on meeting his number one obligation he’ll have to vacate or get Spence, JR. to agree on step aside money. Errol is game as they come and eager to trade leather and I don’t see that happening. On the other side of road if Kell passes on Kahn someone else gets perhaps a last chance to cash in on Amir’s name. The downside to Kell getting greedy is that it leaves not only a big disappointment to his welterweight legacy as his past number one contenders can only be remembered with the help of Wikipedia, but that leaves the door open, and shut, on Spence, JR. Vs Horn. This leaves a fellow begging for the “glory days” of fighters like Buddy McGirt who had to claw their way through the division one rung at a time.
The lowdown. Spence, JR. is all you could ask in a fighter if you were a manager on the prowl for pristine talent. His well-proportioned muscular body moves effortlessly around the ring flat footed, yet fires his weapons up on his toes with great accuracy. A vicious body puncher with both hands who keeps his guard up well inside the pocket. His southpaw jab is thudding and commands respect while always being followed by a combination. The balance is perfect and his stance is always in tight formation slightly splayed just wider than arch of his shoulders allowing terrific leverage on body shots with mean intentions. The kid isn’t gun shy either and if he stuns you be prepared for a pit bull attack. So far his whiskers are granite based on his level of competition as he is fearless in using an abundance of uppercuts. Schooled well in defense he keeps his guard up when trench warfare is ignited.
So what’s the rumpus as they used to say in thirties? Nothing, nothing at all. Just hard to handicap a fight against Brook based on his resume. Can Errol display all these stunning attributes and put them on display against equally talented Brook? It will be both fascinating and historical to see which fighter can control the other with boxing abilities and who can impose their will and take over should a ring war erupt. Way too early to go out on a limb and break this one down until the contract is signed, sealed and delivered.
Until then let’s hope it does make its way onto the 2017 calendar and Errol isn’t spoon fed a cherry pick the way Adrien Broner has been keeping his record alive. Spence, JR. is so much better than that and deserves a proper opponent and audience in which to showcase his talent while securing his legacy. Like Hearns and Leonard, Errol has a gauntlet of tough opposition awaiting him in the guise of Manny Pacquiao, Tim Bradley, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, Terrance Crawford, and Lamont Peterson should Kell elect to fight Kahn instead. Personally, I’m praying the bout gets made and the winner calls out last man standing between Thurman and Garcia. Yes, thank God for welterweights.
Stay tuned…
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