Brook vs Spence: Scott Quigg reveals how high the Wild Card gym rate Errol Spence Jr
Wednesday 24 May 2017 09:12, UK
Scott Quigg admits he has been "flying the flag" for British boxing and Kell Brook out in the famous Wild Card gym, ahead of his showdown with Errol Spence Jr.
The Bury man has joined Freddie Roach and his renowned Californian stable, known for its hustle and bustle and competitive streak in sparring, as he looks to become a two-weight world champion.
Quigg is back on home soil following his Wembley Stadium win over Viorel Simion last month but, weeks ahead of Brook and Spence Jr's Sky Sports Box Office showdown, he discovered how highly the Americans rate the challenger and happily reminded them how good the IBF welterweight champion is.
They are saying Errol Spence will be the next star and I'm sure he will be. But I reminded one or two of them how good Kell Brook is.
"Everyone over there sees Spence as the real deal," he exclusively told Sky Sports.
"They are all expecting him to bring the title back home.
"Even before I left with Freddie, they were talking about it. Of course, I sometimes feel like I am flying the flag out there anyway and have told them about Kell, but they are convinced he gets beat.
"They are saying Spence will be the next star and I'm sure he will be. But I reminded one or two of them about Kell. He is the champion and has been for a while."
Quigg, the former WBA super-bantamweight champion now boxing at featherweight, knows how hard it can be to make weight and is worried about Brook dropping down two divisions.
But while he will be on foreign soil when he returns to the Wild Card for his next fight under Roach, the 28-year-old thinks Spence Jr leaving his home could be decisive.
"Everyone in the Wild Card has been talking about him, saying great things, what he's done with so and so in sparring.
"They are saying Spence will be the next star, but there is one big factor for Spence: he might have travelled around the world as an amateur but this is a 12 rounder, in the champion's hometown. I'm not sure the Americans I was speaking to remember Kell coming over here and beating Shawn Porter!
"Spence has never been tested as a professional and he has dealt with everything with ease but this is his first big test. A big, big test.
"It is 50-50 fight but us over here know how good Kell can be, but all the Americans rate Spence so highly.
"If Spence beats Brook he becomes the man over there, but although it is a 50-50 and is going to be close, I can see Brook stopping him. It will be interesting to see what the Wild Card think of that!"
Watch Brook vs Spence Jr, from Bramall Lane, Sheffield, May 27, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the event online here or via your Sky remote.
