Brook vs Spence Jr: Tony Bellew backing Bramall Lane to inspire Kell Brook against Errol Spence Jr
Wednesday 24 May 2017 12:22, UK
Tony Bellew expects Bramall Lane to bring out the best in Kell Brook when he takes on Errol Spence Jr on Saturday night.
Brook (36-1-KO25) looks to get back to winning ways at the home of his beloved Sheffield United, live on Sky Sports Box Office, finally fighting at a venue he has long wanted to grace.
He drops back to welterweight to take on American Spence Jr (21-0-KO18), having failed to dethrone middleweight king Gennady Golovkin in his most recent outing last September.
The fight venue could easily bring added pressure for Brook, but Bellew is well aware it can also prove a massive positive as it did for him last May, when he came back from an early knockdown to defeat Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park and claim the WBC cruiserweight title.
"It's a crossroads fight and in an amazing stadium as well. Will that be a factor? I don't think so personally," Bellew told Sky Sports.
"My night at Goodison Park - it didn't affect me as I was so focused and zoned in on Ilunga Makabu. I'm pretty certain Kell will be focused on Errol Spence Jr he will forget it is even outdoors.
Kell just has to go out there and impose himself immediately on Errol Spence, not let him get into any kind of flow or rhythm.
"It will be just Kell Brook and Errol Spence Jr in the middle of the ring and nobody else in the world will matter when those two fighters come together.
"Kell will thrive on the pressure, he loves high-pressure fights and seems to perform at his very best when he is under pressure. I don't think it will be an issue for Kell - he's a confident young lad, knows how to fight going forwards and backwards."
Bellew expects Brook to start strongly and warned the IBF welterweight champion that anything else could see him in trouble as the fight progresses.
He added: "Kell just has to go out there and impose himself immediately on Errol Spence, not let him get into any kind of flow or rhythm. If he does allow him to get into a rhythm, it's very hard to get these southpaws out of it.
"For me, Spence is like a southpaw version of Vernon Forrest, throws everything correctly, long and straight down the pipe. He's got reasonably good defence but it hasn't been tested yet but he looks solid all around and the Americans have been raving about him for some time.
"But for me, Kell Brook is the proven one, he's been there, seen it and got the t-shirt. He's done it on foreign soil against Shawn Porter, he's ventured up to 160 against the most feared fighter on the planet. It didn't work out but he was giving a great account of himself until the injury occurred.
Kell Brook v Errol Spence Jr: The Countdown 1
"But make no mistake, if Errol Spence Jr starts fast and gains control in the early part of the fight he will run away with it.
"The worst thing you can do is let a southpaw take control. Kell must start fast and continue the pace up until four or five rounds, then rest in the middle rounds and pick it up in the championship rounds. He has to show his experience and that he has been at a higher level. It's imperative he does this."
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.
