Spence Jr vs Algieri has only just been officially announced, so does that mean it’s too late to preview this intriguing Welterweight dustup? Hell no! Let’s crack this thing open and see what’s inside!
Uber-prospect Errol Spence Jr will be taking on the first legitimate test of his career in Chris Algieri on April 16th at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center. This is an acid test encounter for Spence who is touted to become one of boxing’s standout operators in the near future. The kid is special. Going in, Spence holds a perfect 19 wins with 16 knockouts, and Algieri 21 wins, 8 knockouts and 2 defeats.
Algieri, 31, isn’t a huge puncher or master of any particular area of the craft, but has demonstrated tremendous fortitude every time he’s danced with a marquee name. All the fundamentals are there, and the former 140 pound champ should never be overlooked. Rallying back to conquer Russian tank Ruslan Providnikov – following two 1st round knockdowns – proved Algieri’s boxing ambitions are a lot more than to simply turn up.
So Algieri’s an iron-willed fighter who comes to upset the odds. But should Spence be concerned at all about his challenger?
If history really is the best predictor of the future, then I’d say Spence, 26, shouldn’t have too many problems outthinking and – short of a knockout – clocking up a fairly wide points victory here. Why? Because Algieri seems to struggle against pure boxers as we’ve already seen against Manny Pacquiao in 2014 and Amir Khan last May.
OK, it’s hard to look good against those guys given their blurring hand speed and top-drawer footwork, but let’s remember that Spence is also cut from a similar cloth. If Algieri can’t hold his own with Spence he could find himself in very deep waters. Personally, I see Algieri sticking it out and hearing the final bell in this one. The guy survived an awful pounding against Pacquiao and gave Amir Khan a much tougher than expected night. So, if anything, the guy is durable enough to go 12.
And then there’s the mystery element going in, something we shouldn’t neglect. While we know what Algieri’s limits are and how he copes on the big stage, we can’t say the same for Spence. The unbeaten contender has some decent wins and very impressive performances behind him (Phil Lo Greco, Chris Van Heerden via TKO), but hasn’t yet won a ‘breakout fight’.
Spence Jr vs Algieri is an important bout for both men, and a meaningful wheel-turner for the 147 pound division. Algieri, who doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word ‘tune up’, has a lot of pressure on him. A third straight defeat wouldn’t be career-derailing per se – depending on the nature of the defeat – but would certainly damage his brand. Boxing fans love an underdog, but you know, they do like to see the underdog win every now and then.
The pressure is also on Spence for obvious reasons, and that pressure couldn’t be greater when many boxing scribes and analysts are calling him the future of the Welterweight scene. The A-side is known as such for good reason, but the A-side still has to perform big and, most crucially, keep on winning. Repeatedly.
I’m not predicting an upset is on the cards, but 2015 did teach us all once again that matchmakers’ crystal balls do malfunction from time to time. And when they do, prospects can lose that precious ‘0’ that seems to mean so much in modern day boxing. Upstarts Amir Imam got smothered and stopped by unheralded Adrian Granados last year, and Tony Harrison was crushed by unexpected spoiler Willie Nelson. Shockers.
What’s your take on Spence Jr vs Algieri? Thought-provoking matchup or one-sided record-inflater for Spence?
