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ODDSbible Boxing: Kell Brook vs Errol Spence Jr. Betting Preview

ODDSbible Boxing: Kell Brook vs Errol Spence Jr. Betting Preview

We take a look at the weekend's massive showdown at Bramall Lane between Kell Brook and Errol Spence Jr.

Kieran Spratt

Kieran Spratt

It's not often in boxing that a defending world champion who's fighting on home soil and in front of his own fans will find himself entering the ring as an underdog, but that's exactly what Kell Brook is on Saturday night.

Brook, 36-1(25), will defend his IBF World Welterweight title against the unbeaten Errol Spence Jr. at Bramall Lane, home of his beloved Sheffield United, and the bookies have made the home fighter the clear second-favourite at 11/8.

Brooklyn native Spence, whose record currently stands at a perfect 21-0, has a lot of hype behind him and there's a real feeling amongst the boxing community that the 27 year-old has a bright future ahead of him.

Spence has a very good pedigree as a fighter. As an amateur he won three consecutive United States national championships in the welterweight division and also represented the United States at the 2012 Olympics in London, where he was beaten in the quarter-finals.

Spence
Spence
Errol Spence represented the United States at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Image: PA

Spence has waltzed through the professional ranks thus far, stopping 18 of his 21 previous opponents. With an 86% KO rate, it's clear that the 8/13 favourite has no problems with punching power.

Kell Brook comes in to this fight with experience and that cannot be overlooked. While Spence has mixed it with decent contenders like Chris Algieri and Leonard Bundu, Brook has the experience of fighting packed-out stadiums and arenas against world-class opposition like Shawn Porter and Gennady Golovkin.

The Yorkshiremen won't be phased by the magnitude of the event come Saturday night, especially in front of an almost entirely partisan crowd.

The biggest concern for Kell Brook is whether he can adapt to the drop in weight having moved up from 147lbs to 160lbs to fight Gennady Golovkin. It's tough to move up two weight classes and be successful, it's even tougher still to move back down two weight classes and succeed.

If Brook is even slightly lethargic from the weight drop then a more natural welterweight like Spence could punish the Brit badly.

Brook is an exceptional fighter and I think the bookies have been a little harsh on the Matchroom fighter. However, I also don't think Brook is a natural welterweight, despite winning a world title at this level, and that he would perhaps be better suited to the light-middlweights instead.

This weekend I favour the younger and hungrier of the two men and I'll stick my neck further on the line by saying I expect Spence to end proceedings within the distance. Errol Spence can be backed at 13/8 to win via KO, TKO or Disqualification with Ladbrokes.

Recommended bet:

Errol Spence to win via KO, TKO or Disqualification - 13/8 @ Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes' full range of Kell Brook v Errol Spence markets can be found here: https://sports.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/betting/boxing/boxing/upcoming-fights/kell-brook-v-errol-spence-jr/224922254/

Ladbrokes FA Cup
Ladbrokes FA Cup

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