Errol Spence Jr. announces arrival with fifth-round destruction of Chris Algieri
NEW YORK - Errol Spence Jr. has been heavily hyped, and with good reason.
He easily dispatched of 19 fighters, most of them journeyman, but despite limited opposition, it was clear the talent was there.
What would happen, though, when Spence fought someone who could punch back? Well, nothing changed.
Spence, a 2012 Olympian, stepped way up in competition Saturday before 7,628 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center against former champion Chris Algieri, and made it look easy with three knockdowns en route to a fifth-round stoppage.
Referee Benjy Esteves Jr. waved the bout off as Algieri sat on the seat of his pants at :48 of Round 5.
"It meant a lot to get the stoppage. I did something Manny Pacquiao couldn't do, nor Amir Khan," said Spence, who was born in nearby Long Island. "That shows where I'm at in the welterweight division. Everyone wanted to see what I could do against a proven fighter and I blew him out of the water."
The 26-year-old was in control from the onset and really began to lay a beating on Algieri in Round 2. After absorbing a clean left hook, Spence bullied his foe into the ropes and went to work on the inside, sliding from side to side to slip damaging punches in.
Spence (20-0, 17 KOs) was masterful on the inside; he tied up Algieri while still connecting with his own shots. The 26-year-old's speed was too much for Algieri all night.
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Algieri (21-3, 8 KOs) seemed overwhelmed at times by Spence's barrage, but the hot prospect never got reckless. He picked his spots while coming forward and avoided any big punches coming back.
Spence got off first each time, and when you're the faster, more powerful fighter, that's a clear recipe for success. The 31-year-old had no answers, and after the first two knockdowns, his face told the story of a man who knew he was in with a far superior fighter.
The DeSoto, Texas, resident's incredible blend of speed, power and boxing acumen should put the welterweight division - currently the sport's glamour weight class - on notice.
"He's a beast," promoter Lou DiBella said. "He's got unbelievable speed, his poise is ridiculous for a young guy. He is trouble for everyone and anyone. (Floyd) Mayweather ain't coming out of retirement to fight him."
Spence's punch output was startling: he threw 311 shots and landed 96 (30.9%). Algieri could only muster 36 connects on 114 thrown (31.6%).
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Spence's blistering speed and non-stop volleys made sure Algieri had no room to get his own punches off. More so, Algieri didn't have time to plan counter attacks.
A former kickboxing champion, he upset Ruslan Provodnikov to win a 140-pound title in June 2014. That performance was parlayed into a big-money fight with Pacquiao, but he was out-pointed after six knockdowns.
Algieri proved to be a world-class fighter in a loss to Khan last summer in a close bout, but Spence is clearly on a different level.
"I didn't stick with the game plan," said Algieri, BoxingJunkie's No. 10-ranked welterweight. "I was kind of sliding in between two different styles too quickly, not sitting down in one enough to make it work, and when you do anything halfway it works none of the way.
"Not taking anything away from him, he's a hungry young lion and he'll be a great champion one day. He brought some good stuff tonight. He stayed composed and that was a big part of it. I know I caught him with some big shots, and shots he definitely felt, but he was composed and caught me with some shots when I was between strategies."
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He went down for the first time in Round 4, the result of an overhand left. Spence, BoxingJunkie's No. 7 147-pounder, deposited his foe on the canvas again the following round with the same punch.
After the Long Islander beat the count, Spence unleashed with a series of shots and connected with a massive left that was the telling blow of the fight.
The body work from Spence was tremendous as well; he seamlessly mixed up his punch selection. It was a masterpiece performance from a young man who appears to have the talent to reach tremendous heights in this sport.
"I'm the No. 1 contender to Kell Brook, so Kell Brook knows what time it is," Spence said of the star from England whom many consider the top 147-pounder in the world. "We got to get in the ring and fight; Danny Garcia and all the rest of the welterweight champions. I want them all, doesn't matter who."
(Photo: Spence Jr. is declared the winner at Barclays Center. Credit: Getty Images)