Errol Spence reveals importance of Kell Brook in his welterweight career

Errol Spence has revealed Kell Brook was the 'biggest fight of his career' and believes it set him on a faster path to becoming an undisputed champion.

The American faces another huge examination of his progress as a welterweight champion as he comes up against legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao who is coming into the fight with nothing to lose in the years considered as the 'twilight years' of his career.

Spence has been in the ring much more recently than his opponent, continuing his journey to recovery after a horrific car accident with unanimous decision victory over Danny Garcia in Arlington back in December 2020, where he asserted his status as one of boxing's top contenders.

However despite the sheer magnitude of his upcoming task against a boxing icon, he believes that his contest with British fighter Brook will remain the 'biggest of his career' as it earned him his first world title.

"I feel like the Kell Brook fight was [more important]. If I didn't win that, I would still be here," Spence told Morning Kombat.

"But it would've been a harder road, it solidified me and was my first world title fight.

"To go to his country and stop him for the title, at that time he was arguably the best welterweight in the division. I feel that was the biggest fight of my career.

Spence currently holds two world title belts which will be on the line going into the contest on August 21 in Las Vegas, and he could look to renew a long-term rivalry of words with Terence Crawford to try and force one of the most highly-anticipated fights in the current generation of pound-for-pound fighters.

However he has acknowledged that defeating Pacquiao is going to be a huge task that he must have 'full focus' on and has offered praise to the Filipino for taking the fight.

"I want to retire him but I do respect him for taking this fight and being a real fighter. He could've picked Joe Blow or somebody, or an MMA fighter just to get a huge paycheck," Spence continued.

"Instead, he took the biggest challenge in the division.

"I am expecting the best version of Manny Pacquiao on August 21, he is one of them fighters who is able to come in and just the fight.

"I am judging Manny Pacquiao on his best performances, and that one last time out especially against Keith Thurman.

"Thurman came in the ring thinking he was going to do one thing, but it ended up going the other way."

Pacquiao has a huge task on his hands to nullify the speed and strength of his opponent on the night, and has been warned by American promoter Lou DiBella that he faces a 'daunting task' trying to get an uphill victory.

The Filipino has also renewed his war of words with long-time rival Floyd Mayweather stating that he fights for 'legacy and not money' ahead of another huge name on his resume in unified champion Spence.

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