Errol Spence Jr. looks sensational, dominates Chris Algieri in five rounds

If there was a criticism of 2012 Olympian Errol Spence Jr., it was that he had largely feasted on lower-level opposition.

He took a decided step up in competition on Saturday when he faced veteran Chris Algieri and looked sensational, becoming the first man to stop Algieri. Spence, who pounded the body continuously, knocked Algieri down once in the fourth and twice in the fifth.

After the final knockdown, a crushing left that put Algieri onto the seat of his pants, referee Benjy Esteves stepped in to halt it at 48 seconds of the fifth.

"I thought it would be a little later, to tell you the truth," Spence said of the finish that raised his mark to 20-0 with 17 knockouts. "Chris Algieri is a tough fighter and I thank him for the opportunity. He tested me a little, but he didn't push me into deep waters. I was prepared for everything he came with."

Spence stopped him in the fifth, but he won the fight in the early rounds when he began to dig early and often to Algieri's body. He clearly was bothering Algieri with the body work and it opened the door for his head shots later in the bout that finished it.

Spence is a studious fighter in addition to being extremely talented and said he picked up a flaw from watching Algieri's past fights.

"I'd seen in his previous fights that when he tried to go for the overhand, he'd lean in a lot," Spence said. "He leans in a lot ... He looks at the floor when he ducks instead of looking up at who he's fighting and so I was able to catch him with a blind punch. It's always the one you don't see that hurts."

Spence called out IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook and said he's ready for any of the elite 147-pounders. Based on what he did in landing 96 of the 311 shots he threw, it would be hard to dispute that. He appears ready for the best in the world at this stage.

Algieri said he didn't stick with the game plan that trainer John David Jackson devised, but gave Spence credit.

"He's a hungry young lion and he'll be a great champion one day," Algieri said. "He brought some good stuff tonight."