Around 27,000 fans packed into Sheffield United’s football stadium in May hoping to see Brook derail American upstart Spence’s hype train and defend his 147lb crown.
But they left sorely disappointed as Special K, damaged and disheartened, took a knee in the 11th round to surrender his belt to Spence after suffering yet another eye socket injury.
And Spence made the first defence of his world title this weekend, taking on his countryman and former training partner Lamont Peterson at the Barclay’s Arena in New York City.
And, for all Brook’s loss might have stung, it just might be the best thing to happen to the welterweight division.
Spence, 27, joined the likes of Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter among the elite of a stacked weight class.
If these knockouts are anything to go by, it has been a long time coming.
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Leonard Bundu
Spence travelled to Coney Island, New York, to take on Italian Olympian Leonard Bundu in a final IBF title eliminator in 2016.
The New York native did not disappoint in front of his home crowd, grinding the 42-year-old down before flooring him with a powerful uppercut in the sixth.
Bundu, a seasoned veteran with 36 prior professional bouts, did well to make it back to his feet but another left hand from Brook moments later proved enough to force a stoppage.
Chris Van Heerden
South African Chris Van Heerden might be best known as the man who sparred Conor McGregor years before The Notorious’ ill-fated showdown against Floyd Mayweather.
Footage showed the 30-year-old toying with a flailing McGregor – but Van Heerden had no such luck against Spence.
He lasted eight rounds of the scheduled 10 before being bravely stopped on his feet as Spence unleashed a skeleton-rattling assault against the ropes under the eyes of the referee.
Chris Algieri
Power-punching Manny Pacquiao and speed king Amir Khan failed to stop a steel-chinned Chris Algieri over the course of 23 previous professional bouts.
But when he stepped into the ring to face Errol Spence in April 2016, his proud record of having never been knocked out looked in jeopardy from the start.
Spence dominated the fight, flooring Algieri twice before finishing the fight against the ropes with Algieri helpless to defend himself.
Phil Lo Greco
Canadian Phil Lo Greco is strongly rumoured to be first in line for a shot at Amir Khan ahead of the Bolton brawler’s comeback this year.
Spence’s performance against the 28-3 welterweight in 2015 should give boxing fans a decent yardstick to measure Khan’s current ability with.
It took Brook just three rounds to clobber The Italian Sensation into a technical knockout defeat – and it remains the only stoppage defeat of Lo Greco’s career.
Brandon Hoskins
A first-round victory over Nathan Butcher in January 2013 was followed up by another against Brandon Hoskins in May of the same year as Spence began his tear through the professional ranks in style.
Incredibly, Spence stopped six of his eight opponents in the very first round during a jaw-dropping ascent to notoriety in 2013.
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Now an established superstar in the division, Spence used his pre-fight press conference earlier this week to throw shade at some of his 147lb rivals.
“You know, because I had to wait for my title defence and things like that. And then I had a lot of guys not answering the call,” he said.
“Al [Haymon] done called these guys...the reporters mention my name — they try to make excuses, this and that. Ok, I have a belt now, I went over there and got the belt. So what’s the excuse now? I have a belt and I’m still calling these dudes out: Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, all these guys.
“[Peterson] wouldn’t be sitting here if Keith Thurman or Danny Garcia or Shawn Porter said they’ll take the fight, you know?! I shouldn’t be a world champion and having to call these dudes out. And Lamont Peterson answered the call like a real fighter, like a real soldier should do.”
Earlier this year, Spence claimed he would be open to a fight with the returning Amir Khan, claiming the 31-year-old is “a bigger name than Kell Brook”.