Kell Brook took it to his mandatory challenger in front of a packed house in the United Kingdon last week. Brook had not fought since he dethroned Shawn Porter of his IBF Welterweight Title last August. In between that and his fight, Brook was stabbed and needed more than 30 inches on his leg for the wound to heal. So to Brook last Saturday was refreshing as a prize fighter.
“I’m on top of the world,” Brook told Behind The Gloves. “The performance was what it was. He’s never been stopped before, so it’s always good to be the first, especially in front of my home crowd. But now I want big fights, bigger fights heading into the summer.”
Is Brook a star now? And is he ready to be a headliner against the big names in his division? Brook certainly feels so.
“I’m leading the way, Michael Buffer, packed arena, to be headlining the bill is amazing,” he said.
As far as who’s next? His promoter Eddie Hearn threw out a gauntlet list of big names. Hearn says he willing to fight anyone but is anyone willing to step up.
“Anyone, he’ll fight anyone,” Hearn said. “Let’s look at Rios, let’s look at Marquez, we want Khan, he doesn’t want it. Let’s like Mayweather, let’s look at Pacquiao, let’s look at Thurman. He will fight anyone, 34-0, unbeaten, unbeatable.”
Strong words from the promoter but the fact is, Kell Brook is a title holder in one of the glamour divisions in boxing. He didn’t win a vacant title. Plus the other two champions in the division happen to be Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. So for guys looking to land a sweepstake fight, wouldn’t it be more attractive to have the only other belt out there to entice Mayweather or Pacquiao to be the undisputed champion of the division (I’m talking about you Amir Khan)?”
