Kell Brook became the newly-crowned International Boxing Federation welterweight champion after claiming a majority decision over American Shawn Porter in Carson, California, in the early hours of Sunday morning, to join Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao as one of three holders of a world title belt at 147lbs.
Some platform for the Yorkshireman, who improved his record to 33-0 and inflicted a first professional defeat on Porter in his 26th fight.
Brook, always calm and composed, will have learnt so much from this contest: completing a successful training camp abroad, having to dig deep and weather the storm while keeping the fight under control, and showing that he can mix it against dangerous fighters like Porter at elite level in unfamiliar surroundings.
This was a mature performance, a triumph against the odds, the 28-year-old having come strong in the last five rounds, Brook completing the rout by becoming the first British boxer to secure victory on US soil against an unbeaten American world champion since Lloyd Honeyghan defeated undisputed welterweight king Donald Curry in 1986 to shock the world.
With this showing, Brook demonstrated that he belongs among the elite at 147lbs and has elevated himself into a division which includes some of the most lucrative fights in world boxing. As Brook had told Telegraph Sport last week, he had planned to absorb Porter’s attacks – and the American indeed was relentless in the first six rounds – and then go up the gears. He did it with aplomb, his performance having the perfect crescendo in the championship rounds. It was smooth.
The judges scored the contest 114-114, 117-111 and 116-112, giving the Wincobank gym fighter the majority verdict.
What he has also shown, with his team, is that he can come through disappointment and not become downhearted. The Sheffield fighter had endured an agonising 18 months waiting for this title shot after three clashes with then IBF champion Devon Alexander were postponed, with Porter having claimed the belt from Alexander in the interim period.
Brook seized this opportunity in a scrappy title fight, in which Porter, aggressive and relentless in the early rounds, but cleverly tied up on the inside by Brook, ran out of steam and ideas, slowing after the seventh round. Porter, renowned for his relentless attacks, was made to look crude by Brook.
Both men were cut to the eye through head clashes, Brook in the second round, Porter in the sixth.
When Brook, who started tentatively, rocked the American with a clean uppercut in the seventh, it shifted the pattern of the fight and he bossed the exchanges thereafter. Where Porter did have some success was by attacking to the body.
Yet Brook’s jab and left hook were effective throughout the contest, his superior boxing skills seeing him through in what on my card was a close contest. I had Brook one round up going into the 12th round, which was razor tight, both men fatigued and holding in the heat in the outdoor stadium in California.
The victory for Brook heralds a huge potential domestic battle against former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan, though both Britons will doubtless also look to a contest with undefeated Mayweather, who holds the WBA and WBC belts.
“Every since I was a little boy I knew I was born to do this. I’ve come over here to his back yard from little England and I’m the champ,” said a delighted Brook, surrounded by his family.
There was an obvious message sent immediately back to Khan, who was working as an analyst in the Sky Sports studio. The two men have had an open rivalry for some time, since they sparred years back in the amateur ranks. “The British public want it [the fight with Khan]. He’ll probably say that I need to win another title for the fight. I know he doesn’t like me. The fact is, he is getting it. I’m the champ of the world,” said Brook pointing his finger at Khan.
Khan stressed he would be happy to face the new champion, setting up the potential for a clash to rival that between George Groves and Carl Froch at Wembley earlier this year.
“If the fight can happen, let’s make it happen,” Khan responded. “Kell Brook has proven himself. We’d love to take it. It’s a huge fight, and I’m up for it, if he’s willing to put the belt on the line.”
“Kell fought out of his skin,” added Khan, whose assessment was that Porter had “won by a round or two”. That was harsh. Boxing won over brawling in Carson.
Given the ambition Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already shown this year with the hugely successful contest at supermiddleweight between Carl Froch and George Groves, which drew 80,000 spectators to Wembley Stadium on a highly memorable night, a major promotion could be planned.
Khan said: “I think I’d like that in somewhere like Wembley Stadium, we can fill that out, that would be a quick sell. It’s the fight that the UK fans want to see and have been talking about for such a long time. When we fight, it will be more of a game of chess.”
But for now, Brook should simply rest and take pride in his work. He thoroughly deserves his moment of glory, and to be considered a bona fide world champion.
