Kell Brook (33-0, 22 KO) may not be a household yet name outside of the United Kingdom but he’s an undefeated, bonafide world champion in boxing’s deepest division.
The 28 year old Brit from Sheffield may be on the cusp of international stardom following Saturday’s title-taking performance over Shawn Porter that skyrocketed his market value and has made him one of the hottest fighters in the sport today. (Image cpourtesy of Sky Sports)
As the new IBF Welterweight Champion, Brook is one of three major belt-holders in that division. The others are Floyd Mayweather (WBC and WBA) and Manny Pacquiao.
The Brit is in great company and his next fight promises to be huge. “I’m ready to fight all of the top fighters,” said Brook. I think the British public needs to see this fight with Khan, but he can get in line.”
So who will Brook face next?
Given the immense talent at jr welterweight and welterweight, the Brit has plenty of superfight possibilities.
Kell Brook: Next fight options
Shawn Porter (rematch) Some believe Saturday’s fight should have gone Porter’s way, and offering the deposed champ an immediate rematch in the UK would be an admirable move by Team Brook. However, Saturday’s contest, although fiercely competitive, wasn’t exactly Fight of the Year. The bout was downright ugly at times and fans won’t be clamoring for a rematch anytime soon.
Team Brook will likely seek a safer opponent for a tune-up or someone whose stock will yield far greater financials.
Floyd Mayweather If Floyd defeats Marcos Maidana next month, look for Brook to be a leading candidate in the Floyd Mayweather Sweepstakes for May 2015.
Why?
The Brit is hot, unbeaten, has a world title and hails from the United Kingdom, an area where Mayweather enjoys tremendous popularity. Moreover, Floyd has never fought outside the U.S. and has stated on numerous occasions he’d love to fight in the UK before he retires.
Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe echoed ‘Money May’s sentiments last year, “Floyd cannot wait until we can come over there and give the UK fans a big, big fight.” “Floyd has a tremendous fan base in the UK and we’re looking at working on something now where he’s going to come over there. There’s definitely a very strong possibility that Floyd will fight in the UK. We’ll see how this thing plays out, his focus is Saturday night and then we’ll go from there.”
“But we’re definitely going to bring a big, big event to the UK.”
If the money is right and ‘Money May’ survives the rematch with Maidana, don’t be surprised if Mayweather vs Brook in the UK is announced for Spring 2015.
Amir Khan A showdown with despised rival and fellow Brit Amir Khan is also a good possibility. It would be a high-profile, lucrative affair, a la Carl Froch vs George Groves 2 which packed in 80,000 attendees in May and garnered tremendous interest due in part to the fighters’ ‘bad blood.’
… But would a showdown with Khan be as lucrative for Brook as a Mayweather fight?
A superfight with Mayweather would obviously generate more overall income but Brook’s piece of the pie would be much smaller. But would an 80-20 split (in Mayweather’s favor) for a mayweather bout generate as much income as a possible 50-50 split with Khan? If Brook’s purse sums for both fights are comparable, the wiser choice would be Mayweather because Kell has far more to gain by defeating the sport’s top fighter. Moreover, all things being equal, a loss to Mayweather wouldn’t impact his stock as much as a defeat at the hands of Amir Khan.
Nevertheless, if Mayweather vs Brook doesn’t happen in May, Khan is the most likely superfight option for Kell.
Keith Thurman A bout between Brook and the explosive, exciting Keith Thurman would be an intriguing contest between two elite, unbeaten welterweights and would have hardcore fans salivating.
So why not Thurman?
He has yet to transcend into the mainstream and, as a result, such a fight would not generate anywhere near the interest or revenue of bouts with Mayweather or Khan. And because he’s arguably at least almost as dangerous as those fighters, Thurman would be too much risk for the reward at this moment.
With a potential superfight with Mayweather or Khan looming, here are additional presumptive opponents who may also be labelled as ‘too much risk for the reward:’ Marcos Maidana Tim Bradley Adrien Broner Danny Garcia Robert Guerrero Luis Carlos Abregu Lucas Matthysse Ruslan Provodnikov and Brandon Rios
Manny Pacquiao The real darkhorse is Manny Pacquiao, the WBO Welterweight Champion. A fight legend, PacMan is still a top 5 pound-for-pound fighter and, without question, one of boxing’s top two stars.
Unlike Kell Brook, Pacquiao’s options are limited because Pac fights on HBO while most of the big names at jr welterweight and welterweight are showcased on rival network Showtime. Unless public demand approaches the lofty level of ‘Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather,’ Pacquiao will not be facing a Showtime fighter anytime soon, sans Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez. Enter Kell Brook. With Eddie Hearn as his promoter, Brook seemingly has network flexibility in the United States.
If Pacquiao defeats Chris Algieri later this fall, don’t be surprised if Top Rank attempts to pair him with Brook. However, due in part to Pacquiao’s diminished stock (whether fair or unfair), Kell may be better off, financially, fighting Mayweather or Khan as Team Pacquiao would like demand a lion’s share of the purse for a presumed lower interest bout.
But if Brook can’t get Mayweather or Khan, PacMan may be the most reasonable superfight option – and the most lucrative.
Juan Manuel Marquez Kell Brook has something that 41 year old fight legend Juan Manuel Marquez covets – a major title at welterweight. Earlier this summer, trainer Nacho Beristain hinted at a possible Marquez vs Porter showdown. Now that Brook has the IBF title, will Marquez target the Brit? And if so, will Hearn and company be receptive?
Marquez has wavered on a fifth Pacquiao fight and many insist JMM wants no part of PacMan, thus paving the way for a Marquez vs Brook showdown.
“My career is all about challenges,” Marquez stated late last fall. “Right now the challenge [for my career] is to get a fifth title. And if cannot get a [fight for] the title under the World Boxing Organization (WBO), there are others,” Marquez told BoxingScene earlier this year.
Marquez vs Brook may be a long shot but it isn’t outside the realm of possibility.
Possible tune-up scenarios A superfight for Brook may not be in the offing next so Hearn and company may seek a ‘stay busy’ fight until things get sorted. If they go that route, here are some likely opponents: Paul Malignaggi Zab Judah (retired) Dan Ion (33-2, 18 KO; possibly the IBF’s new No. 1 contender) Jan Zaveck Leonard Bundu (31-0, 11 KOs) and Frankie Gavin (a fellow Brit who is 19-1, 12 KO).
If Team Brook fails to lure a high profile superstar for their fighter’s next bout, look for him to make his first title defense against a quality but “somewhat” safe opponent.
