WHILE not yet finalised, it looks like IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook will headline the September 12 show at the O2 in London against American Brandon Rios. Subsequently a major fight against Tim Bradley could be in the frame.
“Brook-Rios, we’re in discussion with Top Rank. It’s not done yet. If that is done, then that will be the headline bout at the O2 on September 12. If not Kell might fight in October instead but he’s in training now with that date in mind,” Brook’s promoter, Eddie Hearn told Boxing News. “If it’s Rios, I think after that we look at Bradley, if we can’t get [Amir] Khan. It’s a really good fight. It’s a really tough fight I rate Tim Bradley as one of the top welterweights in the world. I really do. He’s very hard to beat, tough, great engine, great chin, explosive. I rate Keith Thurman as well. I also rate Kell Brook as, outside of Floyd Mayweather, the number one welterweight in the world. I do. I think he beats them all. The Bradley fight is a really tough fight but I like that fight.”
Rios would be Brook’s second voluntary defence. If he comes through, as expected, he may have to face a mandatory challenger. That could set up a fight with Tim Bradley for next year.
“After September 12 we are due a mandatory probably around December, January time and that at the moment is the winner of Devon Alexander against Diego Chaves. We have to see what happens with that. By then he would have had two voluntaries in Frankie Gavin and whoever we choose next. I don’t mind the winner of Alexander against Chaves,” Hearn said.
Like Carl Frampton versus Scott Quigg, Brook-Khan is one of the elusive super-fights that haunts the British boxing scene. “It is a 50-50 fight. I believe Amir thinks he’s going to win the fight, I know Kell Brook does. But it is a 50-50 fight. So it is a huge risk but the risk is there with the reward,” said Hearn. “You’re going to get more money than you would in any other fight and you’re going to fill a stadium in the UK, it’s going to be an epic night for British boxing. How long can you wait for Floyd Mayweather?”
For a long time Khan has been tipped as a future opponent for Floyd Mayweather. Hearn has also put his fighter, Brook forward for a potential shot at the pound-for-pound ruler. However he is not optimistic. “I’ve spoken to their team. I’ve put Kell’s name in the hat. Why would you fight Kell Brook if you’re Floyd Mayweather? He’s probably one of the most dangerous fighters in the division, he’s technically very good, he’s young, he’s hungry. Again, if you were Floyd Mayweather, why would you fight Amir Khan? In case people think I’m being pro Kell Brook, why would you fight Amir Khan? He’s young he’s hungry, he’s got things that can trouble Floyd Mayweather. He [Floyd] is coming off the biggest fight in world boxing history. You haven’t got anything to prove.”
Brook isn’t likely to linger much longer waiting for an invite to the big “Money” fight. A final decision on the September 12 bill is expected this week.
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