Much to the chagrin of many hardcore British fight fans keen to see their IBF 147 lb champion Kell Brook in a big fight with a marquee name, the wait will go on as a unification fight with WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley is officially off the cards for 2015.
After also seeing a mooted bout with Stateside brawler Brandon Rios fall by the wayside recently, it is now looking increasingly likely that Argentina’s Diego Chaves will indeed be making the trip across the Atlantic towards the end of the year to fight Brook, as earlier reports indicated.
Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael that despite meetings with Top Rank’s Bob Arum, no deal could be reached for a fight with Bradley, who incidentally, also recently priced himself out of a bout with Rios.
Chaves, who remarkably managed a draw with Bradley despite evidently losing the fight in most eyes, was also disqualified in an ugly clash with Rios, and is not the type of name fans wanted to see following on from Brook’s two low-key defences against Jo Jo Dan (a mandatory) and Frankie Gavin, though seems the only suitable available candidate who is prepared to travel for the (undisclosed) money on offer.
Fans are keen to see Brook in with welterweight rival Amir Khan, who continues to insist “The Special One” hasn’t fought anybody of note since Shawn Porter, which while true, is slightly hypocritical considering the level of opposition he has been feeding off for himself for the last couple of years.
Aside from that, fans are craving a big name for the champion, who is ostensibly keen to stay in the UK for as long as possible – and while understandable – if he is to secure the fights his talent warrants then he is going to have to travel – especially if he wants to unify against the likes of Bradley, WBA (reg) champion Keith Thurman or even Floyd Mayweather, should “Money” choose to fight on. Aside from that, all the other big names for Kell appear to be in the US, including also Pacquiao, Danny Garcia, or even a rematch with Porter.
Anybody else sense a deal with Al Haymon?
For now at least, Diego Chaves it is.
Twitter @Undilutedpoison