Given that Top Rank’s Bob Arum has been in the UK recently meeting with various British fight figures, including Matchroom Sport’s Barry Hearn and his son Eddie, it should come as no surprise that the plan now appears to be to try and match their IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook with new WBO 147 lb champion and TR man, Tim Bradley.
Brook has been struggling to get an opponent together with the date of his proposed return shifting further and further away as negotiations continue with various outlets to secure a credible opponent the hardcore fans here in the UK will deem worthy enough of standing in the opposite corner.
A fight with aggressive American Brandon Rios would have been well received in Britain even in spite of “Bam Bam” ostensibly having seen better days, yet that fight fell apart for various different reasons and reception to a mooted bout with Argentina’s Diego Chaves was lukewarm to say the least.
That has led to Brook’s handlers at Matchroom Sport seeking another solid world class name in WBO champ Bradley – a fight they are very keen to make;
“Kell wants to fight Bradley,” Eddie Hearn said via the Daily Mail.co.uk.
“I had a good meeting with Bob Arum, and there are plenty of names available but we would like to fight Bradley. Of course we would like to fight Amir Khan but, outside of that fight, this is the best one for us.
“Style-wise, it would be an absolute belter.”
Chance of a Khan fight, despite it’s mass appeal in England, remains small, as Amir – recently jilted by Floyd Mayweather yet again – is now chasing a fight with another Top Rank client, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Brook, who last beat Frankie Gavin in a one sided display in May, has been given a pass by many fans in terms of his recent opposition as 2nd tier fighter Jo Jo Dan, whom he beat in February, was a mandatory challenger and Brook was returning from an horrific stabbing incident that occurred on holiday after his title win over Shawn Porter.
The time has come for Team Brook to step it up, and by seeking out a fight with “Desert Storm,” it seems like they are doing that.
For his part, Khan – himself needing a statement win to claw back his fading respect from fans – has “demanded” Brook fight and beat some recognisable top level names before he will consider any UK super-fight with the Sheffield man.
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