As most had expected beforehand, reigning and defending IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook made short work of mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier of Canada last night in his hometown of Sheffield. Destroying the previously unstopped challenger inside just two-rounds, Brook improved to 36-0(25). But immediately after his easy and ruthless night’s work, Brook called out the big guns of the talent-rich 147-pound weight class he believes he can conquer.
Brook, who fulfilled his IBF mandatory requirements and is now free to take any fight he can get his hands on, even if it means moving up in weight, has been frustrated for some time, but a big fight can now be a real possibility for the summer. And “The Special One” has quite a list of big-name opponents to choose from.
“I want the big fights now that I have this mandatory out of the way,” Brook told Sky Sports after his quick win. “I want that lovely green belt (the WBC title, currently owned by the unbeaten Danny Garcia) but I have enough power to knock out fighters that are weights above me.”
Brook, who is big for a welterweight, has even spoken of his desire to fight feared middleweight Gennady Golovkin – this being a desire he insists is very real and not just an example of name calling. There is also the possibility, perhaps equally as small, that Brook will fight Miguel Cotto this summer. His promoter Eddie Hearn spoke about the fights he wants for his star welter.
“I believe Kell is the best welterweight in the world,” Hearn stated, repeating an opinion he has had for a while now. “I want to bring the big fights to Sheffield but we’ll travel if we have to. Let’s unify the division and fight the best. You’ve got [Jessie] Vargas, Garcia, [Tim] Bradley and Kell would walk to New York for a fight with Cotto.”
Cotto has a fight pencilled in for June 18th, but so far he has no confirmed opponent. Would the Puerto Rican great risk a non-title fight with Brook at or around 154-pounds? Cotto might instead opt to face the far more hittable James Kirkland. Brook’s best chance of landing his first really meaningful fight since he took the IBF belt from Shawn Porter in a close one almost two years ago, might be to look at facing WBO boss Vargas. Vargas isn’t the type of fighter to duck and doge, but would he come to the UK?
Of course, the fight Brook really wants is all all-British showdown with Amir khan; a fight Brook has at times appeared obsessed with. Perhaps that can still happen, maybe next year. It will all depend on how Khan does in his May fight with Canelo Alvarez. Brook recently said he is hoping Khan does well, so that he can still get the chance to “destroy him.” 29-year-old Brook was a destroyer last night, but can he look so monstrous against an elite fighter? Hopefully we’ll find out this year.