Kell Brook lost in a brave and exciting attempt at taking middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin’s belts. Liam Smith lost in a brave and exciting attempt at defending his super-welterweight title against Canelo Alvarez. Now, as both fighters attempt to bounce back after losing their unbeaten records, word is the two warriors who enhanced their reputations in defeat could meet each other in what would be a British super-fight.
Brook, who is still healing after taking considerable punishment from GGG just over a week ago, said post-fight that be feels his future is at 154, while Smith, who suffered cuts and an injured jaw in his battle with the Mexican superstar who pulled in an astonishing 50,000 fans, will also need time to recover before he can box again. But as a comeback fight, Brook-Smith would certainly prove an attractive fight to fans of both men. It would be a risky fight no doubt, but both Brook and Smith have proven they are more than willing to take risks in order to become great fighters.
Brook did say he wanted to fight the winner of Canelo-Smith, and who knows, this fight could still take place, but a fight with Saturday night’s loser would be a huge challenge for Brook, and for Smith.
Speaking with The Mirror, ex-WBO champ Smith says he will not “pussyfoot around Kell Brook.”
“I have just fought Canelo Alvarez so I’m not going to say no to fighting Kell Brook,” Smith said. “If the money’s right, let’s do it. We’ll sit there and try and find out what best suits us. We’re not going to pussyfoot around Kell Brook and wait for their team to make a decision.”
Brook, though, may have more options than Smith. Promoter Eddie Hears spoke of how HBO are interested in Brook, and the Sheffield fighter, who is still the reigning IBF welterweight champion, has possible fights with the likes of Miguel Cotto and Amir Khan on the cards; at least according to Hearn.
But if Brook has said goodbye to the 147 weight class and if Cotto and Khan prove unwilling to fight him, that domestic battle with Smith would provide a great alternative match-up. Who wins? That is a tough one.