The Ultimate Grudge is Settled
By Eddie Sanchez
Ezekiel Brook, better known as Kell Brook, improved his professional record to (40 – 3) via a sixth round TKO over long-standing rival Amir Khan. Khan’s record now sits at (34 – 6), which includes five knockout losses.
In what closely resembles the Mayweather-Pacquiao debacle, UK boxing fans were subjected to YEARS or excuses why this bout never materialized. Unlike Mayweather-Pacquiao, this fight was very entertaining to the most casual observers.
Kell Brook great the breaks off of Amir Khan, who is a shell of his former self… and that might be putting it lightly. From the jump, Brook used his physicality, brute strength and technical skills to evade Khan’s guard. After round one it became clear that Brook had the. upper hand in this bout and mere minutes later it became a matter of ‘when,’ not ‘if’ this fight was set to end early.
This is a great moment for the career of Kell Brook. The South Yorkshire native lived up to his moniker as ‘The Special One.’ His skills have always been superb and his heart is unmatched.
In 2016, Brook was undefeated at (33 – 0), with there defenses of the IBF Welterweight belt that he earned with a victory over a prime Shawn Porter. Kell then made a move that was as surprising as any. He moved up to Middleweight to take on the undefeated Gennadiy Golovkin.
Hindsight will probably claim this as an unwise decision because he was ‘never quite the same after the fact,’ but his heart was on full display as a took on the boogeyman-of-boogeymen in GGG. NO ONE wanted anything to do with Golovkin at this time and Kell took that test.
Following a fifth round knockout loss to GGG, which left him with a broken orbital, Brook comeback too quickly to take on Errol Spence. Eight months after the injury, Brook broke his orbital on the other side of his face in an 11th round knockout.
This is a time to celebrate ‘The Great One’ though. After this huge victory, Kell Brook likely has at least one more solid payday in him if he wants it…
Given the current landscape of the Welterweight division, Brook has two options that stick out amongst the rest.
1. Conor Benn
2. Keith Thurman.
These are two VERY different options for a few reasons. Conor Benn is a rising prospect in the division. The 25 year old is gaining a considerable following and has thus far displayed great skill. A Brook-Benn fight would offer the classic bout between two men heading in opposite directions through the door of opportunity.
Benn has made the effort to speak this fight into existence in a recent interview with TalkSPORT.
“I fancy that fight next. I just messaged my trainer. I fancy that fight next. That’s what I said. If I have to wait, I will wait. If I don’t, then I don’t. I just want that fight.”
“He claims to be the best in Britain. He looked unbelievable tonight, he looks in shape, he looked great on the scales. Now that is me challenging myself against a former world champion who claims to be the best.”
“Idols to rivals, that’s what it is.”
If Benn gets his wish, this would be a great fight for fans across the globe. While this fight would do especially well in the UK, The Bad Promoter can’t help but be enamored with the prospect of Brook finishing his career with a Keith Thurman bout.
Keith Thurman, who has dealt with injuries in his own right, recently defeated Mario Barrios. Thurman looked great physically and has his eyes set on one final run at the Welterweight title.
Thurman should look towards none other than Brook for his next fight. Both of these men have fantastic resumes and this would etch another generational talent to their final tally.
This fight would offer a great name, would setup a marketable card, and would largely be seen as a 50-50 bout. At this stage of his career, he deserves to test himself in THAT type of matchup.
Stay tuned for Kell Brook’s decision on his career.
