Eddie Hearn on Brook-Dan, Froch's Next Move

By Terence Dooley

Matchroom's Eddie Hearn has told Sky Sports News that he is delighted to have secured Kell Brook's March 28th IBF welterweight title defence against mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan at Sheffield's Motorpoint Arena.  Brook, 33-0 (22), was left fighting for his life following a stabbing incident in Tenerife in the summer—less than a month after he beat Shawn Porter in California on August 16—only to make a remarkable recovery.

The Sheffield-based titlist suffered a bad leg injury; his career hung in the balance.  At one point, Hearn was told that Brook, one of his first major signings, may have to hang up his gloves.  However, the 28-year-old has battled back to full fitness in time to fulfil his mandatory obligation.

“It’s emotional for Kell, and a lot of us,” said Hearn when speaking to Sky.  “August the 16th was incredible.  Many were making Porter out to be the Hulk Hogan of the division, but Kell did a job on him.  He went on holiday, a few days later I got a call saying he’d been stabbed.  The doctor told him he might not be able to walk properly again.  At that point you think his career’s over.  He deserves a lot of credit for coming back.  He’s a great fighter.

“Jo Jo Dan is the number one ranked fighter in the division, so we must get that out of the way to unlock the door to all those big fights: [Floyd] Mayweather, [Manny] Pacquiao, [Marcos] Maidana, [Juan Manuel] Marquez and of course Amir Khan is one that everybody wants, but this is a tough, tough fight—Dan’s ready for this fight.

“He loves to come forward, is quite awkward and we’ll see a different Kell in this fight.  It will be a devastating performance to announce himself, not just here, but this will be shown by a major broadcaster in the U.S. as well.  There’s a lot of big fights, and Kell wants them all.”

Speaking of big fights, Nottingham's Carl Froch, 33-2 (24), has made no secret of his desire to land a Las Vegas swansong.  Julio Cesar Chavez Junior ticked all of the boxes only for Froch to pick up an elbow injury that has ruled him out for the next few months. 

Indeed, there were doubts that Hearn would be able to deliver the Chavez fight for the mooted March 28th date, but the promoter insists that the fight was good to go.  Still, the fact it has fallen by the wayside means that he won't have to placate Bob Arum.  The veteran U.S. promoter has stated that he still handles Chavez's career, making it clear that he will take action against anyone else who makes a fight on the behalf of the Mexican boxer after learning that Chavez will meet Andrzej Fonfara in April.

“I was away last week, but must have spent seven or eight hours a day on the phone to make the Chavez fight and we got there, terms were agreed.  But last Wednesday or Thursday, when we’d got it down, Carl’s elbow wasn’t up for it,” stated Hearn.  “It’s something he’s had for most of his career, but, with ten or twelve weeks to go, he wasn’t prepared to go through with the fight at sixty or seventy percent.  We’ll try to reschedule for the summer now.  There’s other names that have come into the hat: Bernard Hopkins, Gennady Golovkin is a fight everyone would love to see, James DeGale is the mandatory and there’s a third (fight) with [Mikkel] Kessler.”

Froch, though, could walk away if he doesn't get what he wants.  The 37-year-old KO'd domestic rival George Groves in their rematch at Wembley Stadium in May—a fight that attracted 80,000 boxing fans—and does not seem overly keen on another big U.K. stadium night against James DeGale, the IBF's mandatory challenger—he is in no rush to nail down his next bout.

As for the IBF belt, the organisation told me that they will examine the medical evidence about plus the extent of Froch's injury before making a decision.  Their rules state that a minor injury can lead to a 60 day extension, but more severe problems can be met with a 60+ day extension.  They could crown an interim holder if their Champion Committee agrees to offer Froch the maximum recovery period.  Either way, Froch's career is dwindling to its conclusion, and Hearn wants to ensure that he goes out with a bang. 

“I think Carl will fight again, but if he doesn’t he can hold his head up high and remember that great, great night at Wembley,” stated Hearn.  “But, because of that night, he needs something that is going to make him get up at 6am for those hill runs.  He’s still got that fire in his belly, he’s a warrior and don’t be surprised to see him in a huge fight in the summer.”

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