Brook-Bizier Negotiations Continue As Purse Bid Looms

By Jake Donovan

Contrary to popular opinion, talks remain ongoing for a welterweight showdown between unbeaten champion Kell Brook and mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier.

The two sides have until January 12 to work out terms for such a fight before the matter goes to a purse bid hearing, to be held at the International Boxing Federation (IBF) headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey.

Brook is promoted by Matchroom Boxing, who would like to stage the fight in the defending champion's hometown of Sheffield, England. Meanwhile, Bizier's promoter Yvon Michel hope to bring the fight to Canada.

Both promoters have worked together before and also regularly do business with - though not exclusively for - Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) creator Al Haymon, Bizier's adviser.

Their most recent venture came in November, when James DeGale (Matchroom) successfully defended his super middleweight title versus Lucian Bute (GYM Promotions) on the road in Quebec City, Canada. The hope is that a deal can be eventually reached that will satisfy all parties prior to the deadline of the 30-day negotiation period.

"Eddie Hearn and I have a terrific working relationship and continue to maintain an open line of communication," Michel told BoxingScene.com. "When the fight was presented, we exchanged ideas. He made an offer, I came back with my own and he has since made a counter offer.

"We agreed to continue dialogue, while well aware of the deadline before going to a purse bid."

Brook (35-0, 24KOs) will be making the third defense of the welterweight title he claimed in Aug. '14 with a 12-round win over Shawn Porter. His victory tour was pre-empted by a machete attack while on vacation in Tenerife, leaving him with a stab wound in his left eye and on the injured list for several months.

The unbeaten Brit enjoyed a triumphant ring return this past March, scoring a 4th round knockout of mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan at home in Sheffield. The feat was followed by a quick ring turnaround, coming back barely two months later in scoring a 6th round stoppage of Frankie Gavin in London.

With a mandatory title fight looming between Bizier and Fredrick Lawson, Brook sought one more optional defense on the year, which was to come this past October versus Diego Chaves. However, the 29-year old champ suffered an untimely injury that left him on the sidelines for the remainder of 2015.

Bizier (25-2, 17KOs) turned in a career-best performance in assuming the mandatory slot, scoring a shockingly one-sided 10th round stoppage win over Lawson this past November in Miami, Florida.

The 31-year old from Quebec was two fights removed from his second loss to Dan. He was made to look like a world beater in dropping and breaking down the previously unbeaten Lawson, who was dropped in round five and was ultimately forced to retire on his stool after 10 rounds due to unbearable pain and discomfort felt in his jaw.

Bizier and his team took a month or so to bask in the glow before entering negotiations for his first career title fight. Whether a deal can be reached or the fight goes to a purse bid, his handlers are confident that the final verdict will be to everyone's liking.

"To be honest, I don't foresee any problems in this fight being made," Michel believes. "If we can't reach a deal and don't win the purse bid, we will accept whatever terms come of fighting for the world title. If we can't reach a deal but we win the purse bid, then naturally we would like to have Brook come to Canada, where Kevin remains a popular fighter and where we can build a big event."

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox