By Keith Idec
It’s beyond obvious at this point that Kell Brook isn’t intimidated by the thought of fighting anyone from welterweight to middleweight.
The Sheffield, England, native still has to make a smart business decision early in 2017. He discussed his numerous options before a recent charity event, most notably Errol Spence Jr., the Danny Garcia-Keith Thurman winner and Manny Pacquiao.
The hard-hitting, undefeated Spence is the mandatory challenger for the IBF welterweight title Brook has decided, at least temporarily, to keep. The IBF has granted Brook (36-1, 25 KOs), who’s healing from surgery to repair the fractured eye socket he suffered during his September 10 loss to Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33 KOs), a medical extension until late in February to determine whether he’ll defend his 147-pound championship against Spence or give it up.
Brook told fighthype.com before the aforementioned event in London that he still can make 147 pounds and is at least considering facing Spence.
“It took me a long time to get that world title at welterweight, and I can’t just give it up,” Brook said. “As much as it’s gonna kill me to make the weight, I think I can do it safely, put a hundred percent into the date and listen to me trainers, me nutritionist and me strength and conditioning coach. And I think I can make it and be strong at the weight.”
“Errol Spence is the mandatory. He’s a very good fighter – a very, very good fighter. You know, he’s not really heard of, but I’ve seen him fight. And he’s one hell of a fighter. It may be a fantastic fight, but we can go on about Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia. They’re fighting each other. I’d love the winner. I’d love a unification [fight], you know, Manny Pacquiao. You know, I heard in the past I that inspired him in the Golovkin fight for him to come back to the sport. So why not lock horns together and fight each other?”
When asked about moving up to 154 pounds, Brook added, “I’d like to make 154, light middleweight. I’d love to move up and eventually fight Canelo, and all the top fighters at that weight.”
Philadelphia’s Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs), the WBC world welterweight champion, and Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs), the WBA world welterweight champion, are scheduled to fight March 4 at an undetermined site. Spence (21-0, 18 KOs), of DeSoto, Texas, does not have a fight scheduled, and presumably will wait on Brook to make his decision.
Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) is expected to fight in April or May. His return date is dependent upon whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26 KOs) comes out of retirement for a rematch, or if Pacquiao faces another opponent.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
