Hearn: Brook Would Have Absolutely Destroyed Rios!

By Ryan Burton

This summer talks were ongoing for IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (35-0, 24KOs) to face top contender Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24KOs) in the UK.  BoxingScene.com recently caught up with Brook's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, to get his take on the negotiations.

Brook was scheduled to faced Diego Chaves this Saturday but the fight had to be postponed when the Brit injured his rib in sparring. Hearn feels that Chaves poses a bigger threat than Rios would have.

"Kell Brook, we were close to the Rios fight, and Kell would have absolutely destroyed Rios. Chaves is a much tougher fight for Brook. Listen, Chaves was beating Rios when he got disqualified. I said that this will be the toughest fight of Brook's career. It is a tougher fight than the Porter fight," stated Hearn who also said that Chaves is tougher than the once beaten Shawn Porter, who Brook defeated to capture his title.

"I actually think Chaves is stronger than Porter. I think Porter is a very good fighter but I think his strength is overrated. If you watch Chaves against Rios and Bradley, he can fight on the inside. He is rugged and dirty. Brook is the best welterweight in the world. You might not believe me yet but you will see."

The word was that the Brook-Rios fight fell apart over a disagreement over a rematch clause.  Hearn said that wasn't an issue and that they agreed that the rematch in the event Rios won would take place in the U.S.  He believes that they simply got cold feet and didn't like the match up anymore.

"With Rios we gave them everything they wanted and the fact is he just decided he wasn't going to win the fight. It was a voluntary defense. There has never been a voluntary defense without a rematch clause and they said it had to be in America (and we said) not a problem.  He just knew it was too tough a fight. That is what we were told," Hearn told BoxingScene.com.

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