By Terence Dooley
Most call him 'Special K', others know him as 'Ezekiel', to some he is the 'Kid', but there is only one tag that Kell Brook wants for Christmas – 'WBO welterweight champion'. Brook (146½lb) moved a step closer to his goal of a vacant WBO title showdown against America's Mike Jones by casually dispatching Ghana's Philip Kotey (144½lb) at the ECHO Arena, Liverpool last night in defence of his WBO Inter-Continental title.
Kotey, 28, calls himself 'Sweet Pea' yet there is nothing of Pernell Whittaker about the Ghanaian. Sure, the challenger looked good from the waist up but his matchstick legs trembled and shook every time Brook landed his bombs.
Kell, 24, started strongly behind a jab, right hand and left hook to the body in the opening session, biding his time and forcing Kotey onto the back foot. Philip was a marked man from the get-go and it was no surprise when he went down towards the end of the session, a short right hand to the head followed by a left hook doing the damage.
Philip's legs looked shot to pieces in the second stanza, he grabbed the top rope after taking a series of lefts and this lack of balance, coupled with an inability to respond to what Brook was dishing out, forced referee Manuel Oliver Palomo to signal the finish at 0:39 of the round. Brook motors to 23-0 (16), he is ranked #1 by the WBO, Mike Jones occupies the number two spot, a clash of the undefeated looks set for 2011.
Brook cut a relaxed figure at ringside, pausing for photographs with the fans, he acknowledged the fact that Kotey, now 21-6 (15) was never in the fight yet stressed the importance of his own preparation, many fighters have slipped up at this point in their careers, most notably Frankie Randall back in 1987, 'The Surgeon' lost by second round KO to Primos Ramos when on the cusp of a world title shot.
“It were what it were,” smiled Kell when asked about the quick win. “I had to go out and make a statement tonight and worked hard for it in the gym. I had to be sharp, patient and knew that I'd catch him. I've got dynamite in both hands and had worked hard in training, running hard, to make sure that I was ready for this fight. I just felt sharp, accurate and did everything right. I knew it was a matter of time.”
Mike 'M.J.' Jones is 23-0 (18), he recently posted a ten round majority decision over Jesus Soto Karass to annex the NABA, WBO NABO and WBC Continental Americas titles; the 27-year-old Philadelphian now stands between Brook and WBO honours should current holder Manny Pacquiao vacate.
“I know I can scalp Mike Jones,” declared the former British boss. “I've wanted this since I was nine and know I can take Jones out. We're both undefeated athletes and we'll go in there and give it one hundred percent.
“Next year is going to be massive for me. I want to be world champion and dominate this welterweight division. Jones is a strong fighter but I'll be sharp and will have every angle covered. We both want to be world champion so you are guaranteed fireworks in that fight.”
Jones will no doubt want to fight for the title on home soil, promoter Bob Arum will push hard to secure his man home advantage. Brook, however, feels that his potentialco-challenger should respect the number one ranking and come to the UK.
“Yeah, I'm interested in going to America in the future but I'm number one so I want the world title shot in Sheffield in front of my own fans. I'm number one so let him travel over here for the fight. I miss my hometown fans but it just a matter of time before I'm world champion and fighting in Sheffield,” blasted Brook, who has the backing of Sheffield boxing icon Naseem Hamed.
“I’ve know Naz since I was a kid and to have him say I'm going all the way is a big thing. I want to be as big as Naz – I want my own fight in Madison Square Gardens,” revealed Kell, who has his long-term sights set on a British showdown.
“I've heard that Amir Khan wants to step up to 147, if he does, and I'm world champion, then he'll have to come through me if he wants to fight in the UK. I'll destroy him if he decides to come through me,” predicted Brook.
Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk
