Kell Brook wants to fight Keith Thurman

IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook is keen on a unification bout with WBA king Keith Thurman, says promoter Eddie Hearn. Brook had been expected to make the third defence of his crown against Brandon Rios in September but with negotiations stalling, it now appears 'The Special One' (35-0-KO24) will fight later in the year. Thurman defended his title at the weekend, stopping Luis Collazo in seven in Tampa, and Brook was quickly on the phone to Hearn requesting a unification clash. Hearn told Sky Sports: "Kell Brook is up for fighting anyway, whether it's Mayweather, Thurman or Khan - it doesn't really matter. "We were looking at getting Kell out on September 12 but it's likely now that it will be the end of October back in Sheffield. He believes he can beat everyone in the division. He has respect for Thurman and they've complimented each other in every interview but it's a fight that's inevitable down the road. "We talk all the time whether it's by text or on the phone. He watched Thurman's performance and he's always fancied the fight - it's not a case of he saw it and thought he was poor. It's just a fight he believes he can win. "He believes he can beat everyone in the division. He has respect for Thurman and they've complimented each other in every interview but it's a fight that's inevitable down the road. "We'd like to keep growing Kell in the UK. We wouldn't rule out a US fight and Thurman is focused on the US thing. Kell is ready to fight anyone if the deal makes sense. "There's nobody in the division I could ask him to fight and he wouldn't. I love the Timothy Bradley fight and it could be unification as well, so that's a fight we're also interested in. "If Kell has to travel to the US for those fights then it's not a problem but he's a pay-per-view fighter in the UK and doing well so that's where he sees his future. He wants the best and will travel to do it but my job is to try and make these fights in the UK. That's best for British boxing." Brook has made no secret of his desire to face British rival Amir Khan in the past - but Hearn has dismissed the idea that Khan (31-3-KO19) is interested in the fight. Amir Khan is ducking Kell Brook, says Hearn Hearn added: "We wait and wait on Khan. Maybe if he doesn't get the Mayweather fight then it's an idea he'll start to entertain. They've never entertained it before or wanted to find out terms. "They know we'd take the fight in a heartbeat. We know Amir would be looking for the better end of the deal and perhaps that's possible but until we sit down and discuss it, it's just a pipe dream. "I don't think Khan is interested in the Brook fight. He mentions every welterweight apart from Brook. Everybody seems to wants the fight apart from Amir." Brook was last in action on May 30, halting domestic foe Frankie Gavin in the sixth round at the O2 Arena in London. http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/9913091/kell-brook-wants-to-fight-keith-thurman-in-a-unification-bout-says-promoter-eddie-hearn

Comments (20)

Let's just wait and see whether Thurman did sit down with Haymon. That's all we can do right now. I***8217;ll be waiting. He said in his roundtable interview at the weekend that he had a great conversation with Haymon but they never discussed the Kell Brook fight.....

10y ago

BreWall

Let's just wait and see whether Thurman did sit down with Haymon. That's all we can do right now. I'll be waiting.

10y ago

BrometheusBob

Personally I'd like to see Brook fight Bradley. While Thurman is a decent opponent he's downtrending after the Collazo performance and if brook beat him; they'll say Thurman was trash anyways lose/lose. The Thurman fight wouldn't elevate Brooks career or be as rewarding as the Bradley fight. Rofl, no they won't. Thurman is a solid top 10 opponent. Beats the brakes off of the opponents we've been hearing about for Brook (Rios, Chaves, Peterson).

10y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

The media just lets them get away with their BS. That's why they keep doing it. I'll be waiting for Thurman's supposed conversation with his uncle Al. Thurman said, "I'm interested in those UK boys." Let's see what happens. We should be getting something in a few days, not weeks, not months... Everyone is just a cell phone call away. What can the media do about if it Haymon doesn't even show his face in public?

10y ago

jai_mari078

I would love to see this, make this fight happen!!!!

10y ago

BreWall

Haymon is not pursuing Brook though, is he? At this moment in time, it's just two fighters saying they want to fight each other. The media just lets them get away with their BS. That's why they keep doing it. I'll be waiting for Thurman's supposed conversation with his uncle Al. Thurman said, "I'm interested in those UK boys." Let's see what happens. We should be getting something in a few days, not weeks, not months... Everyone is just a cell phone call away.

10y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

So now everyone wonders what has happened to this deceitful article. The Brook camp is aware that Thurman is more than available for the fight as seen in another recent article. Yet Hearn and his boy are not pursuing Thurman. Is this just another case of saying one thing, but doing another? Haymon is not pursuing Brook though, is he? At this moment in time, it's just two fighters saying they want to fight each other.

10y ago

gmc_rfc_06

Thurman is available, yet he's not even in Hearn's list of Brook's possible next fight. Seems Chaves is getting it. This is funny to me because Thurman is very winnable fight for Mr Brook, but they seem to treat One Time as some type of Golovkin or something. Thurman just said a few days ago that he would like the fight, but that Al Haymon hasn't even spoke to him about fighting Brook. The usual people will blame Brook for that though.

10y ago

BreWall

no you dont, you already prove yourself to just be talk Thurman is available, yet he's not even in Hearn's list of Brook's possible next fight. Seems Chaves is getting it. This is funny to me because Thurman is very winnable fight for Mr Brook, but they seem to treat One Time as some type of Golovkin or something.

10y ago

CaneloKhan

no you dont, you already prove yourself to just be talk

10y ago

BreWall

10y ago

King_

They're both with Haymon, right? Not happening. They'll both continue to fight F- level boxers who box part time while working the night shift at their local warehouse

10y ago

LacedUp

Whilst I don't think it happens yet I could see this happening and I think Brook wins in convincing fashion but won't get the credit. Its another Porter fight in the sense they hype this guy up to the moon, Brook beats him in an ugly fight & gets the blame and then fans start dismissing Thurman. They'll say he hasn't beat anyone, struggled with Collazo, was badly hurt vs Karrass and Robinson etc I can see it a mile away. They did it with Porter - ''The next Tyson'', a guy a fair few was claiming would beat Floyd. Brook beats him, all of a sudden they start saying Porter is bunk and has limited skills etc Just check out some of the posts above you. The excuses have already started.

10y ago

dan_cov

10y ago

TAKEOVER7209

If he is keen on unification, he should fight Bradley or Mayweather. Thurman is the REGULAR, Champion. Mayweather is the Super Champion He already said he wants to fight floyd ask floyd why he won't fight him and Bradley has to fight Ali.

10y ago

BreWall

Don't know why they always make it sound as if Thurman is some Golovkin or something. Keith "Sometimes" Thurman's last 2 fights were against washed up Guerrero and semi-retired Collazo, and, still, they made the supposedly young prime hungry lion run, almost took a knee from a huge blow on the kidney. Definitely a winnable fight for Mr expert clincher Brook. I'd even venture to say Chaves is riskier and dirty. You can kiss your ass with your excessive clinching with Chaves. Besides, where is the glory in beating Chaves? I don't even know what these people are thinking. And I hope Khan gets to Thurman first.

10y ago

TOBYLEE1

That is Hearn MO, name dropping to promote his fighter.

10y ago

vorgaphe

Would love to see this fight. Realistically next year would be great. WW needs some sorting out Agreed. The entire top 10 is avoiding one another in the hope that they won't suffer any setbacks before they get to scrap for the division after Mayweather retires.

10y ago

yoz

Won't happen - too risky.

10y ago

Tom_Cruise

Would love to see this fight. Realistically next year would be great. WW needs some sorting out

10y ago