Exclusive - Kell Brook signs with Matchroom Sports

[JamesH]

Well done to boxrec news on another exclusive

[Jeff Thomas]

Not sure on this one! Who else have match room got?

[Terrrrry]

Not sure on this one! Who else have match room got?

Yeah.

How many world title shots have Matchroom landed for their fighters recently?

[gobbles]

Not sure on this one! Who else have match room got?

Yeah.

How many world title shots have Matchroom landed for their fighters recently?

Audley, McCloskey, Sosnowski.

I can't remember a world title fight they promoted since Brodie, but prior to Audley-Sprott, I can't remember a fight which was non Prizefighter that wasn't a small hall show, which is a big shame considering the number of TV dates they have from Sky.

[Counter-puncher]

I think British boxing is quite healthy now, with Hennessy Sport, Fight Academy, Frank Maloney, allegedly, Haymaker and Ricky Hatton Promotions all putting on big shows + quite a few small hall promoters as well. I hope they can work together.

I'd be interested to find out why Kell Brook left allegedly though?

perhaps frank will make use of his weekly column or website to give his side of the story?

haha lets wait and see

[Scottrf]

Look forward to reading in the Sun about how Kell Brook is a bum.

[Chambers2]

Looks like Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are on the charge, Barker and Kell Brook are 2 excellent editions. Hopefully they can get them the World title shots they deserve.

I wonder what the reasons were for Kells transfer, did Frank not put much of a fight up as Kells not a BIG ticket seller? or has Matchroom made Kell an offer he couldn't refuse?

[Counter-puncher]

.

I wonder what the reasons were for Kells transfer, did Frank not put much of a fight up as Kells not a BIG ticket seller? ?

you got it right there IMO

[Chambers2]

.

I wonder what the reasons were for Kells transfer, did Frank not put much of a fight up as Kells not a BIG ticket seller? ?

you got it right there IMO

That would've been my guess as well. I think Kell's an excellent boxer, I hope he gets the chances to prove it at the highest level.

I'd love to see Kell Vs Khan abit further down the road, I think Kells got a style that could trouble Khan. Precise, power puncher with good timing

[dondada]

.

I wonder what the reasons were for Kells transfer, did Frank not put much of a fight up as Kells not a BIG ticket seller? ?

you got it right there IMO

That's not my understanding and history doesn't bear this out either.

And if he isn't a big ticket seller, surely a good idea would have been to build a fan base in his home city, no?

[Chambers2]

.

I wonder what the reasons were for Kells transfer, did Frank not put much of a fight up as Kells not a BIG ticket seller? ?

you got it right there IMO

That's not my understanding and history doesn't bear this out either.

And if he isn't a big ticket seller, surely a good idea would have been to build a fan base in his home city, no?

I agree it would've been, but didn't Frank and MH unsuccessfully try to do the same with Junior Witter.

[Scottrf]

I agree it would've been, but didn't Frank and MH unsuccessfully try to do the same with Junior Witter.

I think Brook's style is a bit more exciting than Witter's. Surely it can't be that he's expected to be a ticket seller already? Might be a minor factor but Warren would surely know that you have to work on the fanbase for most boxers.

[Counter-puncher]

That's not my understanding and history doesn't bear this out either.

And if he isn't a big ticket seller, surely a good idea would have been to build a fan base in his home city, no?

i've seen him twice and he didn't seem to bring many fans either time. for that African knockover job in liverpool the arena's overall response to Brook, before during and after, seemed to be a collective 'meh', with 2 people applauding. i exaggerate, but still.......

re the second point, perhaps that was part of the problem, but in the twice i've seen him he didn't strike me as that much better supported- if at all- than Junior Witter.

[Counter-puncher]

just to clarify Ian, are you saying Kell is a BIG ticketseller?

[dondada]

That's not my understanding and history doesn't bear this out either.

And if he isn't a big ticket seller, surely a good idea would have been to build a fan base in his home city, no?

i've seen him twice and he didn't seem to bring many fans either time. for that African knockover job in liverpool the arena's overall response to Brook, before during and after, seemed to be a collective 'meh', with 2 people applauding. i exaggerate, but still.......

re the second point, perhaps that was part of the problem, but in the twice i've seen him he didn't strike me as that much better supported- if at all- than Junior Witter.

You've misunderstood my first point. I meant that on this occasion - and historically too - one can't say that this promoter 'doesn't put up a fight' when it comes to his boxers moving camps.

And re Witter, no, a local fan base was never built for him either. In saying that, with his style he'd struggle to get a big following. Brook is far different.

No, he's currently not a big ticket seller at all, you're right. But he could be.

[Counter-puncher]

gotcha

[Terrrrry]

Not sure on this one! Who else have match room got?

Yeah.

How many world title shots have Matchroom landed for their fighters recently?

Audley, McCloskey, Sosnowski.

All three of them were and have been lined up as lemons, just as moneyspinners, against much stronger champions. I believe Khan/Golden Boy contacted McCloskey, Klitschko/K2 contacted Sosnowski and Hayemaker contacted Audrey. I could be wrong, though!

I can't see Matchroom/Hearn getting Brook a world title shot outside of Europe, and considering all of the titlists at welter are US-based, they're going to struggle to land him a decent fight.

[dondada]

I can't see Matchroom/Hearn getting Brook a world title shot outside of Europe, and considering all of the titlists at welter are US-based, they're going to struggle to land him a decent fight.

This MIGHT be the case. But we KNOW it has been the case thus far, in terms of a world title shot.

[earsjohn]

Yeah.

How many world title shots have Matchroom landed for their fighters recently?

Audley, McCloskey, Sosnowski.

All three of them were and have been lined up as lemons, just as moneyspinners, against much stronger champions. I believe Khan/Golden Boy contacted McCloskey, Klitschko/K2 contacted Sosnowski and Hayemaker contacted Audrey. I could be wrong, though!

I can't see Matchroom/Hearn getting Brook a world title shot outside of Europe, and considering all of the titlists at welter are US-based, they're going to struggle to land him a decent fight.

Not quite. Of the four "major" belts at Welter the WBC is held by Berto who will only fight in the States, the WBO is held by Pacquiao who is based in the States and is surely not a target for Kell. The other two champs are Jan Zaveck who fights in Germany and Slovenia and has never fought in the States or Senchenko who fights in the Ukraine and has never fought in the States. Title shots aginst either of these in Europe would be pretty straightforward to secure (although maybe not in the UK) while the most likely option will be to wait for the WBO to become vacant and then take on someone in their top 15, eg, Demayenko, Malignaggi, Jackiewicz. I note that Bethuel Ushona is currently in their top 15, so Denton Vassell may earn a ranking in the next update and that would be a fight that could easily be made.

[Terrrrry]

I can't see Matchroom/Hearn getting Brook a world title shot outside of Europe, and considering all of the titlists at welter are US-based, they're going to struggle to land him a decent fight.

This MIGHT be the case. But we KNOW it has been the case thus far, in terms of a world title shot.

True. But I'd still favour FW to land him a shot with someone like Mike Jones for a major vacant title (or something similar) than I would Matchroom.

You can't look past FW for getting major title shots, especially with the WBO. It just seems a major step down for Brook.

[Terrrrry]

Audley, McCloskey, Sosnowski.

All three of them were and have been lined up as lemons, just as moneyspinners, against much stronger champions. I believe Khan/Golden Boy contacted McCloskey, Klitschko/K2 contacted Sosnowski and Hayemaker contacted Audrey. I could be wrong, though!

I can't see Matchroom/Hearn getting Brook a world title shot outside of Europe, and considering all of the titlists at welter are US-based, they're going to struggle to land him a decent fight.

The other two champs are Jan Zaveck who fights in Germany and Slovenia and has never fought in the States or Senchenko who fights in the Ukraine and has never fought in the States. Title shots aginst either of these in Europe would be pretty straightforward to secure (although maybe not in the UK).

Forgot about those two!

Still, I can't see Matchroom being able to put up the money to get him a title shot.

[stujones]

Its without doubt a gamble for Kell.... Frank is certainly more proven than Matchroom of late and I think it is a big blow for Frank - who lacks a bonafide PPV fighter and relies on big bills to get the PPV going. Kell's not a PPV fighter himself, but he has formed part of Warren's last 2 PPV's.

Matchroom, through Eddie, seem to have got the fire in the belly a bit more - but at the moment seems to be more talk than action - when is the last time we have had a "proper" matchroom bill - what I mean is a non Prizefighter event in which the Matchroom fighter was the "star" attraction. Sykes vs Johansson was under the Matchroom banner - but Sykes is a Maloney fighter and I didn't think Johansson was a matchroom fighter (according to their website they have two boxers currently - McCloskey and Barker).

What matchroom have to their advantage is alot of TV dates and an excellent working relationship with Sky, so I can see the leasing out these dates and "co promoting" for the likes of Henessy etc.

[danfoster]

Looks like Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are on the charge, Barker and Kell Brook are 2 excellent editions. Hopefully they can get them the World title shots they deserve.

I wonder what the reasons were for Kells transfer, did Frank not put much of a fight up as Kells not a BIG ticket seller? or has Matchroom made Kell an offer he couldn't refuse?

the latter mate

[danfoster]

Its without doubt a gamble for Kell.... Frank is certainly more proven than Matchroom of late and I think it is a big blow for Frank - who lacks a bonafide PPV fighter and relies on big bills to get the PPV going. Kell's not a PPV fighter himself, but he has formed part of Warren's last 2 PPV's.

i understand that Sky see Kell as one of only a very small number of POTENTIAL PPV fighters for the future. It may be that Kell felt he wouldnt make the leap to major star by appearing as an undercard attraction for other fighters. Perhaps he felt that to gain the profile to match his undoubted talent that he had to make a move to a promotor that will guarantee him headline fights in his home city and of course world titles shots in due course.

frank tried hard to get kell a shot at the WBO welter title and no-one would suggest that he has not acted in kell's best interests. it seems that Pacman wont shift from that belt and the WBO wont make Kell a mandatory despite the fact he has been #1 contender for more than a year now. so they've gone down that avenue but it's turned out to be a dead end.

in the meantime, degale and cleverly have moved forwards and perhaps could be seen to be fighters of higher profile within the FW stable. Perhaps Kell felt that being at the vanguard of what is clearly an exciting new venture by Matchroom was what he wanted - and that he wanted to be a headliner, not a stocking-filler.

kell is in shape and been training well. he's ready to go and there should be an announcement before long re dates and opponents. finers crossed this is the start of something very exciting for all concerned.

[TheCobra]

Hmmm, this news is very surprising to me. BUT I can see how Kell might have been getting frustrated as he is often quite far down the undercards, Frank seems to put much more attention these days on his olympic hopefuls. This has often disappointed me as I see Brook as potentially the most exciting of the lot.

Given the right press, the right publicity and the right fights I think Brook could definitely become a good ticket seller. Comparing him to Witter is nuts, cos Witter was awful to watch. Brook is a decent watch most times and brilliant when on-form.

I think for the world title shots he might have been better sticking with Frank, but I duno, there has always been something not quite right to me looking at that relationship from the outside. It's as if Frank just isn't prepared to really put his trust in Kell and give him the big promotional push he needs to make some bigger waves.

Whatever you say about Matchroom, they have made 2 cracking signings recently in Barker and Brook, they are clearly puting a bit more money into it and who's to say they won't build a decent stable up. You still can't see them lining up the opportunities like Warren would. But what's better?

- Main man for a potentially very decent, once very-decent promoter who might be ready to make some new waves.

or

- Quite far down the pecking order for the main promoter, potentially get the title fights but potentially have long spells of inactivity and be down on the undercard of bills.