If it was Brook V Rios next...

[danamba7]

Would fans be happy with this as Brook's first defence? Decent enough name and a winnable fight. Guessing a fair few wouldn't be happy as Rios isn't top 10. Would love to see Brook V Thurman but who in their right mind would take Thurman as a voluntary, especially with a domestic super-fight on the line!?

[mullenman]

I would be very happy with that fight..

there is no way he will be fighting Thurman

[DMA1987]

It would be a good fight I think. And I think the most important aspect would be that it increases Brook's US profile, moreso than Thurman would. Thurman would definitely be a tougher fight, but not a bigger one.

Personally I would be delighted with it.

[danamba7]

It would be a good fight I think. And I think the most important aspect would be that it increases Brook's US profile, moreso than Thurman would. Thurman would definitely be a tougher fight, but not a bigger one.

Personally I would be delighted with it.

True. Not everyone understands this concept.

[pyenest77]

Back to the original question I think that Rios is a perfect choice for first defence. If ever there was a boxer that was taylor made for Brook its him.

[TJ77]

Brook gives Bam Bam a battering Thurman is a much tougher fight but also winnable risk v reward Thurman will need to build his profile to make the payday viable.

[danamba7]

Brook gives Bam Bam a battering Thurman is a much tougher fight but also winnable risk v reward Thurman will need to build his profile to make the payday viable.

You sound like fast car! Agree though.

[Chris W 1982]

Rios got 1m to fight Diego Chaves in a hotel conference room.

Eddie best dig deep

[black panther]

Good fun fight and will definitely raise Brook's profile further. Rios isn't the force he was at lightweight but is still tough as nails and will keep coming all night.

I would imagine he'll want quite a lot to come over here though. He got a $4 million guarantee vs Pacquiao and even vs Alvarado he got $1.25 million.

[edgey2009]

They ain't going to scupper Brook v Khan 2015 by putting him in with someone who has a fairly decent chance of winning.

[danamba7]

They ain't going to scupper Brook v Khan 2015 by putting him in with someone who has a fairly decent chance of winning.

Not saying believe everything Hearn says but it seems Rios is his number 1 option by the way he was talking on IFL. Will probably end up with Josesito Lopez with him being cheaper to get over though. That would be a bit of a disappointment IMO.

[black panther]

They ain't going to scupper Brook v Khan 2015 by putting him in with someone who has a fairly decent chance of winning.

I'd agree. Here's the last IBF Rankings (July):

1 Kell Brook England
2 Dan Ion Romania
3 Leonard Bundu Italy
4 Timothy Bradley United States
5 Frankie Gavin England
6 Devon Alexander United States
7 Kevin Bizier Canada
8 Robert Guerrero United States
9 Luis Abregu Argentina
10 Diego Chaves Argentina
11 Antonin Decarie Canada
12 Fredrick Lawson Ghana
13 Vyacheslv Senchenko Ukraine
14 Yoshihiro Kamegai Japan
15 Ray Robinson United States


Rios will feature in the latest rankings when they come out, having beaten Chaves. Take your pick. I personally think Bundu is a good shout as he's well know in the UK now and might well be made mandatory, having beat Gavin.

[DMA1987]

They ain't going to scupper Brook v Khan 2015 by putting him in with someone who has a fairly decent chance of winning.

Not saying believe everything Hearn says but it seems Rios is his number 1 option by the way he was talking on IFL. Will probably end up with Josesito Lopez with him being cheaper to get over though. That would be a bit of a disappointment IMO.

Tends to make rods for his own back does Eddie. Does it with Quigg after every fight where he immediately talks big names, then the resulting fight deflates a little. If he'd have mentioned Berto and Lopez on their own then people would probably have been alright. He is too candid sometimes, thinks out loud. As almost always, I think he will do his best to make it happen.

[Counter-puncher]

Tends to make rods for his own back does Eddie. Does it with Quigg after every fight where he immediately talks big names, then the resulting fight deflates a little. .

[edgey2009]

Bundu will be a decent first defence!

[danamba7]

Bundu will be a decent first defence!

Would be a good test but wouldn't do anything for Brook's American profile.

[Baboon]

Problem with Bundu is that he really isnt well known over here - outside of fight fans no-one will have heard of him even considering the Gavin fight. It's again not a great risk v reward as Bundu is not at all bad. If you need a cheap home fight Ion is an easy one, but that then depends on Brook carrying the whole bill. Unfortunately it's a cack fight.

No chance he fights Rios in Vegas? I still think he wins easily and raises his profile even further in the states, without Eddie footing the bill of getting Rios over here.

[danamba7]

Problem with Bundu is that he really isnt well known over here - outside of fight fans no-one will have heard of him even considering the Gavin fight. It's again not a great risk v reward as Bundu is not at all bad. If you need a cheap home fight Ion is an easy one, but that then depends on Brook carrying the whole bill. Unfortunately it's a cack fight.

No chance he fights Rios in Vegas? I still think he wins easily and raises his profile even further in the states, without Eddie footing the bill of getting Rios over here.

Rios in Vegas, Khan at Old Trafford, Mayweather at Wembley then retire at 30 with nothing left to prove

[Tarkus]

Rios fight ticks lot of boxes, along with Guerrero its a very viable option. Although I would not dismiss Rios' chances so completely. He is after all a pressure fighter who throws high volume, he has power and has a granite chin. Brook is still relatively inexperienced at the top level and has struggled with pressure fighters before.

[danamba7]

Rios fight ticks lot of boxes, along with Guerrero its a very viable option. Although I would not dismiss Rios' chances so completely. He is after all a pressure fighter who throws high volume, he has power and has a granite chin. Brook is still relatively inexperienced at the top level and has struggled with pressure fighters before.

If you're talking about Carson Jones 1, the excuses of Kell being unprepared and unfit now seem to be true after he handled the pressure of a much higher caliber opponent on Saturday night.

[Final round]

Rios got 1m to fight Diego Chaves in a hotel conference room.

Eddie best dig deep

They said half a million dollars when I watched it last night

Plus Brook should box his head off.

[expe]

The best thing for Brook to do is get the mandatory out of the way, don't risk jeopardising a big fight next summmer because he has a mandatory, sort that out in December then he's free to fight who he wants in the summer.

[edgey2009]

There isn't a mandatory for his belt as of yet as he was the mandatory. According to eddie Hearn the IBF will sanction a fight as a final eliminator to determine the mandatory

[whiskey]

FW might put £1m in escrow account for a Skeete showdown?

Personally I think Rios is sh*t and was only any use at 135, whereby he freakishly got down to the weight then bullied his way to victory.

Thumper Thurman is legit, I think that one happens after a Khan fight fo sho.

[expe]

There isn't a mandatory for his belt as of yet as he was the mandatory. According to eddie Hearn the IBF will sanction a fight as a final eliminator to determine the mandatory

Request a mandatory defence from the IBF, otherwise he'll be stuck fighting a mandatory in June when he could be fighting Khan or someone similar for a lot more money.