Kell Brook in limbo - how would you advise him?

[darkstar81]

Eddie Hearn doesn't want Brook to defend his IBF belt against Spence because either:
1) He doesn't believe he can beat Spence, given the struggle to make weight (and maybe he just doesn't think he can)
2) There's not enough money to be made for such a risky fight

A loss to Spence will damange his earning potential and negotiating position with Khan. A win over Spence will raise Brook's stock amongst boxing fans but not a whole lot with Hearn's UK PPV audience.

Eddie clearly wants Brook to vacate, take an easy fight at 154 then come down to 147 for a Khan fight later in the year. Make sense, he's looking out for Brook's and his own interests. The GGG fight did it's job, get a big payday and global attention - I don't think he truly believed Brook had a chance of winning.

But now Brook is in limbo.

I think Kell should defend his title, show everyone how good he is (or not) by beating Spence, get in position for a 50/50 deal with Khan or fight Thurman/Garcia winner, maybe get a shot at Pacquiao, then move to 154 next year. Dare to be great as they kept telling us!

[Marlo Stanfield]

Fight his mandatory (coincidentally fighting your mandatory were so important when the opponent was Dan & Bizier). Then completely ignore Khan if he wins

[mickey1975]

Trust me on this, the rumours of him singing with Fwank weren't that far off the mark. And that's coming from a guy pretty close to him. Its been going on months, all is not well over there.

[sweetscience]

be a better fighter at 154.... but boring/no money division

if you can make 147 safely, stay and fight win or lose.... losing isn't so bad any more... still get good money/fights

[CheckHook]

I cant see him making 147 without leaving a bit on the scales these days. The fact that there really arent going to be too many easy fights for him at 147 coupled with the potential to be weakening himself at the weight I'd rather see him move up, try to get a belt then look for unifications or other 147lb'rs coming up to a weight he is more comfortable at. Guys like Spence and Thurman are 50/50 fights and gambling on coming back down to 147 to try to defend seems dangerous. Also the only real reason to defend against Spence is to set up a big fight with the winner of Thurman Garcia which means spending at least another year at 147 to see the rewards of a successful defence against Spence.

[lillywhite14]

In today's world? I'm a celebrity get me out of here, followed by strictly come dancing and then shagging Jordan.

Khan will be chasing a fight hard then

[Stuarty]

Tough one. As a Brook fan and the fact I don't particularly like Khan I'd like to see that fight happen. It's a big money fight and one I'm sure Brook is more than confident he'll win so I don't blame him and his team holding out for that fight. I'd also like to see him fight Spence but only if he can do 147 without totally knocking his pan in.

[dirk2686]

Offer Khan 60-40 and earn a career best payday. It's the biggest fight out there for him by an absolute mile.

Then head to 154 if he feels good at the weight. If he can't make 147 without killing himself make the Khan fight at a catch. But basically, he needs to fight Khan.

[Old Jack J]

Stay at 147 and fight Spence.

Then, win or lose, go to the U.S.A and fight all comers. Winner or loser of thurman/garcia for starters. Try and get paquaio in there and start calling out anyone and everyone. He lost his unbeaten record, now it's time to fight the best. Doesn't matter if he loses to a couple of them. Just get out there and try and build a legacy even if that just means he was a trier who ducked nobody.

[davie]

Fight Khan, move to 154lbs and chase Charlo, Andrade etc

[Oiky]

Stop talking nonsense and fight spence

[Boxerbeetle]

I don't understand why Brook is any more in limbo than he was when he first won the belt. The only notable difference seems to be a difficult mandatory challenger.

[dirk2686]

Stay at 147 and fight Spence.

Then, win or lose, go to the U.S.A and fight all comers. Winner or loser of thurman/garcia for starters. Try and get paquaio in there and start calling out anyone and everyone. He lost his unbeaten record, now it's time to fight the best. Doesn't matter if he loses to a couple of them. Just get out there and try and build a legacy even if that just means he was a trier who ducked nobody.

That's easy to say but not really very likely. If Brook loses to Spence who is he? A guy who's lost his last two fights, who's best win is against Porter a few years ago. What does he really bring to the table for someone like Thurman?

You can keep asking to fight the big names but it's not that easy if you're a guy like Brook with little to no US fanbase/publicity.

[Andrew]

Tick tock tick tock


https://mobile.twitter.com/ErrolSpenceJ ... 6181120002

[Syntax Error]

Fight his mandatory (coincidentally fighting your mandatory were so important when the opponent was Dan & Bizier). Then completely ignore Khan if he wins

Couldn't put it better myself.

[Bodyshot3]

Perhaps finally call time on the Khan fight - just walk away from it - and not base some important decisions that are right in front of you on what Amir and his plethora of advisers might/might not do.

The whole thing with Khan is already a mighty protracted and borderline tedious saga and the evidence would suggest that Khan only ever takes it if Kell is prepared to be the financial fall-guy.

Alternatively, Khan is messing with Brook like he got jacked about by Mayweather....which is even more reason to say good riddance.

Let Amir do his stuff and earn his own corn - get yourself in the gym - and win some fights and make some pounds.
Winning fights is the best way to open the door on an alternative big payday with someone else.

[dirk2686]

Perhaps finally call time on the Khan fight - just walk away from it - and not base some important decisions that are right in front of you on what Amir and his plethora of advisers might/might not do.

The whole thing with Khan is already a mighty protracted and borderline tedious saga and the evidence would suggest that Khan only ever takes it if Kell is prepared to be the financial fall-guy.

Alternatively, Khan is messing with Brook like he got jacked about by Mayweather....which is even more reason to say good riddance.

Let Amir do his stuff and earn his own corn - get yourself in the gym - and win some fights and make some pounds.
Winning fights is the best way to open the door on an alternative big payday with someone else.

Trouble is Brook can earn more corn facing Khan than he can with anyone else.

[Tarkus]

He already did a foolish thing of fighting GGG when he had an unification lined up. Fighting Spence would be another mistake. I dont see how he can make 147 without significant deterioration to his body. That means he will get KOed and his carrier will be in pieces or even over.

Now he is left with two bad options: One, get down on your knees and accept whatever Khan is offering and beg he fights you. He can still beat Khan even if he is not 100%, unlike Spence. Two, perhaps a better option, move up to 154 and rebuild step by step.

[Andrew]

If he drops the IBF belt and moves up now it is a pure duck !!

There have been far too many bad decisions in Kells career to do anything now. He is just going to be remember for getting a disputed decision against Porter getting smashed by GGG and chasing a Khan fight.

It's a shame because had he been managed right and steered clear of some injuries (and this goes back before Hearn) he could have achieved significantly more in his career and not been at a point where his only chance to get a big payday was getting smashed in a fight he couldn't win.

[boxingknockout]

I think Brook should swallow the unfair purse split and knockout Khan

[Horse]

Kell "The Duck" Brook.

[Bodyshot3]

Trouble is Brook can earn more corn facing Khan than he can with anyone else.

Very true and perhaps my increasing frustration/boredom with this "we said, but they said" round of rumours continuing for seemingly the umpteenth year is coming through; rather than what makes sense for Kell:roll:

However, way bigger and arguably fights than this - even all-Brit showdowns - have been made faster and with far less drama/nonsense.
And put bluntly, its not Hagler v Hearns.

Maybe Kell and Fast Eddie just need to just to say the Khans; "do it right now and at a sensible price, or never at all."

[Ricky_]

I'd advise Brook to start building a career at 154lb. There are some decent prize fights there for him; Canelo, Khan, Cotto/kirkland winner, Smith.

[Autobarn]

Don't care any more

[Syntax Error]

Don't care any more

Me too.

This potential fight has lost its lustre for me.

It should have happened a year to 18 months ago, when it was truly hot.