BoxRec

I wouldn't say Matchroom did badly by Roberts, I heard he earned well from his WBF title, despite never being what most would consider a world class fighter.

The Dark Destroyer wrote:

leforge wrote:

ALI wrote:I find it utterly pathetic that Brook and his team turned down this opportunity, this sort of bollocks gives the sport a black eye. They can chalk it up any way they want, but they obviously they did not fancy their chances much, otherwise they'd have taken it.

Would you take the fight for not much money and if you win tied in options where your purse could be limited?

Is that what the offer was?

I don't know the details. But when options are offered your not in control. Wins next fight then he mandatory for ibf where there is no options on you.
I wish promotors did not use options it probably stops lots of fights from happening.[/quote]

On a mandatory (there is no sanctions) the fight is ordered by the governing body, if the champ refuses to fight a mandatory in a time limit, he will be stripped.
or going in the back door means, if you are not in a mandatory position to fight for a world title, your promoter has to bend over backwards to get the shot, ie selling option' on your next fights should you win, like % of future earnings, inc rematch, who you fight next, where you fight, how much you get ( to mention a few) And then the belt gifting promoter, may get someone else a shot at your new belt should you win, and put the same sanctions on them if they win' if they don’t accept they won’t get the shot end of ( i gave you a chance you give me one to get the belt back)
If you have a belt you have something to sell.
its called Politics

I'd like to see Kell have another fight in the US on a big card before he fights for a World Title. I just don't think he is ready.

The Carson fight showed that he wasn't taking training as seriously as he should and for me, that throws up a lot about desire and commitment. There is 'thinking' you're good enough to be world champ and then there is actually working like a world champ and 'proving' it.

There is also a question mark over how he'd fair being top of the bill against someone such as Bradley in Las Vegas. Take away the comfortable confidence pillow of headlining in Sheffield and you may see a different Kell Brook all together.

That said, he will have to make the big step at some point, unless he plans to win the IBF and make 8+ defences in the UK but knowing how Eddie matches people, he is grooming Kell for a big, big fight in the US such as Bradley, where Eddie can get in the ring, soak up the atmosphere and do the macarena in Kell wins.

In my opinion, that is what Matchroom want, a fight in the US, where they have a piece of the pie, a fantastic build up and a great week over in the States living the high life.

All that said though, contracts aside, if I was Kell, I'd want Bradley right now and believe that I could knock him out.

Had he not struggled down the stretch against Jones I'd say it was the wrong decision. But he needs to put that right before fighting someone of Tim's calibre.

This may sound like the gibbering of a madman but............ I don't think Bradley is really all that. He's obviously world class, and top 5 at 147 but I thought Alexander dissapointed rather than Bradley impressed in their fight and PacMan is on the slide (though from a very high point) a little.

Still I think it is the correct choice. Saldavia is a dangerous puncher, but also a bit limited and vulnerable. Jones might have turned a corner in his career but world class operators should not have the last four rounds that Brook had against him. Either Brook ain't as good as I, and others, think he is, or his preperation was poor. If it was the latter he'll either pull the finger out and never cross that line again or he isn't going to be world class himself anyway. He's not good enough to coast at world level, though few are.

The comparison with Barker is a little off I think. Barker was thrown to the wolves but he his injury's mean he's a very risky investment to build a ranking to a mandatory position. Even if he got there and then got injured he doesn't have the name or following to stop a governing body just dumping him from their rankings or overlooking him like Ajose.

However this episode does highlight the point that would solve 95% of the issues on this and other forums. Brook didn't take the fight because there are three other options to Bradley out there. Fighters can become world and even unified champions while dodging guys who they and/or their team view as dangerous or risky be in due to style or class. Look at how long Chavez was allowed to dodge Martinez and even get his belt in the process!

A single world belt in each divison would go along way to solving the problems of corruption, dodgy ranking systems, lack of TV interest, undeserving champions, public confusion, disinterest, drugs cheats, under valued national titles, etc, etc, etc.

We can all dream.......

brian13 wrote:I think it is the right decision to turn it down. His next fight the eliminator is very winnable and if he wins. World title fight is not far away for Brook.

Every fight he has seems to be an eliminator. What I don't get is he called out people like Khan and Manny Pac when they were both champions but when you are actually offered out by one you turn it down

fizzjambo wrote:This may sound like the gibbering of a madman but............ I don't think Bradley is really all that. He's obviously world class, and top 5 at 147 but I thought Alexander dissapointed rather than Bradley impressed in their fight and PacMan is on the slide (though from a very high point) a little.

Pacquiao does look to be slipping, but Bradley didn't beat him anyway. Tha was a joke of a decision. Then again Marquez probably has reason to feel the same way. These fecking judges just can't get things right.

I'm guessing the Matchroom have turned down the fight due to the fact they would been forced to give up to much in return ie option, rematch clause etc. Still they are playing a dangerous game here. Brook won't get an IBF shot for another year or so and that doesn't guarantee a big fight either.

ArtOfWar wrote:

fizzjambo wrote:This may sound like the gibbering of a madman but............ I don't think Bradley is really all that. He's obviously world class, and top 5 at 147 but I thought Alexander dissapointed rather than Bradley impressed in their fight and PacMan is on the slide (though from a very high point) a little.

Pacquiao does look to be slipping, but Bradley didn't beat him anyway. Tha was a joke of a decision. Then again Marquez probably has reason to feel the same way. These fecking judges just can't get things right.

I'm guessing the Matchroom have turned down the fight due to the fact they would been forced to give up to much in return ie option, rematch clause etc. Still they are playing a dangerous game here. Brook won't get an IBF shot for another year or so and that doesn't guarantee a big fight either.

To be fair it's not a massive money maker. Brook is still a reletive unknown over there and Bradley hasn't got a 'massive' fan base

danconnollyeire wrote:

brian13 wrote:I think it is the right decision to turn it down. His next fight the eliminator is very winnable and if he wins. World title fight is not far away for Brook.

Every fight he has seems to be an eliminator. What I don't get is he called out people like Khan and Manny Pac when they were both champions but when you are actually offered out by one you turn it down

He has had 1 eliminator, and his next fight is a final eliminator. That's not my definition of every fight being an eliminator. The fight before last he fought Mathew Hatton, and that wasn't an eliminator.

Barker and Brook are not comparable.

Barker was not going to get much better and had nothing to lose.

Brook is a real talent, but has had stamina issues due to not healthily making weight. He needs to prove that was just a blip before moving up to world level or he will blow everything.

johnswan1 wrote:Barker and Brook are not comparable.

Barker was not going to get much better and had nothing to lose.

Brook is a real talent, but has had stamina issues due to not healthily making weight. He needs to prove that was just a blip before moving up to world level or he will blow everything.

Real talent at his age & expieriance are world champions not turning down the offer to become one

hurlock wrote:

johnswan1 wrote:Barker and Brook are not comparable.

Barker was not going to get much better and had nothing to lose.

Brook is a real talent, but has had stamina issues due to not healthily making weight. He needs to prove that was just a blip before moving up to world level or he will blow everything.

Real talent at his age & expieriance are world champions not turning down the offer to become one

Good point if he's a talented as Johnswan is saying this should apply ^
Brook and Barker are comparable in some ways;
Brook actually started as pro the same year as Barker and has had more fights but Darren grabbed Martinez with both hands, win or lose. Brook turned down the chance to face the man who 'beat' Pacquiao who Brook was saying he was ready to fight?

I do agree that Manny Pacquiao is starting to slip when you take into account he is 33 and has had 61 fight in his glittering career that should see him get called in Canasota on his first year of eligability when you take into account he has been so many wars against the likes of Barrera, Morales and Marquez and they have that all habit of catching up on you sooner or later which is probably why Floyd Mayweather has settled the lawsuit because he reckons that Pacquiao is beatable and he could perhaps knock Pacquiao out.

As for Kell Brook. I think it is sensible move to turn the fight against Tim Bradley for the WBO strap because if he gasses against Bradley ike he did against Jones. Bradley has got enough power to punish him really badly for it in my eyes and I reckon he has got the style and youth to beat Randall Bailey providing he does not gas.

The Carson Jones fight really could been a blessing in disguise.

He could have lost that fight, he was exposed in many areas against a fringe world-class opponent. It boiled down to strength / power down the home stretch and Kell Brook lost that portion of the fight.

Fortunately he'd secured enough rounds to eek through. But he realised now that once the flashy moves have expired towards the end of the fight, he becomes very vulnerable.

Mayweather is the best because his fitness is incredible. He can keep it up for an entire fight against the best in the world for 12 every time.

If Kell harbors the aspiration to get to the top and stay there then he must become a boxing monk. No 'socialising' past 8pm, extra gym work and watching every morsel he eats 24/7.

its more than likely he got the heads up from witter and the ingles that bradley is one to avoid.they know first hand what its like to fight bradley even if the general public dont rate him. im sure brook is good enough to win a world title elsewhere , and maybe earn some dosh against the likes of khan ,hatton etc.

I stood and watched Bradley weigh in from 3ft away and watched him beat Witter from 6ft away.

He is very good indeed and rolling in and under attacks and negating shots. Witter was exasperated as the fight progressed. A bullish and physical fighter who is very determined to win. He fought Dirrell, Ward everyone when they were amateur kids.

Am I the only one who thinks Barker actually done well against Martinez? Personally and yes people will disagree but I think Barker is a great fighter and a nice guy to go with it? And myself and the majority would love to see Murray barker and macklin get in the ring?! For me Barker edges it but this is my opinion?!

potnoodle wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Barker actually done well against Martinez? Personally and yes people will disagree but I think Barker is a great fighter and a nice guy to go with it? And myself and the majority would love to see Murray barker and macklin get in the ring?! For me Barker edges it but this is my opinion?!

Andy lee & Craig mcewan & John Duddy would make a great Celtic super 6

johnswan1 wrote:Barker and Brook are not comparable.

Barker was not going to get much better and had nothing to lose.

Brook is a real talent, but has had stamina issues due to not healthily making weight. He needs to prove that was just a blip before moving up to world level or he will blow everything.

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