BoxRec

I don't think mallinaggi will capture the imagination tbh.
If he's gonna win a world title and I think he can,why not stick him in with margarito

Well it's a home tie, so finances have a big part to pay.
An opponent has to be found who's willing to travel to the UK and fight in the away corner in front of a hostile crowd, against a kid clearly on the up.
That narrows the field, and increases the cost.
I think Hearn will be trying hard to get Maidana.

I hear Maidana is the man they want. Money may not be such a big problem after breaking stadium records in Sheffield. It wouldnt surprise me if they get an Africa/european stiff as a tune up before a bout with a more credible ex khan opponent In Paulie or Marcos.

If they can get Clottey back down to welterweight he would be a good name on his record before a title shot later in the year.

The Insider wrote:I hear Maidana is the man they want. Money may not be such a big problem after breaking stadium records in Sheffield. It wouldnt surprise me if they get an Africa/european stiff as a tune up before a bout with a more credible ex khan opponent In Paulie or Marcos.

Paulie himself would be a tune up in my view... Not saying it would be a disaster for Brook if that were made, just think it would be more about how Kell wins, rather than whether or not he would win.

danboxer1 wrote:I don't think mallinaggi will capture the imagination tbh.
If he's gonna win a world title and I think he can,why not stick him in with margarito

Margarito is a light-middle - he's not boxed at welter for over 3 years now.

Jan Zaveck (ex world champ)
Leonard Bundu (European champ)
or Ismael El Massoudi (WBA interim champ)

smoggy7188 wrote:If they can get Clottey back down to welterweight he would be a good name on his record before a title shot later in the year.

They will want someone with a credible record for Brook to KO to further increase his fanbase. Clottey is a no on that front

Maidana it might be possible, plus he will properly test Brook in areas where people feel he might be weak

Paulie, well what's the point??

Paulie is fighting Sencenko (sp?) shortly so it's unlikely to be him. Clottey would be a sellable fight if he can make weight. Maidana wants to move back down to LWW but money talks.

danboxer1 wrote:I don't think mallinaggi will capture the imagination tbh.
If he's gonna win a world title and I think he can,why not stick him in with margarito

Surely Kel needs a top name now someone to get him upto manditary position with the major gov bodies, Margaretto, Ortiz, Devon Alexandra, Mike Jones, Shane Mosely ect. Mallinaggi will do nothing for him and he will totally outbox Maidana, Kel should be fighting for a world title by now, maybe Mayweather and Pacman are top dogs at the moment, so maybe a title fight against Berto would announce him to the world, Berto though a great fighter iis a bit touchy on the chin area, or he could fight the Russian.

I'm sure someone well known will be brought over.

Kell's on an upward trend and now they have the momentum of big crowds, column inches and so forth the team behind him won't want to take a backward step.

Pugilist-specialist wrote:

danboxer1 wrote:I don't think mallinaggi will capture the imagination tbh.
If he's gonna win a world title and I think he can,why not stick him in with margarito

Margarito is a light-middle - he's not boxed at welter for over 3 years now.

Jan Zaveck (ex world champ)
Leonard Bundu (European champ)
or Ismael El Massoudi (WBA interim champ)

All good calls. Massoudi makes good strategic sense but will it sell sufficiently?

Personally i'd love to see him fight Maidana as it we would all see Kell go into the trenches at long last. This would be a real war and Kell's appetite for the fight and punch resistance would be seriously examined. I think this would sell out the Arena within days.

Devon Alexander would also be a good call and i'm sure Kell would win but it might not be an exciting match.

Pugilist-specialist wrote:

danboxer1 wrote:I don't think mallinaggi will capture the imagination tbh.

Jan Zaveck (ex world champ)
Leonard Bundu (European champ)
or Ismael El Massoudi (WBA interim champ)

Unfortunately these names would mean nothing to the UK public whereas Malignaggi is at least known and would garner some interest. All of the above would be decent fights though.

Maidana, Judah, Devon Alexander or if it was in any way possible Shane Mosley would be massive coups for Matchroom to bring over to the UK.

I`d put money on it being McCloskey or Senchenko.

I`d like to see Olesegun step up a weight and fight Brook.

Mccloskey a weight below and is fighting May 5th.

maliagnaggi would be my choice but he's fighting senchenko for the wba title next month although he would still likely be ready and willing to fight brook july 7th. He cant punch but he has skills and is a veteran he would expose any weaknesses that kel has without beating him senseless.

Other names that are likely to come to the UK - maidana who will probably fancy his chances, maybe carson jones. If they really wanted to hit the big leagues Alexander although i think he brook needs a step up in level fight 1st.

The other names like mosley, mike jones and senchenko are the next tier fights he should be looking at, but they wont come to the UK and he's still a fight or two away from ortiz and berto.

Paulie cant punch, is past his prime, has been stopped by both Hatton and Khan, so is known to the UK fanbase and is a former title holder, with a decent ranking.

Safe bet, some US exposure and not someone who is really going to get a W. I can see why they have gone for him, though I wish it had been someone with a bit more about then, to be honest.

bengulnaci1 wrote:Paulie cant punch, is past his prime, has been stopped by both Hatton and Khan, so is known to the UK fanbase and is a former title holder, with a decent ranking.

Safe bet, some US exposure and not someone who is really going to get a W. I can see why they have gone for him, though I wish it had been someone with a bit more about then, to be honest.

He is always entertaining though which is what they are looking for. He does also primarily mix at world class level.

Breidis Prescott

Carson Jones, he's rated , in good form and would get the American tv interested. I like to see a decent American over here.

Eddie Hearn has been tweeting a lot about this today. More ruling out people than in:-


"@SheldanKeay: @EddieHearn Any chance that Margarito drops back down? Although would BBBofC license him?" Great fight, unlikely though

"@TyroneRFC: @EddieHearn Wat about Sugar Shane? Would give Kell great exposure in America" fighting Alvarez"

@Vonnegutized: @EddieHearn I hope it's Kendall Holt, who's still doing quite well." Doesn't have the ranking we are after..powerful though!

"@DavidBollands: @EddieHearn Zab Judah?!" Wrong weight

"@rkp12588: @EddieHearn so I take it it's Maidana Eddie?" Likely he will defend 140 title but would LOVE that fight

@Journo_Slash. Ortiz fights Berto in June

"@Macho_Grande1: @EddieHearn What about the European champ, Bundu?" Not going to get anyones juices flowing

"@1StevieMack: @EddieHearn what about that chicken mike jones?" Fighting Randall Bailey for vacant IBF title, would love the winner

"@TheWrightHook: @EddieHearn Dejan Zaveck...?" On the list, we will discuss with their team..its a good fight

"@jamie91smith: @EddieHearn have u got 1 person in mind u would prefer to fight kell?"Yes,starts with K ends with N and has HA in middle!

@tjf81 @danrafaelespn as I've said, I don't actually know yet! But you can ask me a name and I will give opinion..but it won't be Clottey!

gobbles wrote:Breidis Prescott

I can see that happening...sadly.

Whatever happens, I hope if they fail to land a name that they don't sit on their laurels. Better that he's kept busy.

Malignaggi would have a chance against Brook...

Alfonso Gomez would be a good fight. A name stateside, good showing against Alvarez and not too dangerous.

Eddie's using Khan's name again i see. If he wants to throw him in against a world-level LWW why not McCloskey? ( i don't think Dudey is anywhere near world level, but he & his promoter seem to)

dbf wrote:Alfonso Gomez would be a good fight. A name stateside, good showing against Alvarez and not too dangerous.

NEVER underestimate the mighty force that is Gomez, no one gave him a chance against Manfredo all those years ago,