By Sean McDaniel: Number #1 ranked World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight contender Kell Brook (22-0, 15 KO’s) doesn’t see himself having any problems beating replacement opponent Philip Kotey (21-5-2, 15 KO’s) of Ghana on Saturday night at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, England. Brook, 24, is hoping to get a crack at the WBO title in the near future and could possibly be facing someone like Mike Jones in 2011. But in the meantime, Brook has what appears to be an easy fight against the little known known 28-year-old Kotey on Saturday.

In an article at Sky Sports News, Brook said “I can see him getting stopped and I would like to get it out of the way early, seeing as I’m starting the show. I don’t know a lot abou him to be honest. I’ve looked on Youtube and seen a bit. I do know he is one of the top sparring partners for Joshua Clottey, who went 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao, he is from Ghana, he is tough and he is game. He’s also got nothing to lose. He’s coming over here to take my number one sport, but that is not going to happen. I’m bang in shape. I’ve done the Rocky Balboa training, running through the snow and I am mentally and physically prepared for whatever he brings to the ring. I am going to destroy this bloke.”

Let’s hope so. Kotey is totally obscure and has lost to a number of unknown fighters from his own country during his career. Ideally, Brook needs to be matched against better opponents than this at his age and with his ranking. It could end up hurting him badly when and if he fights Mike Jones next year. Going from fighters like Michael Jennings and Kotey to a fight against Jones is going to be a huge jump up in competition and Brook may find himself not ready when the time comes to make that big jump.