By Scott Gilfoid: Still undefeated welterweight contender Kell Brook (28-0, 18 KO’s) could be facing Argentinian Hector Saldivia (41-2, 32 KO’s) in an IBF welterweight eliminator bout on October 6th, according to WBN. This still isn’t confirmed yet, but the 25-year-old Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already mentioned Saldivia, #5 IBF, as the guy that Brook will likely be facing next, because Hearn wants Brook to become the mandatory challenger for IBF 147 pound champion Randall Bailey.

If Brook, #4 IBF, can beat the 28-year-old Saldivia then Brook will be facing the winner of the September 8th fight between Bailey and Devon Alexander. That winner will almost surely be Alexander unless Bailey can connect with a huge right hand and knock Alexander cold like Bailey did against the previously unbeaten Mike Jones recently. Brook will then have to fight Alexander, and I don’t like Brook’s chances of ever winning that fight in this lifetime.

There are levels in boxing, and Brook was exposed recently in being at a lower level in his questionable 12 round majority decision win over Carson Jones earlier this month on July 7th. Brook’s poor stamina reared it’s ugly head in this fight with him completely gassing out after six rounds. I knew this was going to happen as soon as this fight was signed, because Brook gassed out after the 8th round in his previous fight against Matthew Hatton, and I figured he’d have the same thing happen only worse against the hard hitting Jones. That’s exactly what happened.

Brook gassed out and took a beating in the last six rounds against Jones and was completely out on his feet in the 12th with Jones pummeling him in the last minute of the fight. Had the referee not stepped in with 20 seconds left to give Jones a long warning for what I still have no idea, Brook likely would have been knocked out.

Saldivia is an easy mark, as he’s never faced a top tier opponent before and probably should be ranked in the 2nd tier rather than #5 by the IBF. Brook should win this fight unless the fight goes into the second half like Brook’s last two fights. If that happens, it’s anyone’s guess who wins it.