Brook Interested in Fighting Cotto – News

By Boxing News - 08/25/2009 - Comments

By Dave Lahr: Welterweight contender Kell Brook (20-0, 13 KO’s) is interested in a fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. First things first, however. Brook, 23, has a October 30th bout against Michael Jennings at the Echo Arena, in Liverpool.

Jennings should be a good gauge of how well Brook will do against Cotto, because Jennings fought Cotto in February and ended up getting destroyed in a 5th round stoppage. It’s going to be difficult for Brook to top that, because he doesn’t have the same kind of power that Cotto possesses. Brook is going to try, though, and says he wants to knock Jennings out even quicker than Cotto did.

I imagine Jennings probably is none too happy to be overlooked like this, because before his loss to Cotto this year, Jennings was considered one of the best fighters in the UK. Hopefully, Brook isn’t overlooking Jennings because this isn’t the kind of fighter that he wants to look past.

As of yet, Brook really hasn’t fought anyone close to the ability of Cotto. Indeed, perhaps Brook’s best opposition to date is Barrie Jones and Michael Lomax, both of which are 2nd tier fighters and not in the league of a fighter like Cotto.

Even Jennings is a far cry from the talent level of a fighter like Cotto. If Brook is wise, he might want to consider facing a top 15 contender in the welterweight division before going after Cotto. Brook is ranked currently number #7 in the World Boxing Organization, meaning that he’ll be getting a shot at a world title sooner or later.

But in the meantime, Brook needs to be facing better fighters than Jennings if he wants to be ready for when his time comes for a title shot. At this point, Cotto might not even have the WBO title by the time that Brook is in a position to be the mandatory challenger for the WBO belt.

Cotto will be facing Manny Pacquiao in November 14th, and chances are Cotto may end up losing that fight along with his WBO title, even though the bout is being held at a catch weight. Brook will likely never get a chance at fighting Pacquiao.

Most people doubt that Pacquiao will ever defend the WBO title and will vacate it soon after as he goes after more lucrative fights. The WBO title would only slow Pacquiao down. Brook needs to be taking on top welterweights like Mike Jones, Jesus Soto Karass and Saul Alvarez to get him to the position where he’ll be ready for when his time comes to challenge for the WBO title.

No offense to British fighters, but Brook is wasting his time fighting them because none of them are good enough to prepare him for the better opposition he’ll be facing when he steps it up. The money is probably good by fighting opponents like Jennings, but it comes at a cost to Brook’s development as a fighter.

Brook won’t get much from beating B and C level fighters like he’s been doing since turning pro. Sooner or later, Brook is going to have to step it up and when that time comes I have doubts about whether he’ll be ready because of his poor opposition.



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