By Scott Gilfoid: After eight years as a pro, Kell Brook (26-0, 18 KO’s) is taking his step up fight on March 17th and it’s supposed to be fringe contender Matthew Hatton (42-5-2, 16 KO’s).

This was the big fight that Brook is taking that he’ll likely be announcing this next week. I’m kind of speechless because I can’t believe Brook is still unable or unwilling to face a dangerous threat instead of more fodder.

Hatton is an awful choice for someone that’s been fighting as long as Brook. Hatton was already beaten by Saul Alvarez, a 20-year-old last year, and now Brook gets him. I don’t see the logic there. Is Brook okay with that? I’d turn that fight down in a second if it was offered to me.

Why Can’t Brook fight someone that can actually bring in terms of contenders like Jesus Soto Karass. He’s not a great fighter and he’s clearly a fringe guy, but I bet you he would make a mess of Hatton. Why isn’t Brook facing those guys? I never heard of Brook’s last opponent Luis Galarza. I remember when that fight was signed.

Brook’s fans were making excuses for him, saying it’s just an easy opponent so he can look good in front of American audiences. No one was impressed with that fight in America because they could see with their own eyes that Brook was put in with a weak opponent. I see Hatton a domestic level fighter, not a world class guy. Why is Brook still fighting these guys?

Look at Brook’s last five opponents:

Luis Galarza
Rafal Jaciewicz
Lovemore N’dou
Philip Kotey
Michael Jennings

Where is the quality? How come Brook isn’t facing Karass, Mike Jones, Jan Zaveck, Joshua Clottey, Sebatian Lujan, Devon Alexander, Ed Paredes, Thomas Dulore, Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto, Luis Carlos Abregu, Shawn Porter, Selcuk Aydin, or Carlos Quintana? Id prefer anyone of those guys over Hatton any day of the weak. But I guess they’re too good or Brook, so here we are seeing Book face another easy opponent.