Hearn’s “Big name” opponent for Kell Brook could be a disaster for him

By Boxing News - 07/14/2013 - Comments

brook23By Scott Gilfoid: Last night welterweight contender Kell Brook (30-0, 20 KO’s) dispatched Carson Jones in 8 rounds in their rematch at the Craven Park Stadium, Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn said over and over again that he has a “Big name” opponent for Brook to be fighting in September that he’ll be announcing this week.

In an interview with I Film London, Hearn said he’d say yes if interviewer Kugan Cassius was able to guess the name of the opponent. Kugan named Shane Mosley and Paulie Malignaggi, both of which Hearn shook his head and said they neither of them would be the guy that faced him.

Kugan later said he heard Hearn speaking on the phone and he overheard the name of the fighter that Hearn will be matching Brook against.

Here’s how the discussion went:

Kugan: “It’s hard for me to list the opponents when I know who it is.

Hearn: “Do you?”

Kugan: “Another phone call I eavesdropped when you were in the car and you thought I was asleep. Are you sure about that one for him? He’s dangerous.”

Hearn: “Kell Brook’s got to be in tough fights, and this is a good fight for Kell Brook.”

So there it is. Kugan wouldn’t have called the opponent dangerous if it was Shane Mosley, so he’s definitely out as a possible opponent. I don’t think Hearn would be able to get a fight against WBA champion Adrien Broner, so he’s probably out as well. My guess it’s either Marcos Maidana or Victor Ortiz. Either of those guys would have to be considered very dangerous opponents for someone like Kell Brook.

As we saw last night, Brook looks good when he’s the one dishing out the punishment, but he doesn’t look good at all when he’s getting hit back. If you noticed that Jones hardly threw any punches at all last night, but the punches that he did throw had Brook looking mighty uncomfortable in rounds 4 through 6.

I thought I was about to see a replay of last year in July when Jones bloodied Brooks’ nose and punished him badly. Luckily for Brook, Jones threw very punches in rounds 7 and 8, and this enabled Brook to win the fight. However, if Brook were to be facing a guy like Maidana and Ortiz, he’d be getting hit a lot and I think he would get stopped by either of those guys.