By By Craig Hilton: Fans were recently treated to another stellar Kell Brook display as he triumphed in an emphatic Technical Knock Out victory over his bogey man, Carson Jones. It was a more measured performance from Brook as he varied the number and power of the punches in his combinations.
This fight was scheduled – in what appeared to be a relatively small ring – for ten rounds as opposed to the standard distance of twelve. These conditions were advantageous to Brook as he had struggled in the latter stages of their first twelve-round see-saw battle. Jones soaked up the early pressure and launched his attacks with greater frequency at the half-way mark. However, the weight issue appeared to aid Brook’s strength as he overcame Jones with some thudding shots and eventually stopped his man in round eight.
The fight did not tell us much about Brook’s progress to become a world champion. It has been well documented that Brook has lacked endurance at one hundred and forty seven pounds. This fight was made at one hundred and fifty two pounds – five pounds higher than his chosen weight category. Brook showed greater command of this second encounter between the pair and floored Jones twice during the contest. Therefore, it is somewhat mystifying that Brook has decided to continue his quest for a world title at one hundred and forty seven pounds rather than make the move up to Junior Middleweight (154 lbs.). Welterweight star, Floyd Mayweather Junior, exercises tremendous endurance when fighting at ten and a half stone but has a smaller frame in comparison to Brook. In my opinion, Kell has a Hagler-like frame more befitting the Middleweight ranks.
Concerns over Kell’s ability to make weight have led to the introduction of some new faces into his camp. Changes have been made to his training programme in a bid to maintain his strength and stamina over twelve rounds at world championship level. However, we still don’t know if this is possible at welterweight. Any elite sportsman will tell you that an athlete’s training plan needs to be tailor made to the individual’s body type and specification, so it is essential that Brook finds the weight, regimen and training intensity that generates his optimum performances. I would have him working the pads for fifteen rounds whilst moving around a ring at high intensity. This training technique aided Ricky Hatton’s excellent endurance and I believe that Kell’s body type and fighting style would benefit immensely from it.
Brook sustained a nose injury again when pinned against the ropes. Brook’s nose was flowing with blood in their first encounter and it happened again, though the injury did not appear to hinder Brook’s breathing this time around. When backed up against the ropes, Brook keeps his hands low, relying on his reflexes and body movement to thwart attacks. In my opinion, Brook needs to create a smaller target when pressed against the ropes or avoid them altogether. Perhaps his frequent leaning on the ropes evidences endurance problems and a lack of mobility.
Kell stamped his authority on the fight as he made forceful combinations with his harpooning jab. He also used the extra weight to good effect by bullying Jones on the inside whilst delivering effective hooks and uppercuts that broke his will. However, Brook did get caught a few times when spearheading attacks with risky right hand leads and hefty body shots. I think Kell becomes overly aggressive at times and seeks to destroy opponents to the extent that he abandons the game plan set by his team. This can drain his stamina and sometimes leave him vulnerable to a damaging counter. Brook should accept that top fighters cannot be stopped early and will often take him into the latter stages of bouts.
Fans were appreciative of Brook’s talent and Jones showed his world class chin again by offering resistance to some colossal blows. If Brook measures the type and power of his combinations to the same effect, I believe that he will continue to end fights inside the scheduled distance. Sky Sports Commentator, Johnny Nelson, told us that Kell lacked confidence by not putting his foot on the gas to force an early stoppage. However, Brook needs to get attuned to fighting over twelve rounds and avoid targeting the knockout. He just needs to establish himself behind the jab, particularly in the first half of fights. The knockouts will definitely arrive if opponents are subjected to his pressure and power for a prolonged period. Kell played a game of cat-and-mouse, dominating Jones and thoroughly entertained the crowd.
Let’s hope Brook can fine-tune his fight preparations to enable him to maintain his tremendous power and rapid hand speed over twelve rounds. I believe that his trademark jab should be used more frequently with a tighter defence.
Brook’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has requested a progress report from his star by matching him against former world champion, Vyacheslav Senchenko (34-1), in his next bout on the 26th October. Senchenko has a reputation for not having fought strong opposition. Many have regarded his win over former two-weight world champion, Ricky Hatton, as a victory over a boxer well past his best. However, I would argue that Senchenko presents a step-up in opposition for Brook and the bout will allow Kell to gain some essential fighting experience. Senchenko’s height (5ft 11’’) and reach (72’’) may pose some problems for the smaller and shorter armed Brook (5ft 9’’/68’’ reach). It will be interesting to see how Brook contends with the style of the former world champion and whether a convincing victory will win over his doubters.
Hearn has been patient with Brook, matching him carefully so that he accrues fighting experience against a steadily rising level of opposition whilst maintaining his unbeaten record. In my opinion, Hearn is doing the right thing by Kell in a highly competitive weight-class. Mexican superstar, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, has notched up a total of forty-three bouts in his career to date and many commentators believe that he is finally looking like a complete fighter. Fellow Brit, Amir Khan, has had a few title fights among his thirty-one contests but perhaps these bouts came too soon in his career as he lost two of them and damaged his reputation in the process.
Therefore, I believe that Hearn should ensure that Kell builds sufficient experience before fighting a belt-holder. If British boxing fans want Brook to be an elite boxer in the Welterweight Division, they need to be patient with his progress and preparations towards a world title tilt.
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