Kell Brook wants Jeison Rosario title shot

By Boxing News - 02/16/2020 - Comments

By Tin Royner: Kell Brook says he wants his promoter Eddie Hearn to set him up with a straight world title shot against IBF/WBA junior middleweight champion Jeison Rosario in his next fight. Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) wants to have Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) given an offer so he can face him.

Brook just came off of a 14 month layoff to defeat Mark DeLuca (24-2, 13 KOs) in a 7th round knockout on February 8 in an impressive showing at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. There wasn’t much evidence of ring rust for Kell for someone that had been out of the ring for over a year, but he wasn’t a good junior middleweight.

“Maybe we can go straight to him,” said Brook to skysports.com about a fight against IBF/WBA 154-lb champion Rosario. “Listen, I want them titles, let’s make it. Let’s give him an offer and let’s make the fight. I want names, or world titles, that’s what I’m after.”

Rosario, 24, recently stopped champion Julian ‘J-Rock’ Williams in the 5th round on January 18 at the Liacouras Center, in Philadelphia. Jeison surprised J-Rock with his power, and his aggression. Unfortunately, J-Rock looked like he wasn’t ready for the fire power the young Rosario brought to him in that fight.

It’s a tall order for Brook to beat a younger fighter with the size and power of Rosario. Kell might have an advantage in experience and technical skills, but Rosario is big, strong and he’s nine years younger.

Rosario has also been active with his career, and hasn’t frittered away his opportunities by sitting inactive the way Brook has. Whether it be injuries, self confidence problems or the big money Brook earned against Gennadiy Golovkin, he’s not been fighting a lot since losing to GGG in 2016. If Brook is going to take on a young and powerful lion like Jeison, he could be asking for trouble if it’s his next fight.

If Hearn isn’t able to get Brook a title shot, then he’s going to be stuck facing former WBO 154-lb champion Liam Smith (27-2-1, 16 KOs) in a domestic level clash. Hearn is keen on making the Brook-Smith fight for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it makes money due to it being a fight between two well known British fighters. Secondly, Hearn would be keeping Liam busy. He promotes him, but he’s languishing right now after losing to former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia by a 12 round unanimous decision in July 2018.

The fight would make money for Brook, 33, and would help him get moved up in the rankings with the World Boxing Organization, since Smith, 31, is ranked #3 with the WBO. If Brook beats Smith, then he would be in position to challenge the winner of the fight between WBO junior middleweight champion Patrick Teixeira and Brian Castano in 2021

Brook needs to think hard before he takes the fight with Liam, because if he loses this one, it could be career over. He’s not going to get a fight against Amir Khan, and there won’t be any point in talking about wanting to win a world title at 154. A defeat for Brook against Smith would dash his plans.