Kell Brook the world's leading welterweight, says Paulie Malignaggi
Friday 22 April 2016 12:19, UK
Kell Brook has been hailed as the best welterweight on the planet by former world champion Paulie Malignaggi.
'The Special One' (36-0-KO25) is hunting a big fight this summer having recorded a trio of stoppage victories since relieving Shawn Porter of the IBF world welterweight title in August 2014.
But Malignaggi, who held world titles at super-lightweight and welterweight, believes Brook's prowess may be the very reason he has been unable to secure a lucrative clash with a 'big name'.
The Italian-American told World Boxing News: "Brook is deserving of a bigger fight and it's just a matter of getting these guys in the ring with him.
I think he's kind of in the same position that Gennady Golovkin was in that he's so good it's hard to get him the opponents.
"It's going to be difficult because he's so good and he's so, so strong - but at the same time, Brook is not in the circle in the United States. Brook has got to get his name in the circle and having that IBF title certainly helps him, to a degree.
"I think he's kind of in the same position that Gennady Golovkin was in, that he's so good it's hard to get him the opponents in his weight class.
"I've long said that Kell Brook is the best welterweight in the world and If you look at the only marquee name on his record, that victory over Shawn Porter, I don't think there's anybody in the world that could do to Porter what Brook did to him."
Fighters such as WBC champion Danny Garcia and former middleweight king Miguel Cotto have been mentioned as possible targets for Brook, but Malignaggi sees recently-crowned WBO champion Jessie Vargas as a more attractive unification option.
'The Magic Man' added: "Danny Garcia has a lot of other options and I don't think taking a risk against Brook is on the cards for him. Miguel Cotto is a different story because he's at a different weight class, as Kell would be taking a risk too in moving up.
"It would still be a risk for Cotto - but more of a risk for Kell, and I don't think he'd be able to keep the IBF title if he makes that move, as it may then become permanent.
"I think Kell has to ease himself back into the US first before being able to land that big name he wants. He didn't build on the Porter win enough and needs to jump back into the mix here in the US, maybe with an introductory fight - so to speak.
"Maybe Jessie Vargas could be possible for a unification as he's also trying to build his name but he can't take on a fighter with too much to lose. A fighter with too much to lose is not going to want to fight Kell Brook at this point.
"Vargas is like Kell, he's a guy with a lot to gain. Even though he has a world title he's still not a huge name so he has more to gain than he has to lose. I think it's possible to make that kind of fight. I don't think Brook v Vargas would be a bad fight at all."
Vargas (27-1-KO10) claimed the vacant title by stopping Sadam Ali in the ninth round of their clash in Washington in March having been outpointed by previous champion Timothy Bradley in June 2015.
