Kell Brook had plenty of sympathy for Michael Jennings after he was halted by a cut five rounds in.
But Sheffield star sets sights on a world title
Kell Brook admitted his win over Michael Jennings was tinged with disappointment because of the way it ended.
A bad cut on Jennings' left eye brought their WBO welterweight eliminator to a premature end in the fifth, before the Sheffield star could really go through his repetoire.
And Brook, boxing for only the second time in 14 months, had plenty of sympathy for his opponent who is widely regarded as one of the nicest men in the trade.
"I was a little bit unsatisfied," he told
Sky Box Office. "I wanted him out clean, unconcious on the canvas - that would've been nice.
"My heart goes out to Michael Jennings because everyone in the boxing world knows he's a lovely kid and it's a shame we had to meet in the ring, but we had to get it on."
Brook looked a little rust in a subdued opening but looked a far more mature fighter than the brash young man that had blown away his previous 21 opponents.
An electronic tag and subsequent 8pm curfew meant that he had gone through a more orthodox training camp and he himself says, it has taught him a valuable lesson.
And although he was just starting to produce his characteristic punches from awkward angles, he revealed that he was more concerned with overcoming the durable Jennings than stealing the Magnificent Seven spotlight.
"I knew this kid could go 12 rounds because he's got a good engine, but I had trained for 15 rounds," he said.
"So, I was just taking my time, making sure I was winning those rounds.
"I did but in the back of my mind, watching Ringside and the build-up to this, I thought 'don't go out to try and impress' because you can end up getting caught.
"So I took my time, I was being patient and I caught him withn a good shot - but I would've caught him later on if the fight had kept going."
The bout was billed as an eliminator for the WBO title at 147lbs, currently held by none other than Manny Pacquiao.
Promoter Frank Warren refused to say whether Brook would get a shot at a world belt next, but did reveal he would be fighting "for a title" in November.
