Brook vs Spence Jr: Keith Thurman questions Kell Brook's desire now he's back at welterweight
Tuesday 23 May 2017 06:32, UK
Keith Thurman has told Kell Brook he needs to prove he is good enough and hungry enough to mix it back with the best welterweights in the world.
The Sheffield star wants to challenge the WBC and WBA champion if he wins his IBF mandatory challenge against Errol Spence Jr in Sheffield on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Thurman, who like the 'Special One' has beaten former titleholder Shawn Porter, is happy to face the winner in a unification fight but is not convinced Brook actually wants to become the No 1 welterweight out there.
It's just hard for me to be confident with Kell Brook because to me, he hasn't proved it. We will see what he's got.
"Of course Kell Brook came over here to America to take the title back home but for this one, he has fluctuated in weight classes," he exclusively told Sky Sports.
"I am just interested in how bad he wants to be a welterweight and establish himself as one of the best welterweights in the world today.
"It is going to be difficult (moving back down to 147lbs) if he wants to hold onto that title and in my opinion, he didn't do enough at welterweight before moving up anyway.
"For me, that is what this fight is about. In my opinion, there is so much going on at 147 but he had to go up two weights just to make a big fight happen."
Thurman, who took the WBC title away from Danny Garcia by winning their March unification fight via a split decision, is leaning towards undefeated compatriot Spence Jr.
'One Time' is likely to be out for four to six months due an elbow injury, but admits he's "not seen too much" of Brook and suggests dropping straight back down after the fifth-round loss to middleweight master Gennady Golovkin might be too much.
"I just don't like coming off a big fight, and a big loss, then taking this one back down at 147," he said.
"The one thing I do like is he got out of the Golovkin fight before he suffered more damage, so it wasn't too severe and as a fighter, seeing them back in the ring is great.
"But it's just hard for me to be confident with Kell Brook because to me he hasn't proved it. We will see what he's got."
Thurman's trainer, Dan Birmingham, admits there is still talk of a rematch with Garcia but would be happy for his man to take on the winner as well.
"He is a real fighter, Danny Garcia, and real fighters don't give up," he said.
"He is going to try his best and I don't blame him for that - and in fact, I would love to see a rematch some day. But that could happen if Kell or Errol wins, but if Kell wants those big fights, he has to include Keith of course.
"If he wants to show he is the best in the division he has to fight Keith to try and prove it."
Watch Brook vs Spence Jr, from Bramall Lane, Sheffield, May 27, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the event online here or via your Sky remote.
