Eddie Hearn looks back at Kell Brook's rise and looks ahead to his next bout, against Carson Jones.
Eddie looks back on Brook's rise and ahead to his next challenge
Plotting a route to a world title is never easy. Especially when the barriers of boxing politics and money stand in the way and you have a very special talent.
Kell Brook is fortunate enough to be in a red-hot division, the 147 welterweight division that is home to some of the world's most powerful and popular fighters. Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, Victor Ortiz, Paulie Malignaggi, Marcos Maidana and Devon Alexander are just some of the men in his way to domination of the division!
Fortunate you may ask? Fortunate if you are as good as Kell Brook. Kell's first fight with us was exactly a year ago and since then we have some major strides. Sometimes these moves may go unnoticed by a boxing fan but I'd like to take the time explain the journey.
In June last year, Kell held just one top ten world ranking position and that was the WBO, a title held by Pacquiao. We needed to get him noticed, topping bills but more importantly learning against world ranked fighters.
The first of those was Lovemore N'Dou, a former world champion rated by the IBF, WBA and WBC but more importantly a test for Kell. Behind his talent was a shy man, an inner confidence that had never really been given the opportunity to blossom and this, his first fight in his hometown of Sheffield in six years, would give him the opportunity to shine.
We sold out the 1,400-capacity Hillsborough Leisure Centre with over a month to go - people had scoffed and told me that 'Kell Brook couldn't sell a ticket'. As we sat in the changing room that night he looked nervous and I vividly remember him turning to me and saying "is it busy out there?" "It's sold out mate, you can hardly move," I replied. "Do you think I will get a good reception?" followed from Kell. "They are all here for you mate. It's your time to shine."
We have been privileged to stage some major shows over the years but the atmosphere that night when Kell walked out to what would become his signature tune 'All of the Lights' was right up there. I saw his chest lift, his eyes light up and in he walked. It was a performance beyond his years in there that night. He hardly lost a round to an over-the-hill but accomplished and tough N'Dou and Kell went 12 rounds for the very first time and we captured the WBA Inter-Continental title and a top ten ranking with the WBA.
We needed a bigger venue and we needed a bigger test. We wanted what is commonly known as a 'live' opponent, someone who comes to win. Rafal Jackiewicz was a former European champion and world title challenger and perhaps more importantly ranked fifth with the IBF.
October 8 was another sell out. Ponds Forge was the venue with 1,800 fans watching Brook dismantle Jackiewicz in just six rounds, the first time the tough Pole had ever been stopped in his 49 fight career. Kell made a big statement that night not just in the arena but with
Sky Sports viewers as ratings continued to soar and so too did his world ranking.
Kell didn't break sweat that night and I wanted to make sure we could get him one more outing before the close of the year. The chief-support slot on December 17 in Atlantic City as Froch and Ward fought for the final of the Super Six seemed like the perfect opportunity. Up next was Luiz Galarza, a tough hard-punching Puerto Rican that would come to win but should be exposed by Kell's extraordinary talents. The exercise wasn't necessarily about the opponent. It was about activity, experience, the travelling and the big occasion, something that would prove so vital in the Matthew Hatton fight.
One-sided
That night felt like the N'Dou fight all over again. The nerves, the unfamiliar surroundings, the Atlantic City commission requirements, the beautiful Boardwalk Hall and the international TV cameras all awaited 'The Special One'. Despite the nerves Kell disposed of Galarza in five one-sided rounds and returned home with invaluable experience and exposure as he made another statement of intent. The new world ratings were out and they were a pleasant read: top ten in every organisation. People were now talking about Kell - fans, broadcasters and other promoters.
It was clear to me Kell was ready to move up another gear again in both name of opponent and size of venue. A fight with Hatton had been on the cards for some time and once I met with Ray and Matthew Hatton it was an easy fight to make with the Manchester man fancying his chances against Kell in a Yorkshire v Lancashire clash. We made the decision to take the fight to the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield - which at 9,500 capacity was some leap from Kell's fights with N'dou and Jackiewicz. But from the moment we went on sale with the first head-to-head press conference, the tickets flew out the door. Media workouts for both fighters brought the press out in their droves and it was a fight that caught the public's imagination - top two in the country and a great back story as the former world title contender and European champion crossed the Pennines to put the talented upstart in his place.
The weigh-in at Sheffield's Meadowhall was packed to the rafters and Kell was roared to the scales - but I began to have some nerves as Matthew looked confident. Those nerves were wasted energy though as Kell soaked up the atmosphere of 9,500 adoring Sheffield fight fans as he took Hatton apart over 12 rounds in a performance that now sits Kell in the top five with every governing body.
The next challenge
In a fortnight's time, Kell steps up again - and for the fifth fight in a row he faces the biggest test of his career. The supremely confident Carson Jones comes to the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on July 7 ranked higher than Kell at number three in the IBF - and the winner is looking at a shot at the title later this year.
Jones is the toughest obstacle so far on the journey Kell is taking to a world title, but like N'Dou, Jackiewicz, Galarza and Hatton before, I expect that The Special One will rise to the challenge and show the world he is ready for the big one.
As the path to a world title becomes clearer, the challengers become more dangerous. Jones has stopped his last eight opponents and is supremely confident and with discussions already underway with Lou Di Bella about a potential shot with Randall Bailey in October, there is everything to play for.
The IBF have confirmed the Brook v Jones fight as an official world title eliminator but, better still, if the Bailey fight can't immediately be made then the winner must fight Hector Saldivia in a final eliminator for the mandatory position - with no escape for the Champion! It's been a great year for Kell Brook and now he sits within touching distance of the world title shot.
Top tip!
I got one right! I can't say I've picked many winners in the 24 Prizefighter's that came before Wednesday's International Heavyweights at York Hall but I had a hunch that New York's Tor Hamer would do the business. It was a strong line up with a weird and wonderful mix of fighters and characters that included world title challengers Kevin 'Kingpin' Johnson and Poland's Albert Sosnowski.
We kicked off the evening with a performance from new R&B stars Clement Marfo and the Frontline before the big hitters took the stage. Johnson looked like he would back-up his big talk and favourite status with the bookies after stopping Noureddine Meddoune inside the first round of their quarter-final, but when Hamer took just 29 seconds to destroy a weary Tom Dallas in the second semi-final, the momentum swung in his favour and credit to the 29 year old for outworking Kingpin to claim the title. His victory speech afterwards was a little underwhelming to say the least, but he's a likeable character that can bang a bit and is a welcome addition to the Stateside heavyweight scene that needs a new star.
Finally, get ready for some big announcements soon as we approach a new season. New signings and a string of big fight nights await and we will kick off September on Saturday 8 at the stunning Alexandra Palace. Popular middleweight world title challenger Darren Barker will return on a night with five title fights and the debut of our new GB podium star Martin Ward.
Get ready for an exciting season!
