Undefeated
IBF Welterweight world champion Kell Brook dominated IBF number one contender
Jo Jo Dan on Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. The
champion, who was making the first defense of his title, controlled the fight
from the opening bell keeping Dan at distance and landing his right hand
seemingly whenever he threw it.
Brook
stunned Dan with a right hand early in the second round and moments later
dropped the challenger with a right uppercut. This would be followed by a
second knockdown seconds later from another right hand.
The
battle tested Jo Jo Dan simply could not deal with the champion’s hand speed
and power. Brook would continue to dominate the action and would drop Dan for
the third time as a result of a barrage of punches in round four. Despite being
outclassed, Dan showed his mettle and arose from the knockdown. Brook however,
would send the challenger down for a fourth time as a result of a left hook
just prior to the end of the round. After seeing their fighter suffer four
knockdowns and facing a significant deficit on the scorecards, the bout was
stopped by Dan’s corner following the conclusion of the fourth round.
Kell
Brook advances to 34-0, with 23 Knockouts. Jo Jo Dan falls to 34-3, with 18
Knockouts.
It
was certainly an impressive performance by a world champion in his first title
defense. What may be even more impressive is Brook not only dominated a fighter
in Dan who had never been stopped in thirty-six previous bouts as a
professional, but did so six months following an injury where he suffered a
severe stab wound to his left leg that briefly appeared as though it may have
threatened his career.
Brook
continues to build momentum in the talent stacked Welterweight division following
his championship win, a twelve round majority decision over Shawn Porter last
August. Following his stoppage over Jo Jo Dan, Brook called out former Jr.
Welterweight world champion Amir Khan for a potential fight in June.
As
for what this might mean for the rest of the Welterweight division Brook finds
himself in an interesting position as the IBF’s Welterweight world champion.
Much of the focus of the division is now firmly centered on the unification
bout between WBC/WBA world champion Floyd Mayweather and WBO champion Manny
Pacquiao, which will take place on May 2nd in Las Vegas.
There
are however, a few interesting possibilities that exist outside of that fight
in the division. Along with Kell Brook fighters such as Keith Thurman and Andre
Berto, who each hold interim/regular champion status in the WBA’s Welterweight
ratings could each be possible opponents for Brook if a fight with Khan is not
in the immediate future. Brook, Thurman, and Berto much like the rest of the
division are all looking to position themselves for a potential fight against
the winner of Mayweather-Pacquiao.
As
the lone world champion in the division outside of Mayweather and Pacquiao
however, one might argue that Brook could be closer to a potential fight
against the winner of that fight in what would be a bout to fully unify the
Welterweight division. The landscape of the Welterweight division may indeed
become a little more clear after Mayweather and Pacquiao square off in May.
If
Kell Brook is intent on fighting in June, the most logical option out there in
this observer’s opinion would be a fight against Amir Khan who has had
difficulty in trying to find an opponent to fight after being unable to secure
a fight against either Mayweather or Pacquiao. In Brook, Khan not only would
have an opportunity to win a world title in a second weight class, but it is a
fight that would draw significant interest both in the United Kingdom as well
as here in the United States.
Both
fighters have significant followings and it just may be the type of fight that
both fighters need in order to secure a potential fight against either
Mayweather or Pacquiao down the road. Regardless of who may win between Brook
and Khan, both fighters could pose a threat to either Mayweather or Pacquiao.
“And
That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The
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