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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Brook Stops Dan In 4 To Retain IBF Championship, Khan Next?




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.”


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