What's next for Kell Brook?

By Peter Wells:

Kell Brook celebrating the beginning of a new chapter

Unfortunately boxing rarely lets a fighter soak in the feeling of victory, and no more so when its a world title victory. Because, as the name would suggest, the 'world' is watching, and questions regarding the next step are what both fans and media alike want to hear.

For Kell Brook, speculation of his next opponent began the moment his hand was raised as a majority decision victor for Shawn Porter's IBF Welterweight title. Amir Khan's name was on the lips of everyone viewing, and the questions were soon filtering in.

Khan was sat in the studio, and rightly admitted that Brook had now earned his status as a world class fighter, something he had yet to prove, and that a fight between the pair would now make sense.

Keith Thurman, who looked likely to face Porter next had the American kept hold of his crown, was at ringside, and it wasn't long before his promoter Oscar De La Hoya was telling the media that his fighter was willing to travel across the Atlantic for a fight with Brook.

Another name on the likely next opponent list, will be a familiar one for British fight fans. Leonard Bundu, the unbeaten Italian who's reign as European champion is warranting of a world title attempt.



Brook (left) grew stronger as the fight wore on

The world title winning effort from Kell was a scrappy one, one in which he had to dig deep at times, winning ugly. He won ugly but the victory was beautiful, his name now mentioned with Manny Pacquiao (WBO) and Floyd Mayweather (WBA & WBC) as the current world champions at 147lbs.

While Porter was favoured slightly, looking back on the fight, it does not come as such a surprise that Brook was able to neutralise so much of what Porter does well. It involved some veteran tactics, like holding on the inside, and also took a low output to deny Porter too many openings.

While not trying to rain on Porter's recent performances, Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi both had unconventional styles, especially when it came to defence. Porter's long swings from outside were nightmares for those two fighters. Against Brook, Porter could not adjust his style, and with the lack of opportunities to land clean from the outside on the defensively sound Brook, his best successes came when he pounded the body of Brook, a feat that became a none-factor in the later rounds as Brook really took control.

On the other side of the fence, one could suggest that while Brook's performance was far from 'Special', that was more or less down to the opponent. Against a Thurman or a Khan, Brook may find it far easier to find a smoother rhythm. Porter has feasted on opponents thanks to them not finding their timing, something that offsets their game plan. Credit must go to Brook for remaining composed when his punches were almost all missing the target in the early goings.


Amir Khan can silence a lot of critics with a win over Brook

A meeting with Khan may not be taking place this year. Something tells me that this clash has a special date in April or May of 2015 set up. A homecoming for the new champion in Sheffield looks more likely.

But say that the huge all-British clash does take place next for both boxers, the fight will certainly divide opinion.

It seems as though it is easy to forget just what Khan has achieved. Dropping and very nearly stopping Marcos Maidana in the opening round of their 2010 clash, before standing up to several bombs from the Argentine puncher to eek out a close decision win. He also scored a 5th round knockout of Zab Judah and was unlucky to lose his titles in a controversial fight with now IBF Light Welterweight champion, Lamont Peterson. He has also met the likes of Danny Garcia, Andriy Kotelnik and Paulie Malignaggi. His most recent victory over Luis Collazo, was a fine display of how Virgil Hunter has helped improve Khan's defensive lapses.

Khan is a tall and rangy operator, and his speed can cause any fighter problems. If Brook were banking on just catching Khan on the chin and scoring the knockout then it would be a rather long night. Khan's footspeed and handspeed should be enough to take a points victory over Brook, but with Khan there is always the worry that his wanting to entertain, could leave him in deep waters again. If the fight became a battle at close quarters, like it was when Khan fought Peterson and Julio Diaz, then Brook would almost certainly come out victorious.


Keith Thurman is ready to travel to the UK

A clash with Thurman is a great one for boxing fans, another Welterweight matchup between two unbeaten fighters. Thurman can punch, but has certainly shown more dimensions to his work than Porter, but he has also been vulnerable at times, no more so than his nip-and-tuck affair with Diego Chaves, before he separated himself from Chaves with a 10th round knockout blow.

An extremely confident fighter, Thurman can box and punch, and his education against the likes of Jan Zaveck, Jesus Soto Karass and the aforementioned Chaves has helped him develop to a world title contender.

Thurman's more conventional style would give Brook more of an opportunity to display his full boxing arsenal, expect another intriguing fight that could go either way.

Finally, for me the most likely of Brook's next opponents, Leonard Bundu. The 'British Slayer' has earned both a villain status and great respect on these shores, with victories over Lee Purdy and most impressively Frankie Gavin. And the Italian wouldn't mind breaking a few more British hearts by dethroning Brook in his backyard.



Leonard Bundu is ready for the step up

Bundu does possess similar traits to Porter, but his aggression and punch power hasn't been displayed at world level. One would have to imagine that Brook could be made to look good against Bundu, but then again so was Gavin.

Bundu would offer some tricky moments for Brook, but what a world class fighter brings to the table would be too much for the well liked King of Europe. Brook will have learnt on the job against Porter and would put those lessons into practice with a fine display.

All three are mouth watering options, and it just highlights the level of competition that Brook will be facing. With a world title, and the fact that he isn't named Pacquiao or Mayweather, he now has a bright target on his back, and almost every world title contender, who isn't quite in line to face the two superstars of boxing, will be calling his name.

Wherever this road takes Brook, and however long this reign lasts, it will be fun. Welterweight is ripe with talent and now Kell Brook is right in the thick of it.