Kell Brook
| Kell Brook | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Ezekiel Brinsly Reid Brook |
| Nickname(s) | Special K |
| Rated at | Welterweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm) |
| Nationality | British |
| Born |
3 May 1986 Sheffield, England |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 34 |
| Wins | 34 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Ezekiel Brinsly Reid "Kell" Brook (born 3 May 1986)[1] is a British professional boxer who fights in the welterweight division. He is the current IBF welterweight world champion, holding notable wins over Michael Jennings, Lovemore Ndou, Matthew Hatton, Vyacheslav Senchenko and Shawn Porter.
Professional career
Brook's first fight as a professional took place in September 2004 with a 6 round points victory over experienced journeyman Peter Buckley at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. He would fight again four more times that year to end 2004 with a record of 5-0 in just four months. Brook went about learning his trade against a host of journeymen before getting the opportunity in June 2008 to fight for the British title having compiled a winning record of 16-0.
British Champion
The championship fight at London's York Hall saw Kell Brook take on Welshman Barrie Jones for the vacant crown. The fight was not without controversy however as the previous incumbent, Kevin McIntyre, had been stripped of the title after he sustained an injury and had to pull out of his scheduled defence against the Yorkshireman. Brook ended up winning the vacant belt with a 7th round stoppage of Jones who had come in at relatively short notice.[2]
Having won the belt Brook was then ordered to face the former champion and the bout took take place in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall on 14 November 2008. Prior to the fight and referring to the bad blood that has built up between the two fighter's Brook said "Once I knock out McIntyre in style then there will be no question mark over who should be British champion."[3] When the fight finally did happen, Brook put McIntyre down three times in the first round to win by TKO to send the Glasgow crowd home disappointed.[4]
On 30 January 2009 Brook returned to the York Hall to meet former marine Stuart Elwell in a voluntary second defence. The fight again ended quickly when the referee stopped the fight in the 2nd round handing victory to Brook.[5] He claimed the Lonsdale belt outright on 20 July 2009 when making his third defence against Prizefighter winner Michael Lomax. The fight, at the MEN Arena in Manchester, was on the undercard to Amir Khan's world championship victory over Andreas Kotelnik and saw Brook win by stoppage in the third round. After the fight Brook said that he believed he was the best in Britain but couldn't say for sure until he's beaten Chorley's Michael Jennings who he challenged to a match-up.[6]
Young boxer of the year
On 25 September 2009, Brook pipped fellow champion Nathan Cleverly for the prestigious title of young British boxer of the year voted for by the Boxing Writer's club. The vote was the closest in the history of the award with Brook claiming the honour by one vote over Cleverly who held both the British and Commonwealth titles at light-heavyweight. In winning the award Brook joined a list of boxers which included the likes of Ken Buchanan, John H Stracey, Barry McGuigan, Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and Amir Khan.[7]
WBO Intercontinental champion
Brook's first fight of 2010 took place in Liverpool on 12 March 2010. The fight, for the WBO Intercontinental title, pitched Brook against Poland's Krzysztof Bienias, a man last beaten by Junior Witter in 2005 and with a run of seventeen straight wins. Brook collected his second career title when in the sixth round the fight was stopped by the referee following a dominant display by the Yorkshireman.[8] Brook's long awaiting fight against Michael Jennings was due to be next on 3 July 2010 until a rib injury forced the fight to be postponed for a second time. The fight, for Brook's British belt was then scheduled to take place between Jennings and former Commonwealth champion John O'Donnell[9] before O'Donnell pulled out and was then re-scheduled between Brook and Jennings.[10] Finally on 18 September 2010 Brook boxed Michael Jennings at the LG arena in Birmingham. Kell won the fight in round 5 following a bad cut above the eye sustained by Jennings which the referee deemed bad enough to stop the fight. The win doubled as Brooks's fourth defence of the British title and his first defence of the inter-continental belt.[11] On 9 December 2010 Brook made his second defence of the inter-continental title beating Ghana's Phillip Kotey with the referee waving the fight off during the second round. The win ensured that Brook kept his number one ranking with the World Boxing Organisation.[12]
Move to Matchroom
On 8 April 2011 Brook split from promoter Frank Warren and joined the Matchroom Sport boxing stable under Eddie Hearn with Brook saying that he was "really buzzing" to have joined the outfit. Hearn said that he was "excited about adding Kell to our stable" which had also recently signed Jamie Jackson former amateur British light welterweight champion now turned professional trainer. Speaking of Brook he said "Kell oozes class and has that something special about him – in short he is going to be a superstar."[13] Brook's first contest for the promotional outfit was on 25 June 2011 at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre in Sheffield and resulted in a unanimous 12 round points decision against Lovemore N'dou, claiming the WBA version of the inter-continental title in the process.[14]
"The War of the Roses" vs Matthew Hatton
On 17 March 2012, Kell Brook took his undefeated run to 27 fights by beating Matthew Hatton brother of Ricky Hatton on points in Sheffield. The scores were 119-107, 119-108 and 118-109 all in favour of Brook. In front of nearly 10,000 fans at the Motorpoint Arena, Brook added the IBF International welterweight title to his WBA Inter-Continental crown. Brook floored Hatton in the ninth round but could not knock out his Mancunian opponent. The fight gave record breaking viewing figures for Sky's Fight Night Live programme it was also the most watched fight of the year in Britain. Afterwards he said on the prospect of facing Khan: "Of course I want Khan, I've been banging on about Amir Khan, but I'm going to do my own thing and if that fight happens, it happens, and I'll smash him. I want to be fighting at that top table now with elite fighters. I think I've proved I deserve to be there."[15]
"Edge of Glory" vs Carson Jones
Brook faced American Carson Jones at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on Saturday 7 July 2012. Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport promoted the fight with it being billed "Edge of Glory" as both fighters saw this fight as a stepping stone to a shot at a world title. The fight was shown live on Sky Sports 1. The weigh in took place in Sheffield's Winter Gardens on 6 July with Brook weighing in at 10 st 6 lb 10 oz (60.16 kg) and Jones weighing slightly less at 10 st 6 lb 6 oz (60.04 kg). Brook dominated the early rounds moving well and connecting regularly with nice two and three punch combinations however as the fight went on he begin to tire and Jones was able to land shots of his own. Brook's nose was broken in the 8th round which made it yet more difficult for him to come back into the fight. He was almost floored in the final round but was able to hold on until the bell. Brook did enough in the early rounds to win the fight by majority decision, as the judge's scorecards read 114-114, 116-113 and 115-113 in Brook's favour. Brook was taken to Hospital after the fight due to blood loss from his broken nose.
"This Is It" vs Hector Saldivia
In August 2012 Matchroom Sport announced that Brook would face Argentinian veteran Hector Saldivia at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on 20 October 2012. The winner would then become the mandatory challenger for the IBF welterweight world title held at the time by Randall Bailey. At a packed weigh in the day before the fight at Sheffield's Meadowhall Centre both fighters weighed in under the 147 lbs limit. Brook started strongly knocking Saldivia down midway through the first round. The second round was very similar with Saldivia unable to deal with Brook's superior accuracy and power. In the third Brook landed a solid well timed straight which sent the Argentinian to the floor again. This time he struggled to get up as his legs wobbled beneath him and the referee stopped the contest in the third round.
World Title Challenge Pt.1
After becoming the mandatory challenger Brook was set to fight Devon Alexander for the world title on 19 January 2013 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. However Brook announced he had sustained an ankle injury and the fight was pushed back until 23 February 2013 and the venue changed to the Mosaic Youth Center on Grand in the Heart of Detroit, MI. Then Alexander announced he had a bicep injury causing the fight to re be rescheduled yet again. However, Kell would later pull out of this fight again after re-injuring his ankle, with fellow Brit and Matchroom Stable mate Lee Purdy taking his place but retiring in the 7th round. Alexander's camp have questioned the authenticity of this injury and instead assert that the unproven Brook was simply not ready to step up in class to fight Alexander, though this claim is seemingly less accurate after Brook convincingly defeated Shawn Porter, who had previously beaten Alexander.
Rematch vs Carson Jones
After the saga with Devon Alexander Brook took a fight with Carson Jones in Hull on 13 July 2013, in a rematch of their original fight just over a year previously, which Brook won via a narrow majority decision. Brook took the early rounds of this contest looking far too powerful and quick for the American. Kell went on to win by stoppage in the 8th round to take his record to 30-0.
Brook vs Senchenko
It was announced shortly after the rematch with Carson Jones that Brook would next face Vyacheslav Senchenko at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on 26 October 2013. Senchenko had recently beaten Ricky Hatton forcing him to retire for good from boxing. Brook said he was using this as motivation and wanted to "get revenge" for a British boxing hero and a personal friend within the sport. Hatton was to be ringside for the fight and spoke to Kell in the dressing room just prior to the fight. The opening and second rounds were very cagey encounters with neither fighter wanting to give too much away with Brook perhaps using his jab more effectively and taking both the rounds. In the third Brook knocked his opponent down with a powerful right with Senchenko taking the 8 count and continuing. Brook started the fourth strongly out boxing his Ukrainian opponent although Senchenko did unsteady Brook for a few seconds before Brook sent Sencheko back to the canvas with another right. Referee Shada Murdaugh concluded that Senchenko was in no position to continue and Brook was declared the winner by technical knockout.[16]
Brook vs. Porter
Beating Senchenko meant that Brook was once again the mandatory challenger for the IBF welterweight world title. Brook was the underdog going into the fight and it had been 28 years since a British fighter had won a world title from an American in the States. Brook defeated Shawn Porter to win the title at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on 16 August 2014 by a majority decision, with the three judges scoring the fight: 114–114, 116–112 and 117–111.
Professional boxing record
| 34 wins (23 knockouts, 11 decisions), 0 losses, 0 draws | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A | style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A |  Frankie Gavin |
style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | N/A | - (12) | 2015-05-30 | O2 Arena, Greenwich, London |
Defending IBF welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 34–0 |  Jo Jo Dan |
RTD | 4 (12), 3:00 | 2015-03-28 | Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
Retained IBF welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 33–0 |  Shawn Porter |
MD | 12 | 2014-08-16 | StubHub Center, Carson, California |
Won IBF welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 32–0 |  Álvaro Robles |
TKO | 8 (10), 1:35 | 2014-03-15 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 31–0 |  Viacheslav Senchenko |
TKO | 4 (12), 2:57 | 2013-10-26 | Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
IBF welterweight title eliminator. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 30–0 | Carson Jones |
TKO | 8 (10), 1:07 | 2013-07-13 | Craven Park, Hull, Yorkshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 29–0 |  Hector Saldivia |
TKO | 3 (12), 0:28 | 2012-10-20 | Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
IBF welterweight final title eliminator. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 28–0 | Carson Jones |
MD | 12 | 2012-07-07 | Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
Retained IBF International welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 27–0 | Matthew Hatton |
UD | 12 | 2012-03-17 | Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
Retained WBA Inter-Continental welterweight title. Won IBF International welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 26–0 |  Luis Galarza |
TKO | 5 (10), 1:38 | 2011-12-17 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 25–0 |  Rafał Jackiewicz |
TKO | 6 (12), 2:36 | 2011-10-08 | Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
Retained WBA Inter-Continental welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 24–0 |  Lovemore N'dou |
UD | 12 | 2011-06-25 | Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 23–0 |  Philip Kotey |
TKO | 2 (12), 0:39 | 2010-12-11 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside |
Retained WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22–0 | Michael Jennings |
TKO | 5 (12), 0:47 | 2010-09-18 | LG Arena, Birmingham, West Midlands |
Retained WBO Inter-Continental and BBBofC British welterweight titles. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 21–0 | Krzysztof Bienias |
TKO | 6 (12), 2:46 | 2010-03-12 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside |
Won WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight title. WBO welterweight title eliminator. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 20–0 | Michael Lomax |
TKO | 3 (12), 2:41 | 2009-07-18 | M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, Greater Manchester |
Retained BBBofC British welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 19–0 | Stuart Elwell |
TKO | 2 (12), 1:29 | 2009-01-30 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London |
Retained BBBofC British welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 18–0 | Kevin McIntyre |
TKO | 1 (12), 2:00 | 2008-11-14 | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland |
Retained BBBofC British welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17–0 | Barrie Jones |
TKO | 7 (12), 0:42 | 2008-06-14 | York Hall, Bethnal Green London |
Won vacant BBBofC British welterweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 16–0 | Darren Gethin |
RTD | 3 (6), 3:00 | 2008-03-22 | International Arena, Cardiff, Wales |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15–0 |  Aleksei Stoda |
PTS | 6 | 2007-10-06 | Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14–0 | Karl David |
TKO | 3 (8), 2:58 | 2007-04-07 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 13–0 | David Kirk |
TKO | 1 (6), 2:30 | 2006-12-09 | ExCel Arena, Docklands, London |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 12–0 | Duncan Cottier |
TKO | 3 (6), 0:45 | 2006-10-14 | M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, Greater Manchester |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 11–0 | Geraint Harvey |
TKO | 3 (6), 1:52 | 2006-06-01 | Metrodome, Barnsley, Yorkshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 10–0 | Ernie Smith |
PTS | 6 | 2006-04-29 | Meadow Bank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 9–0 | Ernie Smith |
PTS | 4 | 2005-09-10 | International Arena, Cardiff, Wales |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8–0 | Jonathan Whiteman |
TKO | 2 (4), 2:26 | 2005-07-09 | Ice Arena, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7–0 | Ernie Smith |
PTS | 6 | 2005-05-15 | Octagon Centre, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6–0 | Lee Handley |
PTS | 6 | 2005-03-04 | Magna Centre, Rotherham, Yorkshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5–0 | Karl Taylor |
PTS | 6 | 2004-12-19 | Reebok Stadium, Bolton, Lancashire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4–0 | Brian Coleman |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:08 | 2004-12-10 | Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 3–0 | Leeroy Williamson |
TKO | 2 (6), 0:35 | 2004-11-09 | Leeds United FC Banqueting Suite, Leeds, Yorkshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2–0 | Andy Cosnett |
TKO | 1 (6), 1:01 | 2004-10-29 | Hotel Van Dyk, Clowne, Derbyshire |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1–0 | Peter Buckley |
PTS | 6 | 2004-09-17 | Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, Yorkshire |
Professional debut. |
Major and minor titles held
- BBBofC British welterweight (June 2008)
- WBO Inter-Continental welterweight (March 2010)
- WBA Inter-Continental welterweight (June 2011)
- IBF International welterweight (March 2012)
- IBF world welterweight (August 2014)
References
- ↑ Kell Brook - Boxer. Boxrec.com.
- ↑ BBC Sport | Brook wins welterweight crown. BBC News (15 June 2008). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Brook vows to prove his status. Sporting Life
- ↑ BBC Sport | Swift Brook polishes off McIntyre. BBC News (14 November 2008). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ BBC Sport | Brook retains belt against Elwell. BBC News (30 January 2009). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Kell Brook wants Michael Jennings. Eastside boxing (21 July 2009). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ BBC Sport | Cleverly beaten to award by Brook. BBC News (25 September 2009). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Pride of Liverpool live review. Boxing Scene (13 March 2010). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ BBC Sport | Brook withdraws from fight with Michael Jennings. BBC News (15 June 2010). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Hickman, Niall. (22 July 2010) Daily Express | Fight against Jennings is biggest test says Brook. Express.co.uk. Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Hassan, Nabil. (18 September 2010) BBC Sport | Kell Brook cuts Michael Jennings to win fight. BBC News. Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Hassan, Nabil. (12 December 2010) BBC sport | Degale stops Smith in nine - undercard report including Brook vs. Kotey. BBC News. Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Britains hottest prospect joins Matchroom. Matchroom Boxing (8 April 2011)
- ↑ Kell Brook comes of age by outpointing Lovemore N'Dou. ESPN (25 June 2011). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ Kell Brook beats Matthew Hatton to win IBF International title. Bbc.co.uk (18 March 2012). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- ↑ "Brook stops Hatton-conqueror Senchenko to earn shot at the IBF welterweight title". Daily Mail. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
External links
- Amir Khan believes that he would have no trouble beating Kell Brook if the pair were to meet | Boxing News. ESPN.co.uk (2013-03-19). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
- Kell Brook forced to postpone IBF welterweight title fight with Devon Alexander for third time | Boxing News. ESPN.co.uk (2013-04-15). Retrieved on 2014-08-22.
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Shawn Porter |
IBF welterweight champion 16 August 2014–present |
Incumbent |