And the NEW…..Kell Brook realizes a dream to become the IBF Welterweight Champion.
At his first attempt, Kell “Special K” Brook became the IBF World Welterweight champion after dethroning former champion Shawn “showtime” Porter, 114-114, 117,111, 116,112 for a majority points victory in Carson, California.
Despite in my mind the dubious scorecards, I feel the correct man won as Brook grew in confidence throughout the fight and came on strong in the later rounds. I watched the fight twice, the first time I scored it a draw, the second a 115-113 victory for Brook.
On social media, many Porter fans proclaimed their man was robbed saying Brook did a lot of holding. Although Brook did do a lot of holding / spoiling up close, I believe he had the cleaner, more eye-catching work as opposed to Porter who was pushing the pace but wasn’t really hitting the target cleanly.
It was a very grueling and untidy fight at times and both fighters had to deal with cuts over the eye. Brook in the second and Porter in the sixth, due to accidental clash of heads.
Porter is an aggressive, all action, walk forward, strong fighter that gave Brook all the trouble he can handle.
But he is crude, wild and has a style only his mum could love. Though it can be effective as he demonstrated in his last fight, knocking out Malignaggi inside four rounds.
Although Brook was backing up more, he looked the more polished boxer, had his jab working consistently and though I would have liked him to put more combinations together, did connect with the better shots.
Porter relied more on his smothering pressure and didn’t put much combinations together either. He was often swinging wildly and looked as though he was trying to wear Brook down with his relentless pace and strength.
Though Brook did not look hurt at any point in the fight, Porter’s pressure, especially early in the fight made Brook to take more back steps than I think he would have liked, making it awkward to work at times.
For me Brook started well, winning the first two rounds but Porter’s pressure started to give him problems and Brook had to use all his footwork to stay out of range. He then had to use all his strength to keep Porter from roughing him up when the fight got up close. It was a tight affair early and after the sixth I had the fight level at 3 rounds each.
Porter’s pressure won him the seventh but this is where Brook surprised me. In the eighth it seemed the pace was getting to Porter as Brook looked the stronger fighter. I thought Brook won the next four rounds taking an unassailable 3 round lead, before Porter came on strong in the last round to end the fight 7 rounds to 5 in favour of Brook.
I feel Brook won it with his clean, straight accurate shots but it was a very close fight. I’m perplexed by the wide 117-111 and 116-112, especially as Porter did so well early in the fight.
Unfortunately, again boxing judges didn’t cover themselves in much glory and that 117-111 scorecard rears is ugly head.
Sadly this may take the shine off what I thought was a very hard-fought, gutsy victory by Brook. It will give many Porter fans cause to claim foul play but I’m sure if they watched the fight again, though it was no way as wide as two judges gave it, if they are honest, they wont deny Brook did enough to win….Maybe they might, I dunno!
Anyway, this will now possibly set up a mega British fight between Brook and Amir Khan. The pair have been bitter rivals, often exchanging insulting and vicious words face to face, in interviews and on social media.
Previously Khan claimed Brook wasn’t a big enough draw, boasting Kell wasn’t on his level.
Now Khan is a former champion and Brook is a current world champion, named alongside the two other champions in his weight class, Mayweather and Pacquiao…..Oh how times have changed.
