Rising British welterweight Kell Brook gunning for Manny Pacquiao -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao is likely to be aware of, yet if British promoter Frank Warren’s judgement proves correct, boxing aficionados will get a look at a young fighter who could be gunning for a shot at the Filipino phenomenon.

Moreover, a win puts Brook technically in line to face Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight gong.

Brook, a powerfully built 147-lb box-fighter from Sheffield, who is still developing, faces off against Poland’s World Boxing Organisation Intercontinental champion Krzysztof Bienias – in what will prove to be a world title eliminator at the ECHO Arena, Liverpool.

Brook has already captured one gong – when he was voted the 2009 Young Boxer of the Year – following in the footsteps of Amir Khan, Kevin Mitchell and others, and as the current British champion, has his eyes set across the water on Filipino fighter Pacquiao.

Warren has high hopes for him. “Kell is one of the best youngsters out there. This is a great opportunity for him. The winner of this fight gets into the number one spot to be the mandatory challenger for Manny Pacquiao’s title. I’m not suggesting Kell will be ready to fight Pacquiao if he gets through this but this time next year, with a bit more experience, he’ll be there or thereabouts.”

Brook’s opponent Bienias, is ranked number five by the WBO and has a more than respectable 39-3-0 record. Brook, though, has already set his sights further, to tomorrow night in fact, when he intends to sit down and watch Pacquiao’s first defence against Joshua Clottey with visions of dethroning the Filipino welter king.

“After I’ve knocked out Bienias I’ll sit down in front of the television and watch the Pacquiao fight,” said Brook, who went 23-0 when he won the Lonsdale belt outright last summer – boxers get to keep the belt after three defences – with a third round stoppage of Prizefighter champion Michael Lomax.

“If I hadn’t been fighting on Friday I might have gone to the States because I would have liked to have been ringside. Manny is the man to beat at the moment, and it’s either him or Floyd Mayweather who is the pound-for-pound number one. Pacquiao’s not unbeatable. He’s been beaten before, but it will take a special fighter to beat him right now. Obviously I need more fights before I face him, but if the fight did happen, I’d be excited at the opportunity rather than worried about the result.”

“I can see a scenario where Pacquiao gives up the title, and maybe me and Cotto get it on for the vacant belt. If that’s the case then bring it on. I grew up in an era where Ricky Hatton was constantly chasing a big fight against Kosyta Tszyu. It made me realise that you have got to be patient and make sure you pick your moment, but I’m growing in confidence with every fight.”

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

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KELL EYES PAC & CO -- Daily Star

By Nick Parkinson, Daily Star

KELL BROOK can become Manny ­Pacquiao’s No.1 challenger on Friday – but admits he is not ready for the fearsome Filipino yet.

Sheffield welterweight Brook takes on Poland’s Krzysztof Bienias for the WBO Inter-Continental title WBO Inter-Continental title at Liverpool’s Echo Arena – and the chance to become Pacquiao’s mandatory challenger.

Pacquiao defends the WBO world title against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey in Dallas, USA, on Saturday before an expected showdown later this year against the winner of Floyd Mayweather Jnr-Sugar Shane Mosley, who meet on May 1.

Unbeaten Brook, 23, who has stopped 13 of his 20 victims, told the Daily Star Sunday: “Maybe it’s a few years before I can fight the likes of Manny – but then I will be ready.

“Maybe I will have a few defences of the WBO Intercontinental title before I fight for the full world title. But I’m looking at fighting the likes of Andre Berto, Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Miguel Cotto eventually.”

Liverpool super-middleweight Paul Smith, 27, defends his British crown against fellow Scouser Tony Dodson on the same bill.

Source: dailystar.co.uk

Kell Brook challenges for WBO title at Echo Arena -- Liverpool Echo

By Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo

BRITAIN’S 2009 Young Boxer of the Year Kell Brook has been added to the March 12 ECHO Arena bill, headlined by the British super- middleweight derby day title fight between Paul Smith and Tony Dodson.

Outstanding Sheffield stylist Brook will challenge for the interim WBO welterweight title currently held by Poland’s Krzysztof Bienias.

The fight will leave the winner within touching distance of WBO world champion Manny Pacquiao.

Brook, unbeaten in 20 starts with 13 KOs, was due to box on the last King’s Dock arena card in October, defending his British title against former champion Michael Jennings.

But Brook was forced out through illness and while his Manchester rival did feature, he damaged his hand in a routine contest which rules him out this time.

So Brook, 23, who still carries the Lonsdale Belt, moves onto international level for the first time.

The fight was originally due to take place at Wembley Arena next month.

But light-heavyweight Nathan Cleverly’s European title fight has switched with this, undoubtedly in an effort to keep the Welsh champion away from Liverpool’s own light-heavy hope Tony Bellew.

But Brook’s appearance is a massive boost to the Liverpool card, as he is widely acknowledged as one of the finest prospects in the country.

Birmingham light-middle Thomas Costello has also been added to the nine-fight ECHO Arena show which, along with Smith, Dodson and Bellew, also features younger Smith’s Stephen and Liam and classy welterweight Joey Selkirk.

Tickets are on sale now from the arena box office.

Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk

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Check out Cebu inmates latest performance of Michael Jackson's "They Don't Really Care About Us".

Brook gutted at KO’d defence against Jennings

October 27, 2009, STV.tv

British welterweight champion Kell Brook has vented his frustration after being forced to pull out of his title defence against Michael Jennings with a virus.

The Sheffield youngster had been scheduled to defend his belt at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Friday against former WBO title challenger Jennings, and is hoping the bout will be rescheduled “very quickly”.

Jennings, who challenged Manny Pacquiao’s opponent Miguel Cotto for the WBO title, will still fight on the night in an eight round bout against an opponent yet to be named. Top of the bill is the British super middleweight title fight between Liverpool rivals Tony Quigley and Paul Smith.

Undefeated 23-year-old Brook, the 2009 boxing writers’ young boxer of the year, said: “I’m gutted that I won’t be part of what will be a very big fight night in Liverpool.

“I came down with the virus after collecting my boxing writers’ award in London last week. Since then I haven't been able to move let alone train and there's no way I was going to fight a top fighter like Jennings in this state.

"I was really looking forward to defending my British title but I hope that the fight with Jennings will be back on very quickly.

"I'll be glued to my television on Friday night because it's going to be a great fight between Smith and Quigley."

Olympic middleweight champion James DeGale and 2007 world amateur champion Frankie Gavin will have their fourth professional contests on the bill against Ally Morrison and Steve Saville respectively.

(This article is originally posted at sports.stv.tv)

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