Sorry if this has been posted before but I've been away a long time! With all the talk about people ducking other fighters and what not, I'd like to discuss Kell Brook. He has spent a year or two on the verge of a world title fight, fighting mandatories and also number one contender fights on a regular basis and has never quite made it to number one despite some good victories. I have today read that he has rejected a world title fight against Tim Bradley in order to fight to become #1 for the IBF! This baffles me! Why duck a player like Bradley when you have waited years for this opportunity to become ranked #1 for a title you may have to wait another year for? Also, fighting Bradley and beating him or at least competing with him would give Brook such a wider reputation across the pond and mean more reputable fights would head his way. Bad management from the Hearns in my opinion. Also, Frank ******, when Brook left him, wrote on a rival website that Brook had turned down a Cotto fight when he was WBO WW champion because he felt he could get Pac-man! I think he was just scared! Sure there is more to say but I'm in work and shouldn't even be on this - just a bit riled up!
thats a duck to me. he is offered a world title shot at the guy considered #1 in the division and he says "no thank you, i dont want a world title shot right now, but very nice of you to offer". hearns, leonard, duran are all rolling their eyes in disgust over these spoiled little bitches today
The Jones fight highlighted his faults that needed ironing out before fighting someone like Bradley so I wouldn't call it a duck, just acceptance that he's a fight or 2 away from that level yet.
Yes I consider this a duck, and a baffling one since Brook would have stood a decent chance to upset Bradley. But if Brook wins his next fight, then wins the IBF, he'll be in line for a fight with Ricky Hatton. And that's a fight that'll make him zillions of dollars.
There's no doubt that Brook's progression has been laughable. Especially for the talk he's been doing and the hype he's been recieving. His promoter is full of ****, too. But whether you can classify this as a "duck", I don't know. It's more of a "thanks, but not yet" type response. The Carson fight has scared his promoter into cuddling him even more, and they'll prefer him to take on the Bailey-Alexander winner as it's the much easier fight. A "duck" is when a guy refuses or backs out from a fight that's been in demand for a while. Or for a fight that is due to take place - like when Bradley ducked Khan. Brook hasn't quite done that. He's just declined a fight that's popped up last minute. A fight that the fans have never even talked about or cared for.
No, his promoter has bigger plans for him. After Salvidia, he's going to win the IBF title from Alexander or Bailey, then a domestic mega showdown with Khan or Hatton. Much more money in that than getting robbed by corrupt judges with Bradley after winning every minute of every round.