I think it’s because Brook & Benn are mates. They did a lot of sparring together before the Crawford & Formella fights. Weird fight Brook - Crawford. I thought Kell was boxing really well & it was warming into a decent fight & then he just seemed to crumble off a shot that didn’t even seem to have much behind it. Either he’s got no punch resistance left or he can’t do 147 safely or both. Agree on Sky & the hype. It was only 18 months ago Porter lost a split decision against Spence who’s elite. I can’t see anything other than Porter bulldozing him. I’d make him an underdog against Broner. Broner’s lazy & been beat a few times but he knows how to survive & it’s a long 36 minutes to avoid been countered when you’re as open as Benn is. I noticed they didn’t mention Avenesyan’s name, they couldn’t stop talking up the Kelly fight but don’t want the man that beat him
Agree. It’ll take some serious money to get Khan to lose to another Brit, he’s swerved Brook for the same reason.
But Benn was calling them both out only last week. I think Brook is finished more than Khan and was never as good as the hype that was built (but they're both done to be fair). The people he defended his title against after beating Porter almost made him regress rather than move forward and he never seemed to chase unification fights. Broner is obviously an easier task than Porter but you don't fight Broner after Vargas. It doesn't make any sense when you're still such a novice. Two or three fights time maybe? Avenesyan is high risk and low reward - in terms of Eddie's wallet anyway.
Hearn mentioned Brook in response, to be fair. No way Khan goes anywhere near that fight though. I’m warming to Benn. He’s come on a lot and has some character. The British boxing scene needs it.
I fancy Benn early. It was the Khan - Vargas fight that made me think Khan’s done. He seemed to have lost his speed & reflexes.
I was a massive Brook fan. I think he’s one of the worst managed fighters I’ve ever seen. Going up two weight classes to get battered by Golovkin & then back down two weight classes only 8 months later to have his other eye socket smashed. Crazy. And then taking a Crawford fight still in the same division he made his debut in 16 years previous. The annoying thing is none of us know how good he was. I would’ve loved to have seen him in with the other champs after beating Porter. I always felt he had the style with the straight shots to beat Thurman & Garcia to the punch & beat them both but it wasn’t to be. Definitely agree on Avenesyan. I wouldn’t put Benn anywhere near him.
He's lost his lightning speed but he's still faster than all fighters at British level. I don't think Benn would know what to do if Khan could find it in him one more time to throw his normal combinations at even 75% of five years ago. There's levels for a reason and jumping to Khan* in my opinion is missing out some much needed experience in between. I can see Khan taking it if the Brook fight was off the table. But he'll want paying and I don't think Benn generates the money yet. *Admittedly I've only just realised this was the same Vargas
I liked Brook. Supported him and stayed up for the amazing Porter win. But you're right about moving up to fight Golovkin - although I think his obsession with Khan made him take that fight to mirror his foolish move up to fight Canelo. I think Porter fought a horrible fight when he lost to him, but credit to Brook for being such a good sharpshooter. The sequence of Jo Jo Dan, Gavin and Bizier was embarrassing.