By Michael Collins: Former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey (36-4, 21 KO’s) says he recently spoke to unbeaten welterweight contender Kell Brook’s “people” about a fight but they weren’t interested in fighting the 34-year-old Clottey. This is rather strange, as Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn says he wants Brook to fight a big name for his next fight on July 7th and Clottey would certainly fall into the category of being a big name, wouldn’t he? At the very least, Clottey is a DRAMTIC improvement of Brook’s last two opponents Luis Galarza and Matthew Hatton. Clottey is definitely better than those guys in my estimation. But why doesn’t Brook’s management want Clottey? Is he too dangerous for the unbeaten Brook?
Clottey remarked on his twitter site today “I want the Kell Brook fight. My people spoke to his guys and they say no. If they want it, I am ready. Contact Top Rank. I never heard of this Brook guy till recently. All my fans demanding I fight him. Fine. I can go to the UK or USA. I don’t care. 147 is fine too.”
Well Brook’s promoter can’t say that Clottey isn’t flexible because he’s willing to fight Brook in the UK, and at Brook’s weight class 147. Clottey is currently fighting at 154 in the junior middleweight division and recently looked sharp in taking out Calvin Green in a 2nd round TKO last November.
Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn says they want 40-year-old Shane Mosley, Paulie Malignaggi or Marcos Maidana for Brook’s July 7th fight in Sheffield. I’d say the chances of Brook getting any of them are slim and none. Hearn needs to be thinking more realistic here about fighters that actually are interested in fighting Brook in the UK, because those guys are either busy are likely not going to have any interest whatsoever in fighting a little known welterweight like Brook in his own home country. That’s not going to happen.
What will likely happen is Brook will end up facing another fighter along the lines of Matthew Hatton, his last opponent. Believe it or not, that was a step up fight for the eight-year pro Brook. To say that Brook has been brought up slowly is a big understatement. The guys’ career has been in the slow lane for ages and I guess Clottey is likely too much of a jump up in competition for Brook. After all, they don’t want to see Brook get beaten before he fights for a world title and Clottey would have an excellent chance of beating Brook.