By James Slater: Kell Brook’s Sheffield fans were treated to a great, FOTY candidate tonight, as their hero had to dig deeper than ever before to win a close, majority decision over the dangerous and tough Carson Jones. Brook managed to prevail in the end, keeping his perfect record by scores of 116-113 and 115-113, with the third judge having it all even at 114-114, and he is now 28-0(18) and mandatory challenger for the IBF welterweight title currently held by Randall Bailey. Jones, who came to fight, is now 34-9-2(24).
Very much a fight of two halves, Brook boxed brilliantly in the first five or six rounds, proving way too fast and clever for the aggressive-minded American. Boxing calmly and patiently despite all the pre-fight words the two seemingly bitter rivals had for each other in the build-up, Brook was fast, sharp and accurate. At this early stage, it looked like Brook would shine.
The 26-year-old’s skills remained on display in the 2nd through fifth rounds, as his quick hands fired off jabs, right hands and left uppercuts. Jones tried some rough stuff in the 3rd, as he ploughed in with his shoulder and head (being given a warning).. The 25-year-old was also sporting a bruise under his left eye at this stage. Brook landed a sharp right hook to the head here in the 3rd and he was suddenly all over Jones; landing a burst of punches that drove Jones to the ropes. A sneaky counter right uppercut scored for Jones, showing how dangerous he could be.
Jones went to the body in the 4th and had some success. Brook landed more rights to the head. Brook really turned it on in the 5th, as he landed a right uppercut to the chin and then unloaded with lefts and rights. Jones was under real fire, his worst round so far.
Jones kept coming all night, and by the 6th and 7th-rounds there was a shift in the plot. Brook launched another big attack in the 6th, but Jones sucked it all up and came back at his man. Then, in the 7th, Brook looked a different fighter. Suddenly nowhere near as confident-looking – almost like a fighter who had landed his best shots but was shocked to see the other guy still there and coming at him – “The Special One” was taking some hard shots to the body. Brook came back with a right hand at the bell, but this was Jones’ best round so far.
The 8th saw Jones take Brook to a place he’d never been before. Busting his opponent’s nose and leaving Brook’s face covered with blood, Jones was now in charge. Brook looked tired and a right hand to the head clearly hurt him. This was the biggest crisis of the Sheffield man’s pro career! Brook dug deep and came back and the two traded to the bell.
Brook, pouring blood, was back-pedalling and boxing from a purely defensive posture in the 9th and he briefly switched to southpaw. Jones was looking too strong and too determined. All of a sudden, the hometown fans were looking nervous.
Brook landed a cracking right hand in the 10th but Jones’ amazing chin soaked up the blow well. Brook went for the finish, only for Jones to roar back himself. They traded right hands, Brook trying to ignore the sheer pressure Jones was putting on him. A right hand by Jones had Brook on the ropes at the end of the round.
Brook briefly switched stance once again in the 11th, getting back to his boxing. Jones was still pressing but he wasn’t throwing enough punches. Brook scored with two right hands, while Jones made a big effort in the dying seconds of the round.
Looking for the KO in the final session, Jones saw Brook initially land the better work. Then Jones landed a chopping right hand to the head, putting Brook under more fierce pressure. The hardest round of his life, Brook soon looked like he might go. Shovelling in yet more body shots, Jones then had his man hurt and all over the place from a right hand upstairs. Brook held on and showed a ton of heart. All in all a great round that punctuated a great, great action fight.
Brook went to hospital after the fight, and both men felt they had won the gruelling affair. There was no home cooking involved with this one, though, despite the one judge having it all even. Brook showed great character tonight and he can only get stronger and enjoy added confidence after this big win. However, “Special K” cannot afford to get hit by the lethal-punching Randall Bailey the way he was tagged tonight.
Jones, who gave it everything he had tonight, can surely come again.
***
Gavin Rees TKO 9 Derry Mathews
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