Kell Brook is left questioning the place to go after a devastating knockout loss to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas
KELL BROOK had made a daring selection. He was a major underdog going to Las Vegas to problem Terence Crawford for the WBO welterweight title. He hadn’t fought at this weight since 2017 and he had put his physique by way of a punishing profession that encompassed gruelling defeats to Gennady Golovkin, up at middleweight, and Errol Spence. Crawford in distinction has appeared imperious all through. A 3 weight world champion, undisputed at super-lightweight and wonderful as a welterweight titlist, Crawford is without doubt one of the greatest boxers working at any weight on this planet at present.
However Brook’s pre-fight confidence, even simply making the load on Friday and searching in magnificent situation when he did it impressed hope. In contrast to an IBF title struggle, Brook identified, the WBO didn’t have a examine weight restrict for the day of the struggle. He might do the load, he insisted, and carry out on the evening.
The early going within the struggle had promise. Brook started composed and cautious. He let Crawford come to him and didn’t rush himself. He threw his jab and related. Brook landed to the pinnacle and positioned it the physique, simply probing the champion’s defences. Firing out a top quality one-two we noticed flashes of the previous Kell Brook.
Crawford nonetheless is a intelligent decision-maker. He adjusted. The American can struggle simply as nicely from both stance and switched southpaw. He blocked Kell’s jab from coming in and left Brook to achieve for him with a cross.
The end when it got here was fast. Brook lunged for him and Crawford met him head on with a lead proper, a stiff jab actually. However it was a robust shot and Brook by stepping on to it elevated its weight. The Englishman was harm immediately by that one blow. He staggered backwards, tumbling into the ropes and Crawford cracked a pair extra hooks into him.
The referee Tony Weeks deemed the ropes had held him and gave Brook a depend. The challenger wished to proceed however even because the motion resumed he appeared badly dazed. Straightaway Crawford hammered him again into the ropes and stopped him at 1-14 of the fourth spherical.
Brook was left surprised, on the pace of the end and the energy of Crawford.
Crawford is an incredible boxer with spiteful energy even at welterweight. However the fear for Brook is how decisive the injury of that one lead proper was. He’s a troublesome fighter, he confirmed that towards the monstrous punching of Golovkin and towards Spence too, he broke eye sockets in each of these fights. However with a tough profession behind him, Brook’s punch resistance appears prefer it is perhaps deserting him. That raises questions. It’s unclear whether or not shifting again to super-welterweight would assist him and in addition to 154lbs is one other ferociously aggressive division at world stage.
Brook is undoubtedly brave. His decisions of opponent verify that. However in boxing the road between being courageous and being foolhardy is solely profitable. This cruel defeat leaves Brook questioning the place to go subsequent.
