Tag: Shawn Porter

Kell Brook: Terence Crawford has never faced fighter like me

Kell Brook said that Terence Crawford has never faced fighter like him.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on DAZN.com.

***

Kell Brook is no stranger to facing extremely difficult opponents, and that will certainly be the case when he attempts to dethrone welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford on Nov. 14.

Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) became a 147-pound beltholder in a close contest against Shawn Porter in 2014, before suffering the only two defeats on his record against elite fighters Gennadiy Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.

Many believe defeat number three is inevitable against Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but ‘Special K’ is used to being overlooked.

“That’s the kind of thing I love because the haters are motivators and it’s what people perceive,” Brook told Boxing Scene. “But the people who’ve been around me know how I’ve been, they know how determined I am and how motivated I am for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned.

“Crawford is very good. That’s why he’s arguably Top 3 pound-for-pound. So he’s obviously good, isn’t he?” Some people have him at No. 1. But look what [Teofimo] Lopez, who’s 23, did to [Vasilliy] Lomachenko at the weekend. This is boxing we’re involved in.”

Brook went on to explain that his particular pugilistic upbringing is perfect to handle Crawford’s elite switch-hitting.

“From the old man, Brendan Ingle, the school of boxing, that style has been there from the Naz (Naseem Hamed) days, [which] is switch-hitting, and I’ve seen every style there is to see. So I’m not going to be bamboozled by him.

“I’m happy. At the end of the day, he’s not boxed anyone the size of me. This is a real fight, it’s a real, top, elite welterweight he’s fighting. … A lot of people are talking about age but he’s only a year younger than me.

“I’m naturally the bigger guy. I’m healthy and a big thing is there’s no [next-day] weight limit. With the IBF, I had to make weight, then I had to make weight the next day. But what I’ll be is what I’ll be the next day, so the pressure’s on him.

“I take my hat off to Terence Crawford taking this fight against me. He knows it’s a dangerous fight. He knows. When I went and saw him, he knew I wasn’t a walkover.”

Brook hasn’t made 147 since his last defeat, which came in 2017 to Spence. Will that prove an additional obstacle for the Brit?

He doesn’t believe so.

“That is a good question, but the fact is I’m at a nice weight, I’ve been in training camp for four months,” Brook said. “I knew this fight was coming, and I’ve learned over the years not to balloon up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be difficult to make it, but this will be the best I’ve made it, even better than before.

“He (Crawford) said, ‘You just make weight.’ I’ve never gone to the scales and not made weight. I’ve always made weight the first time. I’ve never been to a weigh-in and used that hour to make weight. I’ve always made it.”

[lawrence-related id=14812]

Kell Brook: Terence Crawford has never faced fighter like me

Kell Brook said that Terence Crawford has never faced fighter like him.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on DAZN.com.

***

Kell Brook is no stranger to facing extremely difficult opponents, and that will certainly be the case when he attempts to dethrone welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford on Nov. 14.

Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) became a 147-pound beltholder in a close contest against Shawn Porter in 2014, before suffering the only two defeats on his record against elite fighters Gennadiy Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.

Many believe defeat number three is inevitable against Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but ‘Special K’ is used to being overlooked.

“That’s the kind of thing I love because the haters are motivators and it’s what people perceive,” Brook told Boxing Scene. “But the people who’ve been around me know how I’ve been, they know how determined I am and how motivated I am for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned.

“Crawford is very good. That’s why he’s arguably Top 3 pound-for-pound. So he’s obviously good, isn’t he?” Some people have him at No. 1. But look what [Teofimo] Lopez, who’s 23, did to [Vasilliy] Lomachenko at the weekend. This is boxing we’re involved in.”

Brook went on to explain that his particular pugilistic upbringing is perfect to handle Crawford’s elite switch-hitting.

“From the old man, Brendan Ingle, the school of boxing, that style has been there from the Naz (Naseem Hamed) days, [which] is switch-hitting, and I’ve seen every style there is to see. So I’m not going to be bamboozled by him.

“I’m happy. At the end of the day, he’s not boxed anyone the size of me. This is a real fight, it’s a real, top, elite welterweight he’s fighting. … A lot of people are talking about age but he’s only a year younger than me.

“I’m naturally the bigger guy. I’m healthy and a big thing is there’s no [next-day] weight limit. With the IBF, I had to make weight, then I had to make weight the next day. But what I’ll be is what I’ll be the next day, so the pressure’s on him.

“I take my hat off to Terence Crawford taking this fight against me. He knows it’s a dangerous fight. He knows. When I went and saw him, he knew I wasn’t a walkover.”

Brook hasn’t made 147 since his last defeat, which came in 2017 to Spence. Will that prove an additional obstacle for the Brit?

He doesn’t believe so.

“That is a good question, but the fact is I’m at a nice weight, I’ve been in training camp for four months,” Brook said. “I knew this fight was coming, and I’ve learned over the years not to balloon up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be difficult to make it, but this will be the best I’ve made it, even better than before.

“He (Crawford) said, ‘You just make weight.’ I’ve never gone to the scales and not made weight. I’ve always made weight the first time. I’ve never been to a weigh-in and used that hour to make weight. I’ve always made it.”

[lawrence-related id=14812]

Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook set for Nov. 14

Terence Crawford, the welterweight titleholder from Omaha, Nebraska, will defend his belt against Kell Brook of Great Britain on Nov. 14.

Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook is official.

Crawford, the welterweight titleholder from Omaha, Nebraska, will defend his belt against Kell Brook of Great Britain on Nov. 14, Top Rank said in a news release. The promotional company said a venue will be announced soon.

The card, which also includes a junior bantamweight rematch between Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney, will be televised on ESPN.

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) will be making the fourth defense of the title he won when he stopped Jeff Horn in nine rounds in June 2018. He’s coming off a ninth-round KO of Egidijus Kavaliauskas last December.

Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) outpointed Shawn Porter to win a welterweight title in 2014 and successfully defended three times.

He then had back-to-back fights from hell. He moved up two weight classes to take on middleweight champ Gennadiy Golovkin and was stopped in five rounds. He then moved back down to defend his title against Errol Spence Jr. and was KO’d in 11 rounds. He suffered facial-bone injures in both fights.

The Sheffield fighter has since defeated three solid, but second-tier opponents at junior middleweight, meaning he’ll have to move back down one weight class. He’s 34.

“I’ve been told there are people writing off my chances, questioning my age and my ability to make the weight,” Brook said. “Well, let them talk. Some people focus on reading headlines, I focus on making headlines. Those people writing me off as a big underdog? No problem.

“I guess this big dog will be making a few people richer during a difficult time. Terence (33) isn’t too much younger than me. They know that I’ve never ducked a challenge, and they should know that I’ve never failed to make 147 on the scales.

“With age comes experience. My knowledge and experience make me a different fighter, a more mature fighter. Couple that with a happy fighter, and you’ve got yourself a dangerous fighter.”

Franco (17-1-2, 8 KOs) defeated Moloney (21-1, 14 KOs) by a unanimous decision on June 23 inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

“I am extremely excited and motivated for my rematch with Franco,” said Moloney, who is from Australia. “I’m very grateful that Top Rank has given me the opportunity to get my revenge and reclaim my [secondary] world title.

“I have been working extremely hard every day to make sure that world title is strapped back around my waist on Nov. 14.”

Moloney’s brother, Jason, is a bantamweight contender.

Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook set for Nov. 14

Terence Crawford, the welterweight titleholder from Omaha, Nebraska, will defend his belt against Kell Brook of Great Britain on Nov. 14.

Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook is official.

Crawford, the welterweight titleholder from Omaha, Nebraska, will defend his belt against Kell Brook of Great Britain on Nov. 14, Top Rank said in a news release. The promotional company said a venue will be announced soon.

The card, which also includes a junior bantamweight rematch between Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney, will be televised on ESPN.

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) will be making the fourth defense of the title he won when he stopped Jeff Horn in nine rounds in June 2018. He’s coming off a ninth-round KO of Egidijus Kavaliauskas last December.

Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) outpointed Shawn Porter to win a welterweight title in 2014 and successfully defended three times.

He then had back-to-back fights from hell. He moved up two weight classes to take on middleweight champ Gennadiy Golovkin and was stopped in five rounds. He then moved back down to defend his title against Errol Spence Jr. and was KO’d in 11 rounds. He suffered facial-bone injures in both fights.

The Sheffield fighter has since defeated three solid, but second-tier opponents at junior middleweight, meaning he’ll have to move back down one weight class. He’s 34.

“I’ve been told there are people writing off my chances, questioning my age and my ability to make the weight,” Brook said. “Well, let them talk. Some people focus on reading headlines, I focus on making headlines. Those people writing me off as a big underdog? No problem.

“I guess this big dog will be making a few people richer during a difficult time. Terence (33) isn’t too much younger than me. They know that I’ve never ducked a challenge, and they should know that I’ve never failed to make 147 on the scales.

“With age comes experience. My knowledge and experience make me a different fighter, a more mature fighter. Couple that with a happy fighter, and you’ve got yourself a dangerous fighter.”

Franco (17-1-2, 8 KOs) defeated Moloney (21-1, 14 KOs) by a unanimous decision on June 23 inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

“I am extremely excited and motivated for my rematch with Franco,” said Moloney, who is from Australia. “I’m very grateful that Top Rank has given me the opportunity to get my revenge and reclaim my [secondary] world title.

“I have been working extremely hard every day to make sure that world title is strapped back around my waist on Nov. 14.”

Moloney’s brother, Jason, is a bantamweight contender.

Sergey Lipinets ‘100 percent ready’ for Kudratillo Abdukakhorov

Sergey Lipinets knows he must get past Kudratillo Abdukakhorov on Oct. 24 to accomplish his goals at 147 pounds.

Sergey Lipinets isn’t always mentioned when the top welterweights are discussed but he’s on their heels.

The former junior welterweight titleholder moved up to from junior welterweight to welterweight after losing his 140-pound title to Mikey Garcia in 2018 and has won three consecutive fights, including knockouts of Lamont Peterson and Jayar Inson last year.

Next up is Kudratillo Abdukakhorov for what is being billed as the IBF interim title fight on Oct. 24 in Uncasville, Conn. If he wins, he’ll be in line to face the winner of the Dec. 5 Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia fight.

Lipinets (16-1, 12 KOs) credits trainer Joe Goossen, with whom he began to work after the Garcia setback.

“My progression is totally attributed to working with Joe Goossen,” he said. “It’s like going from a high school education, then to college, and now I feel like I’m in graduate school. I’ve learned more with Joe than in all my previous time in the sport.

“Joe Goossen has taught me a lot about the short game and working on the inside. He’s also helped me with my lateral movement and made me way more durable. That’s all combined with my power increasing at 147 pounds. I’m ready to show all of it on October 24.”

Sergey Lipinets (left) is coming off a second-round knockout of Jayar Inson in July of last year. Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles-based Kazakhstani said his focus is on Abdukakhorov, not the winner of Spence-Garcia or anyone else.

“I don’t really think about the other top welterweight fighters like Errol Spence Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter or Terence Crawford,” he said. “In order to get to them, I have to win on October 24. Then everything else will fall into place.

“The top guys will fight me when they have to. That’s been the story of my career. Nobody has fought me because they wanted to, but usually because they had to.”

Abdukakhorov (17-0, 9 KOs) is coming off the biggest victory of his career, a technical decision over veteran Luis Collazo in October of last year. The Uzbek is ranked No. 1 by the IBF, Lipinets No. 3.

“Nobody is at the top of the IBF rankings for nothing,” Lipinets said. “Abdukakhorov had a successful amateur career with a lot of fights. He moves fast and knows his way around the ring. I know he’s tough, strong and he’ll do his best to stay in there with me.

“But I’m going to box him, fight at a distance if I have to, and pile up points against him. I expect a great fight. I’ll have a plan for whatever he brings to the table and get the win however I have to.”

The fight, which will be televised on Showtime, was moved from Oct. 10 to Oct. 24. Lipinets said the change has not been a problem for him.

“I took the change in date like a champion, and I’ll do the same thing on October 24 that I would have done on October 10,” he said. “I’m very strong mentally, so there’s really no issue with the timing change.

“Training camp has been going great, and I’m 100% ready for this one. I’ve been working with Joe Goossen and sparring with a lot of great fighters, including Rashidi Ellis and Ronald Cruz.”

Sergey Lipinets ‘100 percent ready’ for Kudratillo Abdukakhorov

Sergey Lipinets knows he must get past Kudratillo Abdukakhorov on Oct. 24 to accomplish his goals at 147 pounds.

Sergey Lipinets isn’t always mentioned when the top welterweights are discussed but he’s on their heels.

The former junior welterweight titleholder moved up to from junior welterweight to welterweight after losing his 140-pound title to Mikey Garcia in 2018 and has won three consecutive fights, including knockouts of Lamont Peterson and Jayar Inson last year.

Next up is Kudratillo Abdukakhorov for what is being billed as the IBF interim title fight on Oct. 24 in Uncasville, Conn. If he wins, he’ll be in line to face the winner of the Dec. 5 Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia fight.

Lipinets (16-1, 12 KOs) credits trainer Joe Goossen, with whom he began to work after the Garcia setback.

“My progression is totally attributed to working with Joe Goossen,” he said. “It’s like going from a high school education, then to college, and now I feel like I’m in graduate school. I’ve learned more with Joe than in all my previous time in the sport.

“Joe Goossen has taught me a lot about the short game and working on the inside. He’s also helped me with my lateral movement and made me way more durable. That’s all combined with my power increasing at 147 pounds. I’m ready to show all of it on October 24.”

Sergey Lipinets (left) is coming off a second-round knockout of Jayar Inson in July of last year. Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles-based Kazakhstani said his focus is on Abdukakhorov, not the winner of Spence-Garcia or anyone else.

“I don’t really think about the other top welterweight fighters like Errol Spence Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter or Terence Crawford,” he said. “In order to get to them, I have to win on October 24. Then everything else will fall into place.

“The top guys will fight me when they have to. That’s been the story of my career. Nobody has fought me because they wanted to, but usually because they had to.”

Abdukakhorov (17-0, 9 KOs) is coming off the biggest victory of his career, a technical decision over veteran Luis Collazo in October of last year. The Uzbek is ranked No. 1 by the IBF, Lipinets No. 3.

“Nobody is at the top of the IBF rankings for nothing,” Lipinets said. “Abdukakhorov had a successful amateur career with a lot of fights. He moves fast and knows his way around the ring. I know he’s tough, strong and he’ll do his best to stay in there with me.

“But I’m going to box him, fight at a distance if I have to, and pile up points against him. I expect a great fight. I’ll have a plan for whatever he brings to the table and get the win however I have to.”

The fight, which will be televised on Showtime, was moved from Oct. 10 to Oct. 24. Lipinets said the change has not been a problem for him.

“I took the change in date like a champion, and I’ll do the same thing on October 24 that I would have done on October 10,” he said. “I’m very strong mentally, so there’s really no issue with the timing change.

“Training camp has been going great, and I’m 100% ready for this one. I’ve been working with Joe Goossen and sparring with a lot of great fighters, including Rashidi Ellis and Ronald Cruz.”

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia moved to Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium

The Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia fight has been pushed back to Dec. 5 and will take place with fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium.

Errol Spence Jr.’s title defense against Danny Garcia will be a home game for Spence.

The pay-per-view fight has been pushed back to Dec. 5 – from the original Nov. 21 – and will take place with fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, Spence’s hometown, it was announced Thursday.

Organizers didn’t say how many fans will be allowed into the venue.

Spence defeated Mikey Garcia in the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in March of last year. Manny Pacquiao fought there twice.

Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) is coming off a split-decision title-unification victory over Shawn Porter in in September of last year. The following month he was involved in a horrific car accident but walked away without major injuries.

“Having my comeback fight be in front of my hometown fans at AT&T Stadium is added motivation and a dream come true,” Spence said. “It means even more because I’m going up against a great champion in Danny Garcia.

“I know people are looking out to see if I’ve lost a step or won’t be at my best, but I’m 100% focused and everything is on point in training camp. I just can’t wait to go out there on December 5 and put on a show.”

Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a former junior welterweight and welterweight titleholder. He last fought in January, when he easily outpointed Ivan Redkach.

“I’m very excited to get back in the ring,” Garcia said. “This is going to be my second fight of 2020, even though it’s been a crazy year with the pandemic and everything. I’m glad we’re finally getting back to where we were and that we’ll be able to bring this fight to the fans.

“This matchup is a mega-fight unification bout. It’s my opportunity to reclaim my spot at the top in this division and become a five-time world champion. Training and sparring has been going really well.

“I’m extremely prepared for this already and it can’t get here soon enough. Come December 5, I will be crowned unified champion!”

Also on the card, Sebastian Fundora (15-0-1, 10 KOs) will face Jorge Cota (30-4, 27 KOs) in a junior middleweight title eliminator, Josesito Lopez (37-8, 20 KOs) will take on Francisco Santana (25-8-1, 12 KOs ) in a welterweight bout, and Julio Ceja (32-4-1, 28 KOs) will fight Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-3, 10 KOs) in a featherweight title eliminator.

AT&T Stadium is in Arlington, Texas.

[lawrence-related id=13790,12581,12397]

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia moved to Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium

The Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia fight has been pushed back to Dec. 5 and will take place with fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium.

Errol Spence Jr.’s title defense against Danny Garcia will be a home game for Spence.

The pay-per-view fight has been pushed back to Dec. 5 – from the original Nov. 21 – and will take place with fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, Spence’s hometown, it was announced Thursday.

Organizers didn’t say how many fans will be allowed into the venue.

Spence defeated Mikey Garcia in the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in March of last year. Manny Pacquiao fought there twice.

Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) is coming off a split-decision title-unification victory over Shawn Porter in in September of last year. The following month he was involved in a horrific car accident but walked away without major injuries.

“Having my comeback fight be in front of my hometown fans at AT&T Stadium is added motivation and a dream come true,” Spence said. “It means even more because I’m going up against a great champion in Danny Garcia.

“I know people are looking out to see if I’ve lost a step or won’t be at my best, but I’m 100% focused and everything is on point in training camp. I just can’t wait to go out there on December 5 and put on a show.”

Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) is a former junior welterweight and welterweight titleholder. He last fought in January, when he easily outpointed Ivan Redkach.

“I’m very excited to get back in the ring,” Garcia said. “This is going to be my second fight of 2020, even though it’s been a crazy year with the pandemic and everything. I’m glad we’re finally getting back to where we were and that we’ll be able to bring this fight to the fans.

“This matchup is a mega-fight unification bout. It’s my opportunity to reclaim my spot at the top in this division and become a five-time world champion. Training and sparring has been going really well.

“I’m extremely prepared for this already and it can’t get here soon enough. Come December 5, I will be crowned unified champion!”

Also on the card, Sebastian Fundora (15-0-1, 10 KOs) will face Jorge Cota (30-4, 27 KOs) in a junior middleweight title eliminator, Josesito Lopez (37-8, 20 KOs) will take on Francisco Santana (25-8-1, 12 KOs ) in a welterweight bout, and Julio Ceja (32-4-1, 28 KOs) will fight Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-3, 10 KOs) in a featherweight title eliminator.

AT&T Stadium is in Arlington, Texas.

[lawrence-related id=13790,12581,12397]

Terence Crawford, Kell Brook agree to fight on Nov. 14: report

Terence Crawford and Kell Brook have reached an agreement to fight Nov. 14 on ESPN, according to The Athletic.

Terence Crawford and Kell Brook have reached an agreement to fight Nov. 14 on ESPN, according to The Athletic.

No site has been selected, although the outlet is reporting that the fight will take place in either Las Vegas — presumably in the MGM Grand “bubble” — or Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Neb.

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) will make at least $4 million, Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) around $2 million.

“Bud” will be making the fourth defense of his junior welterweight belt. He also held lightweight and junior welterweight titles.

Crawford is coming off a ninth-round knockout of Egidijus Kavaliauskas on Dec. 14, meaning he will have been out of the ring for 11 months. That’s the longest break since he turned pro in 2008.

Brook, from Sheffield, England, won a welterweight title when he outpointed Shawn Porter in 2014 and successfully defended three times.

He then suffered brutal knockouts against Gennadiy Golovkin at middleweight and Errol Spence Jr. after returning to 147 pounds, which cost him his title. He has beaten three marginal opponents at junior middleweight since the second setback.

“Special K” is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Mark Deluca on Feb. 8.

Crawford has had difficulty luring other top welterweights into the ring, in part because promotional-managerial affiliations. He fights for Top Rank, his primary rivals for Premier Boxing Champions.

Thus, Crawford, ranked No. 2 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, had to settle for Brook.

[lawrence-related id=11908]

Terence Crawford, Kell Brook agree to fight on Nov. 14: report

Terence Crawford and Kell Brook have reached an agreement to fight Nov. 14 on ESPN, according to The Athletic.

Terence Crawford and Kell Brook have reached an agreement to fight Nov. 14 on ESPN, according to The Athletic.

No site has been selected, although the outlet is reporting that the fight will take place in either Las Vegas — presumably in the MGM Grand “bubble” — or Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Neb.

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) will make at least $4 million, Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) around $2 million.

“Bud” will be making the fourth defense of his junior welterweight belt. He also held lightweight and junior welterweight titles.

Crawford is coming off a ninth-round knockout of Egidijus Kavaliauskas on Dec. 14, meaning he will have been out of the ring for 11 months. That’s the longest break since he turned pro in 2008.

Brook, from Sheffield, England, won a welterweight title when he outpointed Shawn Porter in 2014 and successfully defended three times.

He then suffered brutal knockouts against Gennadiy Golovkin at middleweight and Errol Spence Jr. after returning to 147 pounds, which cost him his title. He has beaten three marginal opponents at junior middleweight since the second setback.

“Special K” is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Mark Deluca on Feb. 8.

Crawford has had difficulty luring other top welterweights into the ring, in part because promotional-managerial affiliations. He fights for Top Rank, his primary rivals for Premier Boxing Champions.

Thus, Crawford, ranked No. 2 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, had to settle for Brook.

[lawrence-related id=11908]