Previewing a potential Brook vs. Thurman Showdown:
Continuing with the exclusive ProBoxing-Fans.com Future Super Fight series, here, we take a look at Kell Brook vs. Keith Thurman. It’s a welterweight clash sure to provide fireworks, and change the trajectory of the division for years to come.
Brook vs. Thurman – The Background
Brook has not had the best of times since beating the highly-rated Shawn Porter on points in August. Brook was stabbed while on holiday not long after his career biggest win, leading to time in hospital and a delayed return to the ring. As such, it has been more difficult for him to fully capitalize on the Porter win. Nonetheless, that win earned Brook an alphabet title, making him a distinctly more appealing fighter.
Currently, Thurman is preparing for a tough assignment against Italian Leonard Bundu this weekend. The fight will take place on a strong bill in Las Vegas, once again giving Thurman the opportunity to shine in front of a decent crowd and the mainstream media. This opportunity comes on the back of a positive year that has seen Thurman dazzle with stoppages of respected opponents such as Jesus Soto Karass and Julio Diaz.
How Will Their Paths Cross?
Brook has spent many months exchanging verbal barbs with fellow UK welterweight Amir Khan. The pair have become rivals, goading one another on social media, but they are yet to face off. The danger is that Brook could spend too much time and effort chasing Khan, who in turn seems eternally set on chasing Floyd Mayweather.
Thurman is currently an ‘interim’ alphabet titleholder, whatever that means. As such, he too appears to be on a path toward Mayweather, but his combination of heavy punching and a small reputation mean he is unlikely to get a shot at boxing’s most lucrative opponent.
With both Brook and Thurman chasing down pots of gold unlikely to appear any time soon, they could be left with little alternative but to fight one another. Of course, Brook and Thurman already are ranked as top 5 welterweights.
As he showed in an acute display of angles, footwork and punch-picking against Porter, Brook is a world class boxer. He may not be as evasive as Mayweather but he possesses the wherewithal to out-point opposition and the more aggressive they are, the better for him.
Thurman is a hellish puncher, having stopped 88% of his opponents thus far. That may just be a statistic but behind the figures are performances of real substance. Men like Soto Karass, Diaz and Diego Chaves don’t go down easy, so “One Time” clearly has genuine power.
The contrasting styles of Brook and Thurman would mesh well, but not only that, given a year or two this fight could represent the new era at 147 lbs. With Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez surely not far from shuffling into retirement, the relevance of Brook vs. Thurman could be significantly enhanced come next year. It’s also a battle between UK and US representatives, and they tend to be fun to watch.
How Would a Brook vs. Thurman Fight Play Out?
Brook proved doubters, including this writer, wrong in absorbing whatever punishment was meted out to him by the stronger Porter. That doubt was put in place by past fights, where Brook was given trouble by Carson Jones’ marauding style and Vyacheslav Senchenko’s wide hooks.
Thurman is no relentless aggressor, but he – much like Brook – picks his shots well and delivers with power. At this stage it’s not unreasonable to therefore envisage Thurman hurting Brook enough to stop him, somewhere around the mid-rounds.
