Prospect Brook facing biggest test tonight by Dan Foster Mar 22nd 2008

Sheffield prospect Kell Brook faces the toughest test of his career tonight against tough Walsall welterweight Darren Gethin. Brook, (15-0, eight early) is one of the most talked about young fighters in the game and possesses unmistakable talent. But there is no question that the time has come for him to deliver on his promise. Now mandatory challenger for the British title, the days of him being fed the ‘usual suspects' are gone. Although, to be fair to Brook and his management, they tried to put those days to an end long ago. Kell has been matched quite hard for more than a year – the only problem has been getting the other guy to turn up. Gary Young, Tony Doherty, Colin McNeil, John O'Donnell and Mark Thompson all preferred to stay at home, quoting a variety of excuses – ranging from an everyday chest infection to the extraordinary ‘lacerated hand due to faulty VHS tape removal', no names mentioned Mr Doherty. O'Donnell even vacated the English title rather than take him on. Which is all a little strange when you consider that Kell's only significant win to date was a third round stoppage of Polish banger Karl David. And even then Kell had to pick himself off the canvas in the first. So why is Kell so avoided? My diagnosis is that taking on Kell Brook is a risk not worth taking. He's strong and he can box but he doesn't bring thousands of fans, an indulgent promoter or a belt to the table. In terms of the risk / reward ratio that boxing management applies to match making, Kell gives a poor return. If your guy wins, the critics will say ‘oh, that Kell Brook never beat anyone anyway and he was all just hype'. If you get beat, they'll say ‘I don't know why he took that fight, everyone knows Brook is dangerous and there was no belt and I bet the money weren't great either'. So Kell, managed by Frank Warren's Sports Network and trained by Dave Coldwell, is being taken down the ‘traditional route' in an attempt to get people to take the fight. Some might point to a certain irony in a Sports Network fighter being pushed in this direction just to keep busy. Thompson's withdrawal from his mandated final eliminator with Brook left the way clear for a shot at the Lonsdale and purse bids are due in April for Kell's match with Kevin McIntyre. Coldwell expects the fight to take place in May. The match with Gethin tonight is seen by Coldwell as an important part of Kell's preparations for that fight. Gethin has a respectable 8-12-5 ledger and is known for being brave and keen to fight. He's been in with many of Brook's fellow prospects around the 10'7 weight, including O'Donnell, Thompson and Adnan Amar. He got beat by all of them. He did, however, produce an eye-catching win to wear-down, and then KO, talented Nottingham stylist Tyan Booth, a career-best performance to date. ‘It's obviously a fight that we expect Kell to win but Kell saw the Booth fight and he knows that Gethin should be respected or he's in trouble' says Coldwell. ‘But I just think Kell is too strong, too fast and too good to slip up and I think he'll look good. It's over six threes and I can see it being a very hard six rounds of boxing for Darren Gethin. He's the type of kid who wont back out so I can see him ending up taking some punishment'. Kell himself is looking for a stoppage tonight. ‘I've seen Gethin against Tyan Booth and he's a good fighter. But I'm gonna be too strong and I'm coming off the leash. I feel so good, there's been so many frustrations with people pulling out so Gethin is just what I want – he's gonna turn up and he's gonna stand in front of me and fight. And then he's gonna regret it!' ‘McIntyre is the one I want though. I just can't wait for the fight. He's good and I respect him but I want to be the best, be a world champion and to do that you've got to beat the best. And when I've got the belt watch all these people suddenly come out the woodwork and want to fight me! I just can't wait.' Coldwell knows that his man's future will to a great extent be decided in the next few months. A win against McIntyre would set him up for the profile fights he's craved and put him on the path to realise his ambitions with the full backing of the powerful Sports Network management team. Defeat, though, would destroy all of that. Coldwell knows it's his responsibility to take all possible steps to ensure that does not happen. ‘We're still weeks away from the McIntyre fight so Kell isn't really close to his peak. He's stayed on weight for months though. This fight should help him shed a bit of ring rust and then we're gonna have him more or less straight back at it. He's so focused for the British title fight, so excited about it that my job is timing his preparations right. He has had weight problems in the past but they're long gone, he walks around at about 11st now coz he's always in the gym. He's getting quality sparring with the likes of Ryan Rhodes and he's coming on well. He's got the talent, everyone knows that, but now it's time for him to prove it. Starting with Darren Gethin tonight.'

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