Ranking the Best Opponents for Kell Brook's Next Fight

Rob Lancaster@RobLancs79X.com LogoFeatured ColumnistMarch 30, 2015

Ranking the Best Opponents for Kell Brook's Next Fight

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    Kell Brook would have been forgiven if he had shown a little ring rust in his first title defence.

    Instead, however, The Special One produced a sensational display in his home city of Sheffield, England.

    Poor Jo Jo Dan was put to the sword for 12 minutes before making the sensible decision to retire on his stool before the fifth round got underway.

    The mandatory challenger, born in Romania but now based in Canada, was knocked down four times in total as he was completely outclassed. 

    With the emphatic victory, Brook improved his professional record to 34-0.

    It was the perfect comeback for the Yorkshireman following the serious leg injury he suffered while on holiday in Tenerife, Spain, last year.

    The IBF title holder, who took the belt from Shawn Porter last year, is now aiming to take on the biggest names in the welterweight division.

    Just to make it clear with these rankings, this article is not about who Brook should face next. It is trying to put in order the list of potential opponents he could meet in the near future.

5. Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao

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    Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are ranked together because, right now, they are tied to each other.

    The longtime rivals will finally meet in the ring on May 2, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

    Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail reported that Mayweather had demanded a "rematch clause" in the initial negotiations.

    However, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, has since revealed there is no line in the contract about the pair being committed to fight each other again immediately, per Bob Velin of USA Today.

    Yet despite there being no legal obligation to do it all for a second time, it seems unlikely Mayweather and Pacquiao wouldn't agree to do it all again.

    An instant rematch would offer the chance at redemption for the loser. It would also, of course, mean another huge payday.

    Either way, until the duo are finished with each other, the rest of the welterweight division has to enjoy being merely interested spectators, just like every other fight fan.

    They may decide to bide their time with Mayweather versus Pacquiao II, in which case Brook could be considered by either as a perfect opponent for later in 2015.

    In truth, it just didn't feel right to talk about the biggest welterweight names and not include these two somewhere in the rankings.

4. Keith Thurman

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    A name that cropped up in the aftermath of Brook's victory over Dan was American Keith Thurman.

    One Time is 25-0 (21 KO), his last win seeing him dominate veteran Robert Guerrero over 12 rounds at the start of March.

    Thurman currently holds the WBA belt (though Mayweather is the super champion) and has already made it clear he is willing to travel to take on Brook.

    Speaking to Sky Sports before his most recent fight, he said: "I am truly looking forward to Saturday night and coming through it but as long as Kell is a champion and I am a champion, it is definitely a fight that I am willing to make."

    Well, both Brook and Thurman still have belts. Could we see this fight getting made for later this year?

    An Anglo-American clash between two unbeaten fighters in their prime would surely appeal to fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

3. Brandon Rios

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    Brandon Rios was also one of the fighters Brook mentioned during his post-fight interview on Sky Sports.

    The American last fought in January of this year, forcing Mike Alvarado to retire after three rounds of the rubber meeting in their trilogy.

    Bam Bam has a 33-2-1 record, his only defeats coming at the hands of Alvarado (in the second of their three fights) and Manny Pacquiao.

    His 24 career knockouts show the 28-year-old—who previously won the WBA title at lightweight—brings power to the party.

    It would be interesting to see how the styles of Rios and Brook would mesh in the ring. Perhaps we might get the chance to find out later this year.

2. Amir Khan

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    John Locher/Associated Press

    Be honest now, you thought Amir Khan was going to be No. 1 on this list, didn't you?

    While it would make the most sense for both parties, and while Brook has done his best to tempt his fellow Brit into taking him on, it still doesn't look likely to happen just yet.

    The Yorkshireman tried to goad his rival, telling Sky Sports: "I know you (Khan) are delicate around the whiskers; I’ll take you out."

    Promoter Eddie Hearn even went so far in the post-fight interview after the win over Dan as to reveal that a venue had already been lined up, with Wembley Stadium free on June 13.

    It would be a money-spinning bout that would surely be bigger than the clash between British super middleweights Carl Froch and George Groves, also held at the iconic stadium in London, England, last year.

    However, Khan doesn't seem keen to make it happen.

    When asked by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com for a reaction to Brook's comments, the Bolton boxer said: “He’s only beaten one good fighter, Porter. He needs some good wins against the likes of Rios, Marquez, (Keith) Thurman, (Marcos) Maidana and the fight will be even bigger."

    Khan is instead planning to fight in May, with boxingnews24.com suggesting Chris Algieri as his opponent.

1. Juan Manuel Marquez

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    Nick Ut/Associated Press

    So with Amir Khan looking highly unlikely for the summer, Juan Manuel Marquez would be the next best thing for Brook.

    The Mexican might be 41 now, but he is still a huge draw. He is also a name that would look rather good on Brook's record, should the Brit got the better of him.

    An outdoor fight at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United—Brook's favourite football team, has been suggested.

    According to Dominic Farrell of The Guardian, the IBF champion would love the chance to face Marquez: "It would be unbelievable. Marquez, just the name itself. What he’s done and his legacy is unbelievable. To share a ring with him at Bramall Lane would be a dream come true.”

    Marquez has not fought since last May, when he defeated Mike Alvarado on points.

    He suffered a knee injury toward the end of 2014, and it remains to be seen if he will opt to make a return and extend his already impressive career.

    However, Eddie Hearn revealed back in February to Sky Sports that he had held discussions with Marquez's team about a potential bout in Britain with Brook.

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