Kell Brook has set his sights on a blockbuster fight in the spring of 2014 – and says the pressure is on to put in a five-star performance against Vyacheslav Senchenko on October 26 at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, live on Sky Sports.
Brook returns to topping the bill in his hometown after he put ‘the Carson Jones saga’ to bed with a cold and calculated display in Hull in July, and welcomes the former WBA World Welterweight champion to the new-look Motorpoint Arena in a fight that Brook knows is a dangerous test.
“He’s only lost once to Paul Malignaggi, and that was stopped on cuts,” said Brook. “They don’t give World titles out for free, he’s proved he deserves to be at the top level and he’ll be the toughest test of my career. We didn’t need the fight, I’m still number one in the IBF, but when Eddie put the fight in front of me I was excited. It’s a must-win night, because the rewards are huge for the win but defeat would be damaging.
“I’m fit, healthy, injury free and loving boxing – the bad times are in the past, we’re running smooth and I’m looking forward to putting on a great show and packing out the Arena against a World class opponent.”
Senchenko travelled to Sheffield on a private jet for today’s press conference, and landed on British soil for the first time since he stopped Ricky Hatton in his comeback fight in Manchester. The Ukrainian enjoyed his role as party-pooper that night, and Brook admitted that revenge for the British fight fans is on his mind.
“To be honest, I was upset watching him beat Ricky, he was a hero of mine, and I want revenge for that,” said Brook. “Tickets are flying because the fans know that this is a real fight and they know what he did to Ricky. He came over here and wanted blood in Manchester and he’s looking to do the same to me.
But whatever obstacles he brings to the table I’m going to be able counter them and do what I do best – win. I want to put on a wicked performance in and move onto a massive fight next spring.”
Injury cruelly robbed the unbeaten Sheffield star of two clashes with IBF champion Devon Alexander, but with those issues behind him, Brook is in no doubt of the direction he is going and hopes that fights with the likes of Amir Khan and Adrien Broner can become reality.
“I want to be a part of the elite group of fighters in World boxing – the top operators,” said Brook. “You are going to see in this fight why I belong up there. It’s great to be back at the top of a bill in Sheffield again, packing out this brilliant Arena and I’d love for the British fight fans sake for some mega fights in Britain, but I will travel for mega fights.
“I’ve always dreamed of fighting in Madison Square Garden in New York and at the MGM in Las Vegas, getting the Brits over to America for a big, beautiful fights and holidays. I want to put smiles on the fans faces and I want to become a World champion.”
Brook’s Welterweight blockbuster with Senchenko is part of a great line-up of action in Sheffield as Blackpool Light-Middleweight Brian Rose takes on Javier Maciel in a final eliminator for the WBO title.
Olympic Gold medallist Anthony Joshua MBE will box for the second time as a pro on the card after his debut at The O2 on October 5. There’s a spot on the bill for Rose’s fellow Blackpool fighter Scotty Cardle while popular unbeaten Steel City middleweight Adam Etches boxes in his 13th pro contest.
Liverpool’s Callum Smith will be in action after he fights Patrick Mendy for the vacant English Super Middleweight title in Liverpool this weekend, and there’s a welcome return to action for Kal Yafai, the exciting 8-0 bantamweight who boxes for the first time since injuring his bicep in his last outing in March.
Tickets are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60 and £100 through the Motorpoint Arena – www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk – and on 0114 2565656.
VIP packages priced £200 are available exclusively through Matchroom Boxing – www.matchroomboxing.com – or call 01277 359900.
Lawrence Lustig
