By Andy Clark
Saturday night marked the return to the ring for Sheffield’s Kell Brook, following three consecutive title fights with Devon Alexander falling through due to injuries on one side or the other. After a frustrating and demoralising nine months out the ring, Brook was matched against what most believe to have been his biggest test to date, a rematch with Carson Jones of Oklahoma, USA. Jones had been very vocal since the first fight, which he felt, had been a home town decision. Brook admittedly let himself down in the first fight, but there were no signs of complacency this time around.
The first round started with Kell Brook dominating Jones, landing right hand after right hand. Jones was able to close the distance, but Brook managed to box well on the back foot and clearly threw the more accurate and hurtful punches as round one came to a close.
Jones changed gear in the second, but his pressure and flurries came to nothing of note. Brook stepped back on the gas with one minute remaining, connecting with several hooks and straight hands. As Jones attempted in vain to avoid Brook’s punches, he leaned into a short right uppercut which hurt Jones, who took one knee and the standing eight count. Brook landed at will and rocked Jones again before the end of the round.
Brook dominated the third round as Jones struggled to shake off the previous round’s punishment. Brook at times couldn’t miss as nothing came back from a shell shocked Jones apart from the odd wild hook. After three rounds Brook was four rounds to the good and in cruise control as he looked on his way to a comfortable stoppage victory.
Jones came out for the fourth round applying educated pressure and found some success when he forced Brook back against the ropes. Landing a significant combination to the body and landing a decent right cross to Brook’s face. Jones won his first round of the fight and that pattern continued into round five as Jones’ pressure and work rate saw him take round five on my card.
Brook managed to gain control of the fight again in round six. Brook kept Jones on the end of his jab for most of the round and evaded or blocked the majority of Jones’ punches. The bell rang to end round six, the quietest round of the fight, with Brook comfortably ahead on the cards going into the latter half of the fight.
Both fighters spent the majority of round seven, standing their ground in the centre of the ring, teeing off on each other. The most accurate and hurtful punches were landed by Brook. In the last twenty seconds, Brook landed a quality uppercut and that was followed up by some quality overhand rights to end the round.
Brook started round eight at a furious pace and hurt Jones early, landing heavily with a variety of powerful punches to the head. As Jones’ legs buckled under the onslaught, the referee called a second knockdown as he felt Jones hand had touched the canvas. Jones protested but the end was nigh as Brook jumped straight back on Jones, landing time and time again to the head, with little to nothing coming back in return. Brook landed heavily to Jones’ head against the ropes again and that was enough for the referee to call an end to the contest.
After the fight Kell Brook stated he was getting straight back into the gym next week as Eddie Hearn (Brook’s promoter) confirmed a major name is up next for Brook in September, with the announcement coming as early as next week. Brook’s record improved to 30-0 (20 KO’s) while Carson Jones’ record falls to 35-10-3 (25 KO’s)
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