Kell Brook Happy to Take a Gamble with Title Defence Against Frankie Gavin

Straight after dismantling Jo Jo Dan in the first defence of his IBF title, Kell Brook called out some of the biggest names in the welterweight division.

Speaking to Sky Sports in the aftermath of the stoppage triumph at the end of March, Brook mentioned Amir Khan, Juan Manuel Marquez and Brandon Rios as potential opponents.

Khan has for a long time now sat atop of the champion’s wish list, though Eddie Hearn’s idea of a June showdown at Wembley Stadium is not going to happen now.

While the clamour for the bout to be made has grown stronger in recent times, only one side seems keen to even discuss the idea (at least in the short term, per Sky Sports News HQ).

Someone the unbeaten Brook didn’t mention, however, was Frankie Gavin.

His fellow Brit was on the undercard in Sheffield, England, on that night, with the Birmingham boxer labouring his way to a points win over Bogdan Mitic in a 10-rounder.

He cannot afford to be below par next time, however, after Sky Sports News HQ recently confirmed he will face Brook on May 30.

With a desire to stay busy and an opportunity to headline a pay-per-view card at the O2 Arena in London, The Special One has opted to take on an opponent who, although untested at the very highest level, has the potential to pose a problem or two.

So why would Brook and his team select Gavin, a hungry fighter who could be an awkward customer to deal with in the ring?

The answer would seemingly be that Brook is so confident right now that he feels he can beat anyone in the division. He told Matchroom Boxing:

"

Frankie wanted this fight for a long time and now he’s got it. 

He’s a classy boxer and I think we will see the best of him and that will bring the best out in me—but Frankie, be careful what you wish for. He’s in with ‘The Special One’ now and my belt is going nowhere.

I’ve been out for too long with the leg, I asked Eddie to get me right back out and Eddie has delivered for me. 

Everyone loves a British world title fight and this is going to be right up there as a classic.

"

By returning to action so quickly, Brook has little time to worry about adding weight or dealing with distractions outside of his training regime.

When he won the world title by beating Shawn Porter in California last year, the 28-year-old headed for some sunshine in Tenerife. But, rather than enjoying a period of rest and relaxation, he found himself wondering if his career could be over after being stabbed in the leg.

Having now shown he has fully recovered from the attack by beating Dan in a homecoming he will long remember, Brook has stayed put in Sheffield rather than head for warmer climes.

Instead of donning the flip-flops and hitting a beach somewhere, he put on his running shoes and hit the roads of his home city, taking part in the Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon-Sheffield on April 12:

As Kevin Mitchell pointed out in The Guardian, Brook seems to have realised the importance of taking boxing seriously: "He let belief in his talent blind him to the hard work needed."

If he wants to fight Khan or if he wants Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to even consider him after they have finally dealt with each other on May 2, then he cannot afford to let his IBF crown slip.

His trainer, Dominic Ingle, spoke before the Dan fight about the importance of Brook being able to motivate himself for an opponent: “Kell is the type of fighter, much like Naseem Hamed, who trains for the threat. Anybody who he considers as a serious threat, he gets his head down and trains hard.”

Gavin is most definitely a threat, most notably because he has a desire to take away a title that the current owner earned the hard way, by beating an American fighter in his own backyard.

Brook’s team has the added advantage of leaning on the knowledge of a former Gavin opponent in its Wincobank gym—Junior Witter was beaten on points back in 2012 when the British title was on the line.

However, the challenger—who became England’s first amateur world champion when he struck gold back in 2007—has enough talent to trouble his opponent.

Mark Avery/Associated Press/Associated Press

A counterpunching southpaw with a 22-1 record as a professional, Gavin had previously been preparing himself to take on Chris van Heerden for the IBF International strap on May 9, per BBC Sport.

Now, though, he has skipped to the head of the queue.

The biggest night of the 29-year-old’s career to date came last August, when he came out on the wrong end of a split decision against Leonard Bundu.

At that time it seemed Funtime Frankie was going to have to gradually rebuild his reputation. He has gone on to win the Commonwealth belt since, though his career has been something of a slow burner so far.

It can catch fire with an upset over Brook, but he will have to be at his very best to have a hope of dethroning his compatriot.

With Brook targeting the top welterweight talent and Gavin going in with nothing to lose, it is an intriguing domestic dust-up that will have major ramifications for both men. 

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations in this article were obtained via interview.