Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info

Kell Brook defends his IBF welterweight title against fellow Englishman Frankie Gavin in the main event on an intriguing bill at the O2 Arena in London Saturday.

The Special One (34-0, 23 KO) has wasted little time in returning to the ring after dismantling Jo Jo Dan in four rounds at the end of March.

Gavin (22-1, 13 KO) should provide a much sterner test for the Sheffield fighter—he was an amateur world champion and has already won the British and Commonwealth belts as a pro.

However, this will be a serious step up in quality for the Birmingham southpaw. Brook is unbeaten and in no mood to surrender his world crown, particularly with some potentially money-spinning fights in the pipeline.

The Matchroom card also sees two Brits get the chance to become world champions.

Featherweight Lee Selby—dubbed the Welsh Mayweather by promoter Eddie Hearn—bids to take the IBF title from Evgeny Gradovich, a no-nonsense Russian who will not be hard to find once the first bell sounds.

Londoner Kevin Mitchell, meanwhile, will have plenty of support when he faces WBC lightweight king Jorge Linares. It is a tall order facing the local boy, particularly as he has failed twice before in world-title shots.

Anthony Joshua is also in action at the pay-per-view show, the heavyweight prospect facing trash-talking American Kevin Johnson in his toughest test to date.

When: Saturday, May 30, 10:40 p.m. BST

Where: O2 Arena, London

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Sports (UK, regional restrictions apply)

Ready for the challenge 

After dealing with his mandatory challenger Dan on home soil in Sheffield, Brook could have taken an easier option than Gavin.

However, his desire to stay active—along with his willingness to take a serious challenge—shows the level of confidence the 29-year-old has in his own talents.

Having had to wait for his shot at a world title (three potential clashes with Devon Alexander were ruined by injury), Brook has no intention of surrendering his grip on the gold, per Matchroom Boxing:

"

Frankie is getting nowhere near this belt. He can look at it, I might even let him touch it, but he’s not taking it from me. It’s my belt, it took me a long time to get it and there’s no way he’s getting it.

I’ve done the hard work and now it’s time to have fun. He won the worlds in the amateurs, he’s a nice guy that I’ve spoken to at other shows, and he can fight. I will be on the front foot attacking him all day and night, I know he’s a good counter-puncher and is a good judge of distance, but I have a good boxing brain in my head and I’ll be doing all I need to do and I’ll find the answers because I can do it all.

"

Brook is certainly not taking his compatriot lightly.

In an interview with Bleacher Report, he explained how he had taken less than a week off after his victory over Dan.

His trainer, Dominic Ingle, believes that while Gavin will pose different problems, the champion can cope: “What [Gavin] does is basic, but it is very, very effective. He can frustrate some fighters. But, luckily for Kell, we have a gym full of fighters like that. He is used to that kind of style.”

Dan Ambrose of Boxing News 24 reported that a deal is in the works for Brook to face Brandon Rios in August.

For that fight, or any other against a big name, to happen later in the summer, he must first get past Gavin.

Opportunity knocks

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Funtime Frankie is going to become big-time Frankie.

A star in the amateur ranks, his pro career has been steady but relatively unspectacular to date.

The 29-year-old was making good progress until he came up against Italian Leonard Bundu, losing on a split decision in Wolverhampton last year. Bundu—who has since taken Keith Thurman the distance—dropped Gavin in the sixth round despite not being known for his power.

Since then, Gavin has joined the Matchroom stable. He marked his debut under Hearn by beating Bogdan Mitic in a largely forgettable 10-rounder on the undercard to Brook vs. Dan.

The plan had been for Gavin to go on and face South African Chris van Heerden in his home city of Birmingham at the start of May.

However, the chance to face Brook was simply too good to pass up.

There will be those who think the opportunity has come too soon, but Gavin told the Sheffield Star: “It’s come quicker but not sooner than I’m ready for, not too soon for me at all. Once I realised I could pursue the Brook fight, there hasn’t been anything else.”

A comparison could be drawn between Gavin and George Groves, who was pitched in at world level for the first time when he took on Carl Froch in their first fight. 

On that occasion, Groves not only surprised his rival but also the boxing world by dropping the champion in the first round.

Gavin will hope to prove, like Groves, that he belongs at the top table on Saturday night, though that doesn’t mean he will be satisfied with just impressing in defeat.

Prediction

Brook deserves credit for facing Gavin. Counterpunching southpaws are hardly everyone’s first choice when looking for an opponent, but Brook seems unfazed by the prospect.

It could take him a few rounds to get accustomed to what he is up against, and he cannot afford to be reckless in his approach.

However, his size and strength could be a telling factor in deciding the outcome. Brook is a big welterweight; he showed he was no pushover up close when beating Shawn Porter in California to claim the IBF strap last year.

Expect him to be too much for Gavin, resulting in a stoppage win in the middle rounds.