Kevin Bizier Fight Sees Kell Brook Stuck in Boxing's Version of Groundhog Day
The confirmation that welterweight Kell Brook will defend his IBF title against Canadian Kevin Bizier on March 26 has revealed the world champion's short-term future.
After that, however, things are as clear as mud.
Like getting the first two numbers to come up on your lottery ticket, Brook and Amir Khan had British boxing fans believing the jackpot was heading their way.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The dream of a summer showdown between the two rivals looked set to become a reality. Khan had tried and failed to get a fight with Manny Pacquiao, just like he had tried and failed to get a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. With those options exhausted, Brook suddenly became more appealing.
Promoter Eddie Hearn even booked a venue—Wembley Stadium—for June 4.
However, just as it seemed, Brook and Hearn had a grasp on the winning ticket, their luck changed.
It seems Khan is not going to be tempted to take the carrot that has been so obviously dangled in front of him. Instead, the boxer from Bolton, England, is looking to go in a different direction.
The 29-year-old has been confirmed as the mandatory challenger for whoever wins the fight between Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero for the vacant WBC belt on January 23.
Garcia is the heavy favourite—Odds Shark have him at 1-9 for victory. He’s also the opponent Khan would most like to face out of the two, as it would offer the chance to avenge a stoppage loss he suffered at the hands of Swift in 2012.
Per Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk, Khan has outlined his future plans—and Brook wasn't mentioned:
"I'm training for hopefully the end of March, that's when I want to fight next.
Opponent wise we don't know any names, we're looking at a few at the moment.
I've got a few options. Danny Garcia is fighting for the WBC title. Even though I'm the No.1 [ranked], he's got the opportunity to fight for it, him being the No 2.
I think I'll get my chance to win that title against him and have that rematch which I've been looking forward to him for a long, long time.
"
Khan fancies another crack at Garcia. That's understandable, even if it financially it may not be the best move, and the WBC has just paved the way for him to get his wish.
While his path has been cleared, Brook and his team will have to work out which way to turn next if, as now appears to be the case, their hopes of a big domestic defence with King Khan have hit a dead end.
But before they can consider anyone else for a summer date, The Special One must first see off Bizier.
The 31-year-old earned his shot at the IBF belt by beating Fredrick Lawson in an eliminator on November 7, 2015. He has a 25-2 (17 knockouts) record that contains only one real name of interest—Ionut Dan Ion (or Jo Jo Dan, as he is better known).
Dan was the man the unbeaten Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) faced in his first defence of the IBF belt he had snatched away from American Shawn Porter in August 2014.
Dan was the man who was a sacrificial lamb for a hungry champion. Back in action for the first time since being stabbed in the leg while away on holiday in Tenerife, Brook marked his homecoming in Sheffield, England, by dismantling his Romanian opponent inside four rounds.
Worryingly, for those wanting to see a contest, Bizier has lost twice to Dan. Both times it was by a split decision on the scorecards, but still—Bizier has failed to beat a man Brook brushed aside with ease.
The challenger at least said the right words in the official Matchroom Boxing press release: "I know I will be the underdog once again, but I guarantee you I will give the fight of my life. I am optimistic and I already fought in England as an amateur. Having the crowd against me does not bother me at all."
As for Brook, he could be forgiven for feeling he’s stuck playing Bill Murray’s character in the boxing version of the film Groundhog Day.
Phil Connors, who Murray played in the motion picture, was a TV weatherman stuck in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over again. Brook, meanwhile, is going have to repeat the same fight.
When he steps into the ring to take on Bizier, it will be just shy of a year since he dismissed his last mandatory challenger in Dan.
In the period since, he’s seen off Frankie Gavin—a domestic rival pushed up to the top level ahead of schedule—and seen a fight in which Diego Chaves fell through due to a rib injury. It is not his fault things haven't gone to plan, nor is it his fault the IBF have ordered him to face Bizier.
Perhaps Chaves could come back around later in the year. Perhaps there are other options out there who will emerge once the picture in the welterweight division becomes a little clearer.
Per Sky Sports, Keith Thurman has talked up a unification bout, but he has Porter on his plate. The two American fighters are scheduled to meet on March 12. He also has the cushion of a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) deal. There is no need to travel abroad to make money when you can line your pockets at home.
Errol Spence Jr.—who is ranked second by the IBF, according to FightNews.com—would be a great opponent. But he too has PBC connections through Al Haymon.
Konstantin Ponomarev is a high-ranked Russian whose name hardly creates a ripple at world level just yet, while Brook and Devon Alexander tried and failed on three occasions in the past to meet in the ring.
Alexander was a world champion back then. But his standing has slipped, following three defeats in his last four outings.
Ever the optimist, Hearn still remains hopeful he can get Brook his money-spinning showdown against Khan. The promoter wrote in his column for the Daily Mail:
"Amir Khan remains the target and it seems he will have a choice of what to do next—he is mandatory for the winner of Danny Garcia versus Robert Guerrero, who fight for the WBC title this weekend, or fight Kell. Either option would lead to a great fight, with the difference being he would make twice as much for fighting Kell in one of the biggest bouts in British boxing history.
"
Khan might yet take the bait. Money tends to talk in boxing.
But, despite holding a world title, Brook doesn’t hold all the aces when it comes to negotiations.
Eventually, like Phil the weatherman who Murray brilliantly portrayed in Groundhog Day, Brook may get what he wants. For now, though, all he can do is focus on beating Bizier in his own back garden.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
