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28 March 2024

Britain's unbeaten Brook to fight for world title

Published
By AFP

Undefeated British welterweight Kell Brook will fight for a world title for the first time when he faces American Devon Alexander in Detroit next month, promoters announced on Wednesday.

Brook, a 26-year-old slugger from Sheffield, is 29-0 with 19 knockouts, while International Boxing Federation world champion Alexander is 24-1 with 13 knockouts, entering the February 23 showdown at Masonic Temple Theatre.

"This is the biggest night of my life," Brook said. "When I turned up at the Wincobank Gym in Sheffield as a nine-year-old, this was what I dreamed about - boxing for a world title. On February 23, I'll turn that dream into a reality."

Brook comes into the bout off three triumphs in 2012, a unanimous decision over Britain's Matthew Hatton, a majority decision over American Carson Jones and last October's third-round stoppage of Argentina's Hector David Saldivia.

"There's no way that I am coming home without that world title," Brook said. "I'm in the best physical shape of my life and the best ever Kell Brook will be in the ring in Detroit.

"This is my destiny. It's just meant to be and there's nothing Devon Alexander can do to stop me."

Brook's only prior fight outside the United Kingdom came in December 2011, when he stopped Puerto Rico's Luis Galarza in the fifth round in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Alexander, 25, makes the first defence of the title he won last October with a unanimous decision over compatriot Randall Bailey.

It was his third win in a row since suffering the only loss of his career to unbeaten American Tim Bradley, who last year took a split decision over Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao last year.

"This is going to be a big year for my career and I'm going to get it started right in an exciting fashion against Kell Brook," Alexander said.

"I worked extremely hard to win my title and I'm not giving it away to anyone. This will be a statement-making fight for me."

Also on the card will be hometown favorite Cornelius Bundrage defending his IBF junior middleweight crown against fellow-American Ishe Smith.