Frank Warren cards in February and March shake up

by Scott Christ on Jan 20, 2010 11:57 AM EST in Boxing News Analysis Comment 28 comments

Derek Chisora will step in to fight Danny Williams on February 13. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images)

Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Derek Chisora will get a chance to make a bit of a splash on February 13 when he faces BBBofC heavyweight titlist Danny Williams.

Chisora (11-0, 6 KO) was set to fight Matt Skelton on that card, and Williams was to take on Sam Sexton. But Sexton suffered a cut on his hand in training, giving Chisora a bump up the ladder. Williams (41-8, 31 KO) seemed set to retire after an upset loss to Carl Baker in the Prizefighter tournament last October, but has decided to make a final go of it.

Chisora, 26, was born in Zimbabwe and turned pro in 2007. Thus far he's cut through the opposition fairly easily, including a win in 2008 over Sexton (TKO-6). Skelton was to be a decent step up in competition, and Williams will serve as the same, though both Skelton and Williams may be on their last legs.

In addition, light heavyweight prospect-contender Nathan Cleverly's fight against Antonio Brancalion has been moved from March 12 to February 13, joining Williams-Chisora. Cleverly (18-0, 8 KO) is looking like the real deal for sure, and is hoping to get a world title shot before the end of 2010. Brancalion (32-7-2, 8 KO) should realistically be much challenge. The fight will be for the vacant European light heavyweight title.

That fight switches dates with welterweight Kell Brook's battle with Poland's Krzysztof Bienias. That fight will now headline in Liverpool on March 12. Bienias has two wins over Sven Paris and losses to Junior Witter and Oktay Urkal, and little else of which to speak. Shouldn't be much more than a gatekeeper fight for the promising Brook.

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Comments

Brook has been out for too long now.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Sounds like good stuff

I haven’t seen Chisora, does anyone think he could make it to the world stage?

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Jan 20, 2010 12:18 PM EST reply actions

Not really

I mean, he could get as far as the 20 or 30 other schmos out there who are good at a regional level and then would get destroyed by any of the elites, but I don’t see him ever being a credible threat to a Klitschko, for instance.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 20, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

That's what I suspected

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Jan 20, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

With the heavyweight division still being in pretty poor shape,who knows,maybe he can.Imo,him and Sexton are the two best young heavies in the UK,and he beat Sexton earlier on in his career on points.He seems like a bit of an arrogant idiot to be honest but he’s got pretty good skills i suppose,relatively speaking.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 12:24 PM EST reply actions

My Mistake

He beat Sexton by TKO in 6 rds.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 12:26 PM EST reply actions

Duh

I just realised that it even says in the article how Chisora beat Sexton!….Maybe i should have read that first!….What an idiot:).

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 12:29 PM EST reply actions

I think Sexton has improved more than Chisora since that loss though and the rematch should be a much closer fight.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 12:37 PM EST reply actions

Sexton having improved more than Chisora

That’s the impression I’ve got from watching Sexton a few times and seeing some of Chisora, mostly on YouTube.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jan 20, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

Probably the only one but..

Boo.

by LtfcPete on Jan 20, 2010 1:16 PM EST reply actions

BTW

I suspect the reason for the switch is so that if Clottey gets injured last-minute, Warren can try to substitute Brook for a Pacquiao fight. I doubt it would happen (I just can’t imagine HBO sticking with a PPV for a Pacquiao-Brook main event), but that might be the thought process.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jan 20, 2010 2:18 PM EST reply actions

Brook would last about 3 rounds....

but he would receive the best payday of his career.

Kell really needs to step it up this year. Is this fight for the European belt? Unfortunately there are noises round Sheffield that his attitude stinks which is something that needs sorting out.

by God_is_an_Owl on Jan 20, 2010 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

I dont think the delay in Brook’s fight is anything to do with the Pac fight.Brook is nowhere near ready for that.He hasn’t even got to Euro title level yet.I’m a fan of Brook but please be realistic here.The delay is most likely because Warren doesnt want to put too many big domestic fights on a free Sky show.Cleverly was disapointed that his January Euro title shot was cancelled,so Warren moved him to here,once he had secured purse bids……I’m suprised you suggested that to be honest,Brickhaus.Brook is not a viable opponent for Pacquiao…Not for a while yet.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

No he isn't Matt, but then again who is?

BTW, which part of Yorkshire are you from if you don’t mind me asking?

by God_is_an_Owl on Jan 20, 2010 2:57 PM EST reply actions

Well,

There are about 10-15 world class fighters in front of Brook,at the moment.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Not really, IMO. I’d give Brook a better chance against Pacquiao than I would Jan Zaveck, Sebastian Lujan, Rafal Jackiewicz, Delvin Rodriguez, Isaac Hlatshwayo, etc. Brook is every bit as viable as anyone at welterweight past the big six (Manny, Floyd, Shane, Berto, Cotto, Clottey)

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jan 20, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

I'm Always Talking Brook Up

as Britains’ best prospect but that is all he is at the moment.He has only fought at British tilte level and is still only 23.Some fighters get moved too quickly nowadays and Brook has plenty of time.I would add Collazo to the welters you mentioned but we are not only talking about those campaiging at 147.Valero, Bradley,maybe even Khan and Alexander would give Pacquiao a better fight,at this stage.In a years time i have no doubt Brook would be there or there abouts,but not yet.I have followed him on tv since his first few fights and he is a fellow Yorkshireman,so i am a big fan but i just dont see how you go from British title level to P4P no.1 level,even though he has been blowing them away……Saying that,i have no doubt that Brook is the best in Europe right now and me saying 15 guys in front of him was wrong but i would say there are almost 10 better options between 135-147 for Pac

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

With Brook being from Hillsborough..

I also take a keen interest in his fights. He has all the tools to potentially go onto world level but his commitment has been questioned and he’s been thrown out of the Ingle gym a couple of times in the past because of this.

What do you think of Cleverly? He’s my pick as our best prospect, the kid’s a real gem.

It’s a pity ol’ fish eyes couldn’t have had them both fighting on the Wembley bill.

by God_is_an_Owl on Jan 20, 2010 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah,

i like em both.I favour Brook slightly because i love that type of slick fighter who just gets out of range by slipping punches and then counters with solid power punches.Some may not agree but Brook’s style does remind me a bit of James Toney were he can stand right there in front of them,make em miss and make em pay.
Cleverly looks like more of a slug it out type than Brook,though he obviously has good skills too.I don’t mean that a s a knock on Clev.I just mean he seems as if he likes a tear up.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

I had heard

about Brook’s lack of discipline in the past,that he got stabbed one time and that but i thought that was all behind him now?

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

Also

that he used to ballon up between fights.You wouldnt expect it to look at him.He looks like he would have a constantly slim physique.As far as UK prospects go,i think all the Brit fans who follow boxing closely know that Clevely and Brook are the 2 top world title prospects we have.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Cleverly seems to be being moved along better than Brook by Frank Warren at the moment.I know Brook has had the injury to postpone the Jennings fight (then Jennings get injured!) but if you look at Clev’s last 3 fights plus the one he has lined up,he has gone from holding the Commonwealth title to winning the British to fighting for the European in his next fight.Warren is obviously taking Brook on the WBO title path but i would have liked to have seen him get the Euro belt first.I suppose it depends on which option makes the most money and sense.

by Matt (Yorkshire) on Jan 20, 2010 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

I had completely forgot about the incident where he was stabbed...

must be about 3 or 4 years ago now.

All i’ve heard is that the Ingle’s had thrown him out a coulpe of times, fairly recently as well. Not heard anything about any weight problems though.

by God_is_an_Owl on Jan 20, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think there’s anyone at 135 (maybe Valero given his power) and only a handful of guys at 140 at best. Tim Bradley, maybe Devon Alexander, Khan won’t happen because of the Roach situation so I don’t count him.

Just for kicks, here’s the list of guys I think are markedly better challenges than Brook, and keep in mind I don’t think Brook is a truly viable challenge either:

Mayweather
Mosley
Clottey
Berto
Tim Bradley
Devon Alexander (maybe)

It’s a short list, but it’s mostly because Pacquiao is so good.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jan 20, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions