Kell Brook's Next Fight: Carson Jones Could Get the Call

Carson Jones could be next in line to face undefeated British welterweight contender Kell Brook, reports Terrence Dooley of BoxingScene.com. The bout would, in theory, be an IBF eliminator, with the winner eventually getting a crack at the title, currently vacant and to be decided on June 9, when Mike Jones faces Randall Bailey on the Pacquiao vs Bradley undercard.

Brook (27-0, 18 KO) is due back in the ring on July 7 in Sheffield, following a one-sided win over Matthew Hatton on March 17. Jones (33-8-2, 23 KO) has a fight lined up for May 26, facing Allen Conyers in Tulsa. Conyers (12-6, 9 KO) has lost two in a row and four of his last five, which dates back to 2007, but Jones' USBA title is on the line anyway, which should give you some idea of what those secondary titles are really worth.

Brook vs Jones is, as Eddie Hearn says, a good fight. Jones, 25, is better than his record, one of those guys who wasn't protected from the get-go and has had to earn his keep. He's won seven straight fights, all by stoppage, and has emerged as a legit threat in the welterweight division. It is a step up from the likes of Hatton, even if just by his win-loss record you might not expect it to be.

Brook would be favored, perhaps fairly heavily, but it's about as good a fight as he's going to get, too. If Jones is not the opponent on July 7, Argentina's Hector David Saldivia could be an alternative. Saldivia (41-2, 32 KO) has a pretty record, but has built it in fairly easy fights at home. The last time he left Argentina for a fight, he was stopped in a two-minute brawl against Said Ouali on the Mayweather vs Mosley undercard. Ouali went on to get pummeled by Jones last September, on the off-TV portion of the Mayweather vs Ortiz card.