Brook vs Zerafa results: Kell Brook ‘flat’ in decision win

Kell Brook got a wide decision win today at home in Sheffield, England, beating Michael Zerafa over 12 rounds, but Brook simply did not have a good performance overall, and there are genuine questions about where he’ll go from here.

The win — which puts Brook in the mandatory challenger position for junior middleweight titleholder Jarrett Hurd — was just not particularly impressive after a fast start from Brook.

Zerafa (25-3, 14 KO) hung around in the fight and even hurt Brook late, and touched him up plenty as the fight went on. Brook no doubt won — scorecards were 117-111, 118-110, and 119-109 — but he failed the eye test as far as looking like a fighter still at the top of his game, to the point that the TV commentators were openly wondering if he’s on the back end of his career.

It would make sense, realistically. Brook has had some tough nights, and he’s 32 with 40 professional fights under his belt now.

Brook tried to put a positive spin on things, targeting some comments (one would think) at Amir Khan.

“I was a bit rusty. But it looks good for them opponents running away from me,” Brook said. “They might grow a pair.”

Brook (38-2, 26 KO) admitted that he fell short of his own expectations, saying he was “a bit flat” in the fight. “I couldn’t let that right hand go, couldn’t get into my rhythm,” he said.

Promoter Eddie Hearn used the opportunity to push again for an Amir Khan-Kell Brook fight.

“I think if I was Amir Khan now I’d be on the phone to take this fight,” Hearn said.