• Boxing

Brook camp in talks with IBF king Berto

ESPN staff
October 7, 2011
Kell Brook is the WBA inter-continental champion © Getty Images
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Kell Brook could find himself in a world-title battle against IBF champion Andre Berto if he overcomes Rafal Jackiewicz on Saturday in Sheffield.

The bout against Jackiewicz is expected to be the final hurdle for Britain's Brook (24-0) before he is handed a shot at one of the sport's most coveted prizes.

If he beats Jackiewicz, he will be close to the front of the queue for a shot against WBA king Viacheslav Senchenko - but Berto, who lost his unbeaten record to Victor Ortiz in April, is also in play. Berto bounced back from the loss to Ortiz by ripping the IBF strap from Jan Zaveck five months later.

"The offers are coming in [for Brook] because he's a superstar," said Hearn. "I've already been in discussions with [Berto's promoter] Lou DiBella about the Berto fight. What I'm looking to see tomorrow night is how ready Kell is for those kind of fights.

"In my opinion, he might need one more fight before he's ready for someone like Berto. But if he goes out there and blows Jackiewicz away in a devastating performance, we may take the punt on Berto."

Meanwhile, Brook insists he knows the importance of making a statement against Jackiewicz. "This guy has never been stopped and he's boxed at world level, so he should be my toughest opponent," said Brook.

"But he's never been in with me and I'm going to show him the youth side, the power and the angles. That's the X-factor. I'm younger, fresher, stronger and he's going to feel it on Saturday night."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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