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Brook to take on Chaves in Sheffield on October 24

By Rory Fitzgerald

Kell Brook’s third defence of his IBF world welterweight title will be against Argentinean Diego Gabriel Chaves in his home town of Sheffield on the 24th October.

Brook has been very active with two title defences this year already, after a long lay-off due to an unprovoked knife attack last September, which left him fighting for his life.

The mental scares of that attack seem to be well behind him now, as victories over JoJo Dan in March and Frankie Gavin in May, showed that 29 year old is in the shape of his life.

The Sheffield man had hoped that a mega fight with Floyd Mayweather would materialize. Unlike fellow Brit Amir Kahn though, Brook did not put all his eggs in the Mayweather basket, and has decided to go down another route.

That chosen route has lead to the tough former interim WBA world champion, Diego Chaves.

Chaves (23-2-1, 19KO) is a big hitting Orthodox fighter who the IBF and the WBA both have ranked in there top 10. He has only suffered two defeats in his career – one to the supremely talented Keith Thurman, and the other, a controversial DQ loss to Brandon Rios, (many had Chaves up on the scorecards when he was disqualified for what was classed as an intentional elbow). A well deserved draw against top class Timothy Bradley in his last fight shows the level of opponent that the 29 year old is able to mix it with.

The man known as “La Joya” (The Jewell) has vowed to walk Kell Brook down, believing that the Sheffield man is not comfortable being on the back foot. Believe that if you may, but if Chaves comes into the ring with that attitude we could have a serious fight of the year contender on our hands. We all remember Shawn Porter trying to walk Brook down.

A win for Brook could set up huge unification fights in 2016, with Keith Thurman and Timothy Bradley lying in wait. The likes of Amir Kahn, Errol Spence Jnr and even Floyd Mayweather, if he decides not to hang up his gloves, could be potential future opponents for “Special K”. A rematch with Shawn Porter could also be possible.

Whatever direction he chooses to go – if he can get by Chaves on the 24th of October, Kell Brook will have no shortage of options.

Prediction : A fight not to be missed, Kell Brook by late stoppage.

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