Fibroso
05-15-2016, 04:40 PM
Brook-Vargas welterweight unification deal getting closer
Jessie Vargas, right, knocked out then-undefeated Sadam Ali in his last fight in March. Tom Hogan/Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
May 12, 2016
Dan RafaelESPN Senior Writer
Welterweight titleholders Jessie Vargas and Kell Brook both want a major fight, and a unification clash certainly would fit the bill, so the sides have been talking and are nearing a deal.
After all, Brook has been unable to land a big all-British bout against Amir Khan, who got demolished by sixth-round knockout against middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on Saturday. As for Vargas, the fight he really wants, a rematch with Timothy Bradley Jr., is not available this summer.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Brook, and Carl Moretti, vice president of Top Rank, which promotes Vargas, have been engaged in talks for the past few weeks. According to Hearn, things are looking good for the fight, which would take place on a date to be determined in Sheffield, England, which is Brook’s hometown.
"We are coming to the end of the process and things are looking good,” Hearn told ESPN.com. “We have made a great offer and also give the assurance of neutrality across the officials. I think there's a good chance this fight gets made and I think it's a great fight for both champions.”
Moretti acknowledged that the sides are still talking and since Top Rank has little else to offer Vargas in terms of a high-profile fight it appears as though it’s a good bet the fight will be finalized.
Brook (36-0, 25 KOs), 29, of England, won the title from Shawn Porter in August 2014 in Carson, California, and has made three defenses. However, he has faced relatively soft opposition and Vargas would be his best opponent since facing Porter.
Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), 27, of Las Vegas, a former junior welterweight titlist, moved up to welterweight last summer and lost a decision to Bradley in a title fight. But in his next bout he knocked out then-undefeated Sadam Ali in the ninth round on March 5 to win the world title Bradley vacated before his third fight against Manny Pacquiao in April.
Vargas prefers to have the proposed fight with Brook in Las Vegas, his hometown. Initially, he said he would not fight Brook unless he came to the United States.
“If he came out here once and had no complaints then there shouldn't be a problem for him to accept the fight in the U.S. I'm not planning on going out to the U.K. for this fight,” Vargas told ESPN.com a couple of weeks ago.
But more recently, Vargas said he has changed his mind, telling ESPN.com that for the right deal he would pack his bags and travel to England -- as long as he had assurances that neutral officials would be assigned to the bout, which is something Hearn has promised.
Jessie Vargas, right, knocked out then-undefeated Sadam Ali in his last fight in March. Tom Hogan/Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
May 12, 2016
Dan RafaelESPN Senior Writer
Welterweight titleholders Jessie Vargas and Kell Brook both want a major fight, and a unification clash certainly would fit the bill, so the sides have been talking and are nearing a deal.
After all, Brook has been unable to land a big all-British bout against Amir Khan, who got demolished by sixth-round knockout against middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on Saturday. As for Vargas, the fight he really wants, a rematch with Timothy Bradley Jr., is not available this summer.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Brook, and Carl Moretti, vice president of Top Rank, which promotes Vargas, have been engaged in talks for the past few weeks. According to Hearn, things are looking good for the fight, which would take place on a date to be determined in Sheffield, England, which is Brook’s hometown.
"We are coming to the end of the process and things are looking good,” Hearn told ESPN.com. “We have made a great offer and also give the assurance of neutrality across the officials. I think there's a good chance this fight gets made and I think it's a great fight for both champions.”
Moretti acknowledged that the sides are still talking and since Top Rank has little else to offer Vargas in terms of a high-profile fight it appears as though it’s a good bet the fight will be finalized.
Brook (36-0, 25 KOs), 29, of England, won the title from Shawn Porter in August 2014 in Carson, California, and has made three defenses. However, he has faced relatively soft opposition and Vargas would be his best opponent since facing Porter.
Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), 27, of Las Vegas, a former junior welterweight titlist, moved up to welterweight last summer and lost a decision to Bradley in a title fight. But in his next bout he knocked out then-undefeated Sadam Ali in the ninth round on March 5 to win the world title Bradley vacated before his third fight against Manny Pacquiao in April.
Vargas prefers to have the proposed fight with Brook in Las Vegas, his hometown. Initially, he said he would not fight Brook unless he came to the United States.
“If he came out here once and had no complaints then there shouldn't be a problem for him to accept the fight in the U.S. I'm not planning on going out to the U.K. for this fight,” Vargas told ESPN.com a couple of weeks ago.
But more recently, Vargas said he has changed his mind, telling ESPN.com that for the right deal he would pack his bags and travel to England -- as long as he had assurances that neutral officials would be assigned to the bout, which is something Hearn has promised.