Brook gets back on track by battering American Jones in eighth-round stoppage

By Martin Domin  -  dailymail.co.uk

Kell Brook put 10 months of frustration behind him by stopping old foe Carson Jones in their rematch in Hull on Saturday night.

Having been on the verge of challenging for a world title, the 27-year-old was in danger of becoming the forgotten man of British boxing.

But he showed plenty of his old skill and spite to end the spirited challenge of his dogged American opponent.

Last October, Brook stopped Hector Saldivia to cement his place as the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Devon Alexander.

But three injury lay-offs - two from the Sheffield man - put paid to his hopes with stablemate Lee Purdy stepping in only to be pulled out by his corner after the seventh round.

Alexander is now set to put his title on the line against Brook's bitter domestic rival Amir Khan in December with Dubai touted as one possible venue.

Brook remains in the mandatory position however and will hope this victory will propel him back into the reckoning.

His first fight with Jones, in Sheffield 12 months ago, proved to be one of two halves and a turning point in home favourite's career.

After dominating for the first six rounds, Brook wilted and had to dig deep to hear the final bell before he was awarded a majority decision.

Jones, 26, believed he was the victim of a home-town decision that night and had since drawn with Ireland's Dean Byrne and knocked out countryman Travis Hartman.

A year later, with the fight made at a catch weight of 152lb, Brook asserted his ram-rod jab from the opening bell and repeatedly exposed gaps in Jones' often leaky defence. The American was unable to mount attacks of his own and was also caught by a follow-up right hand on more than one occasion.

Brook overhauled his fitness regime and his diet after the pair's first meeting and he was clearly the stronger man as the second session progressed. Towards the end he landed a flurry of blows, forcing Jones to take a knee, and a breather. He had no problem beating the count and despite facing another onslaught, saw out the round.

Brook began the third stanza in ominous fashion, stalking - and at times chasing - his opponent round the ring. Somehow, Jones remained upright after swallowing a series of clubbing right hands before the pace finally relented.

Perhaps acknowledging that Jones was in no hurry to fold, Brook returned to his safety first strategy in the fourth round, working behind his jab while at times staying on the ropes and inviting Jones in. But again he finished strongly, landing clean with both hands in the closing stages.

The fifth stanza, perhaps unsurprisingly given the hectic pace thus far, was somewhat scrappy as Jones dug deep and Brook attempted to engineer an early victory.

Normal service was soon resumed, however, as a straight right snapped Jones' head back in the sixth but again the subsequent barrage was absorbed.

Any doubts about Jones' durability had long been dispelled and he looked set to take Brook the distance after seeing out the seventh session.

But, eventually, the pressure told. A fast start to round eight saw Jones on the canvas for the second time and although he beat the count and continued, the fight was waved off after the very next attack, much to the American's obvious annoyance.

'I have been through a very difficult time with injuries but I am back now. I will be facing a very big name in my home-town Sheffield in September and then hopefully I’ll finally get my shot at the world title,' said Brook.

Source:  www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2362777/Kell-Brook-beats-Carson-Jones.html

Kell Brook stopped old rival Carson Jones in the eighth round of their rematch in Hull

By Adam Norman  -  skysports.com

Kell Brook returned to the ring with an eighth-round stoppage victory over old rival Carson Jones in Hull.

Brook has seen a fight with IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander fall by the wayside on no fewer than three occasions this year, and this was his first outing since winning a final eliminator last October.

That fight came after Jones had taken Brook to the brink of defeat on a nerve-wracking night in Sheffield 12 months ago and 'The Special One' wanted to put the record straight.

And Brook came out looking very sharp, his ramrod jab piercing Jones' high guard as the American stalked his opponent early on without landing anything of note.

Brook's fierce right hands were landing at will, knocking Jones off balance and he opted to take a knee in the second under a fierce barrage.

It was a massive round for the home fighter and the third saw more of the same as Jones ate up Brook's best shots as he sought to bring the Oklahoman's guard down.

Combinations

However, Jones was not going to lie down and he came out with more ambition in the fourth, landing his combinations and just as in the first fight drawing blood from the nose of Brook.

The former British champion was breathing more heavily in the fifth but still he landed by far the heaviest shots, however entering the second-half of the 10-rounder it didn't look as though Jones would be shifted in a repeat of their first encounter.

However, he was knocked off balance by a stiff upper cut in the seventh and when Brook led with the jab there was nothing Jones could do about it.

Brook charged out of the corner in the eighth and landed some spiteful right hands, Jones given a standing count after touching down while trying to hold on.

And while the count looked a little harsh, Brook went in for the kill and with Jones shipping more punishment on the ropes, Michael Alexander brought a halt to proceedings.

Brook will now return to the ring in Sheffield in September against a big name, to be revealed next week.

Source:  www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/8822549/Kell-Brook-stopped-old-rival-Carson-Jones-in-the-eighth-round-of-their-rematch-in-Hull