Kell Brook To Face American Spoiler Carson Jones

Kell Brook will face highly ranked Carson Jones at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield on July 7 as an IBF World title shot draws a step closer.

Jones is ranked at number three by the IBF – two spots above Brook – and the stakes couldn’t be higher as the victor would move into pole position to fight for the title in the fall, which is being contested by current number one Mike Jones and number two ranked Randall Bailey on June 9 in Las Vegas.

The Sheffield star thrilled a packed home crowd in the Arena in March when he dismantled Matthew Hatton in a master class that drew record viewing figures on Sky Sports for non-pay-per-view boxing.

The 25 year old from Oklahoma has won his last eight fights inside the distance, and currently holds the USBA welterweight title, which he defended for the second time in April with a seventh round stoppage over Allen Conyers in his hometown, the 34th win and the 24th by KO.

“It’s a step-up in class again and one that I’m truly ready for,” said Brook. “Jones is experienced for his age and has been avoided, but I want a World title shot and in order to get it, I need to go through him.

The Hatton night just blew my mind. It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever fought in front of and they were all there for me. That’s a very special feeling and I cannot wait to experience it again.”

“Basically, Kell Brook is the last person standing in my way to fight for a World title,” said Jones. “He will have to kill me to beat me because I have worked too hard to let anyone stop me from reaching my dream.

“It does not matter if the fight is here, there, or in Zimbabwe. I have made a living going to other people’s hometowns and knocking them out and this will be no exception. Kell Brook needs to be afraid, very afraid, because his fans are going to see him put to sleep on July 7.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Carson and one he personally asked for,” said Bobby Dobbs, Jones’ promoter. “Carson is often overlooked because of his earlier career mismanagement, but I always knew he was an exceptional talent and he has finally begun to hit his stride.

“He has won eight in a row all by stoppage with some very tough fighters in that cycle. We respect Brook and his team, but we are coming to win and move on to the next level.”

Brook’s showdown with Jones tops a great bill for British boxing as Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews meet again for Rees’ European title with Mathews putting the British belt on the line too. Kerry Hope and Greg Proksa face a rematch for the European middleweight title Hope wrestled from Proksa on the Brook vs. Hatton undercard.

Lee Purdy will defend his English welterweight title against Lancastrian Chris Johnson and Ryan Aston will fight for the Midlands Area middleweight belt, and there will also be another outing for Team GB star Scotty Cardle.

“Brook vs. Jones is a fantastic contest and one I’m delighted to have signed,” said Hearn. “Kell is in one of the toughest divisions and to manoeuvre a World title shot isn’t easy. Victory against Carson will put us in line for a shot at the Jones-Bailey winner and that’s a fight I want to bring to the UK in October.

This will be our first show of the new season and in terms of the card, it’s a statement of intent of where we want to take the sport – bigger fights, bigger nights and packed out arenas.”

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday May 11 priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.

VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)