Kell Brook stops Frankie Gavin in sixth round to successfully defend world title

Kell Brook dominated throughout before stopping Frankie Gavin in six
The Sheffield man was defending his world title for the second time
Gavin failed to get a foothold on the fight before it was stopped
Brook will now target the bigger names in the welterweight division

Riath Al-samarrai for The Mail on Sunday

Published:
22:19 GMT, 30 May 2015

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Updated:
22:58 GMT, 30 May 2015

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There’s pedigree and then there’s being a champion. It was clear to which camps Kell Brook and Frankie Gavin belong.

Gavin holds the distinction of being the only British male to win a world amateur champion, but on the night he challenged for Brook’s IBF welterweight belt he was clearly a class below.

Brook won with a sixth round stoppage, the result of a right hand that forced Gavin against the ropes and the two hard uppercuts that followed.

Frankie Gavin is stopped by Kell Brook in the sixth round as the fight was waved off

Brook sent in one final barrage of punches and Gavin could take no more punishment

Gavin covered up but could offer nothing in return as Brook sensed his chance

The Sheffield man didn’t waste the opportunity and quickly made sure of the victory

Brook celebrates his victory as Gavin is helped to his feet by referee Steve Gray

Before then, Gavin brought his awkward style of fighting to the ring but found it was simply not effective enough to stop a man who has now won all 35 of his fights. Gavin, meanwhile, has now lost twice as a professional and it never looked like ending any differently at The O2.

The first round was close enough but by the end of the second Brook had established his jab and Gavin rarely got close.

A big left in the third hurt Gavin and an uppercut through his guard left the Birmingham fighter on the ropes. He got away but only for so long.

By the fifth, the challenger found himself in the corner and taking big flurries to the head. His right eye bruised badly and even though he landed a right to Brook’s ribs, Gavin was well behind heading into his final round.

A straight left in the sixth snapped Brook’s head back but that was the last real shot he swallowed. Within moments he had Gavin on the ropes and the referee stepped in.

Brook celebrates with his partner Lindsey after his second win this year

Brook connects with a left hand as he dominated Gavin over six rounds

Gavin failed to get a foothold in the fight and lost his chance to win a world title

Brook had Gavin on the ropes in what proved to be the final round as the fight approached halfway

Brook made the second successful defence of the IBF welterweight title he won last year

Brook was too strong and too powerful for his British rival at a sold-out O2 arena

Brook now finds himself at a crossroads. A fight with Amir Khan would thrill a nation and surely fill Wembley, while there is also some hope that Eddie Hearn can make a match with Floyd Mayweather, the only other belt holder in the welterweight division.

Brook said: ‘I knew he’d be tricky for a few rounds. I was testing my skills against him – he’s a very talented boxer and I told him that. We could see he was tiring and it was a matter of time. I caught him with a good shot and capitalised on it. There’s many more things to come from me. My adrenaline wasn’t running – I wasn’t excited by this. I want bigger fights.

‘Amir Khan doesn’t want to listen to me. Why? It’s getting boring.’

He added: ‘I can’t wait to be fighting a big name next. I’m looking to get out before September, there’s nothing wrong with my hands. I’m calling (promoter) Eddie (Hearn) and saying I want my next fight asap.

‘I’m unbeaten, I’m ready to take on the world and I’m ready for the best out there now. I want to make a serious legacy. I’m in the hottest division.’