I would cut off one of my legs to make the weight and fight Khan, says Brook
IBF champion is desperate to see big fight materialise He is ready to start again after surgery on eye socket
David Bass and Willoughby Court easily handled the step up to Grade Two company by trouncing rivals in the Neptune Investment Hurdle at Warwick yesterday.
Bass was keen to ensure that the race over two miles and five furlongs was a test of stamina and allowed Ben Pauling’s contender – an all-the-way winner on his second jumping start over this course and distance last month – to bowl along from the off.
The six-year-old jumped well and had his rivals under pressure on the home turn, negotiating the last two obstacles to score by eight lengths. Irish raider Peregrine Run, bidding for a fifth successive win, was beaten to the runner-up spot by Gayebury.
“He was really impressive,” said Bass. “I can’t believe how much he’s improved from the run here before. He got into a really good rhythm, and on this ground he’s relentless. He just gallops and jumps.”
Jason Maguire, racing manager to owners Paul and Clare Rooney, said: “Ben [Pauling] was very keen to come. Off a mark of 127, you’d think he’d be up against it on official ratings, but he obviously loves this track.”
Scottish raider One For Arthur claimed honours in the Betfred Classic Chase. Lucinda Russell’s charge was given a patient ride by Derek Fox in the three-mile, five-furlong race and was left out the back when hampered by the early fall of Kaki De La Pree. He edged closer four from home.
Goodtoknow moved to the front rounding the home turn and, with Mountainous, Shotgun Paddy and Viva Steve throwing down challenges, it was 14-1 shot One For Arthur who took over at the second-last fence, going away to win by six lengths.
Modus, in the hands of Barry Geraghty, was just as impressive in taking the 32Red Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. Paul Nicholls’s seven-year-old hit the front two flights from home to deny Templeross, who was poised to deliver a hat-trick of wins on the card for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Geraghty said: “Harry [Derham, assistant trainer] texted me during the week and felt that stepping up in trip on soft ground he could be keen, so he suggested putting the hood back on and it worked well.”
Irish trainer Jessica Harrington has planned a busy schedule for Jezki, the 2014 Champion Hurdle winner who has not raced since the 2015 Punchestown Festival. In the run-up to Cheltenham, Harrington is eyeing up appearances at Navan and Gowran Park before March.
“All being well he runs next Saturday at Navan over two miles,” said Harrington. “The main aim is to go back up to three miles, but he’s got to start somewhere. He’ll be entered in the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle.” Kell Brook would retire unfulfilled if a collision in the ring with Amir Khan failed to materialise.
He insisted yesterday that he would “cut off one of my legs” to make the welterweight limit if his bitter rival remains adamant that the contest would have to take place at the 147pound limit.
Brook, who still holds the International Boxing Federation 147lb welterweight crown, has made no secret of the fact that he is struggling to make the welterweight limit at age 30, and would like to move up to 154lb.
But Brook, recovered from the surgery on a fractured eye socket from his fight at middleweight against Gennady Golovkin four months ago, told The Sunday Telegraph: “I’d come back down to 147 to fight Khan because it’s a lucrative fight and the whole world wants to see that fight. It would be exciting. If we can’t make the Khan fight, I need a big, big fight.”
A fight with Khan has motivated Brook, who was in New York to attend the James DeGale v Badou Jack super-middleweight unification early this morning, for some time.
He said: “It would definitely be hard if I had to retire, having never fought him. There is a very deep rivalry between us.
“I think he’s trying to drag me down to 147 knowing it’s going to kill me and knowing I’ve got an eye injury. It’s very difficult to deal with Team Khan. They want everything their own way. I’m the champion. I’ve got the bigger name, the better name.
“He struggles with the weight, but he knows it’s a lot harder for me. He doesn’t want me to make it. I’d be willing to cut one of my legs off to make the weight and fight him.”
Brook’s eye is untested yet in spar- ring. “I’m pretty sure I’m healed and ready to start again,” he said. “But there are no regrets about having the Golovkin fight. I knew it was a big ask, but I wanted to test myself. I did well in the fight. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t have an eye injury. I took the risk and it didn’t work out for me. But my stock has gone up and I’m in a good position now.”
Brook’s mandatory opponent for the IBF title is the unbeaten rising American star Errol Spence, but the Sheffield fighter seemed uninterested. Khan is the preference, while negotiations for a fight with Manny Pacquiao have taken place between the Filipino’s promoter, Bob Arum, and Eddie Hearn.
“I’d like two major fights this year. That would be fantastic for me. One in May and then one at the back end of the year against another huge name,” Brook said.
“I’m still a long way from retiring. I still want to win more titles and be considered one of the great fighters. I want to put on some memorable fights in Britain and America. I don’t think I’ve reached where I want to get to yet.”
‘Khan struggles with the weight, but he knows it’s a lot harder for me. He doesn’t want me to make it’
Super middleweight Callum Smith is the mandatory challenger for the World Boxing Council 12st crown, but the youngest of four professional boxing brothers from Liverpool, believes the leading super-middleweight in the world is not DeGale or Jack, but is from Mexico.
“I think Gilberto Ramírez should be looked at as the No 1 in the division, he’s got a great style and, for me, he’s the strongest out there,” said Smith of the 6ft 2in Mexican, who is unbeaten on 34 fights, with 24 knockouts. Ramírez claimed the World Boxing Organisation crown from Arthur Abraham last April.
“That’s a huge fight for me down the line,” added Smith. “We’re both tall, aggressive fighters, and that fight would deliver serious entertainment.”