There is a new welterweight rival on the global scene for Kell Brook.
He is a loudmouth American, four years younger and after Saturday already a three-weight world champion.
Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner skipped two divisions and over a stone to dethrone Paulie Malignaggi in New York to win the WBA title by split decision.
Some feat given that his previous titles were down at super-featherweight and lightweight and that New Yorker Malignaggi is a classy operator - only beaten by the best.
The WBA title could have been in the hands of Brook but promoter Eddie Hearn was not keen on taking on previous champion Vyacheslav Senchenko in the Ukraine because of the small size of the purse.
That fight was mooted just after Brook beat Matthew Hatton but it was Malignaggi who took the chance and came home with the title before Ricky Hatton’s career was ended by Senchenko.
If Brook was in a packed division before it is definitely deeper now with the addition of Ohio’s Broner - who is now unquestionably the biggest name at 147lbs.
Big punching and big talking Broner is recognised over The Pond as the long-term heir to Floyd Mayweather’s pound for pound title.
Brook prepares for a much less fierce American in Carson Jones next month in Hull.
He said: “I can’t wait to get in there and get my hands on him and do a job on him.
“I’m still mandatory for the IBF title so that is in my sights but you never know in boxing. I could go another route because I’m high in all governing bodies.”
Josh Wale has lost out on his shot to become British bantamweight champion.
Brampton’s Wale was scheduled to fight Bristol’s Lee Haskins next month in the South West but the big ticket seller on the undercard has withdrawn and the show has folded.