At the Sheffield Arena, UK, Brook vs Bizier turned out to be the mismatch most boxing scribes predicted. Here at Boxing Base we inked in a 5th round TKO for Brook beforehand, but the unbeaten Sheffield star bettered that prediction, crushing (bizarrely ranked) mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier inside 2 rounds.
Brook now extends his record to 36 wins, no defeats, 25 knockouts, with Bizier returning to Canada with 25 wins, 3 defeats, 17 knockouts. Brook, who barely broke a sweat, defends his IBF Welterweight title for the third time.
In short: domination. Brook was simply on another level, and once he got a look at Bizier, a solid yet predictable opponent who comes forward in straight lines, he got to work. Brook wobbled Bizier with an uppercut inside the first minute of the opener, and then completely took over the fight. Hard, accurate combinations, and a ram-rod jab pounded the face of Bizier until the bell closed the round.
Bizier hadn’t been dropped or knocked out in the pro game before tonight, but things were about to change. Violently. Brook, who has been patiently waiting for the biggest names at Welterweight since trumping Shawn Porter in 2014, showed no mercy to Bizier in the 2nd, dropping him hard thanks to a barrage of full-blooded punches. Bizier regained his feet, but soon found himself horizontal, in another heap shortly after.
The referee had seen enough, and rightly waved off what was becoming dangerous. Brook vs Bizier was a short-lived, ultimately brutal encounter. And really, no one should be surprised.
So what now for Brook? The answer is obviously: bigger, better fights! Whether that be Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Jessie Vargas, or even Shawn Porter again – as long as it’s a Top 10 cat – it doesn’t matter. Brook isn’t getting any younger, and I think I can speak for the entire boxing fandom when I say we’re all crying out for him to start facing elite opposition.
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom – boxing Gods – let’s make it happen!
Brook vs Bizier Undercard
Campbell vs Sykes
Luke Campbell impressed in his comeback matchup against respected domestic operator Gary Sykes. After a cagey opener, Campbell caught his foe with a left hook-counter to the temple, which rocked Sykes’ equilibrium. Sensing his man was in trouble, Campbell pounced and sent Sykes to the canvas off a long straight left.
Sykes beat the count, but immediately found himself under a barrage of lightning combinations. Campbell brought down Sykes’ guard with a cluster of body shots and then pummelled his foe with hard shots upstairs, eventually forcing the referee to dive in and halt the action. Campbell, who picks up the vacant Lightweight Commonwealth title, now builds to 13 wins, 1 defeat, 10 knockouts, while Sykes falls to 28 wins, 5 defeats, 6 knockouts.
Etches vs Zera
Rising Middleweight Adam Etches was in with an awkward, wild opponent in Zoltan Sera, but eventually managed to break down his man and bag a 4th round stoppage. Sera didn’t have much in his utility belt, but had plenty of heart, coming forward from the 1st bell. Which was admirable. Sera’s surge had little effect on the more refined Etches, however, and the fight quickly became a one-sided beatdown.
Sera was knocked down off a stiff jab in the 2nd, from a body shot in the 3rd, and twice – though only one was counted by the referee – courtesy of hard right hands in the 4th. This was a mismatch of abilities, for sure, but a barnburner compared to the awful Allen vs Gavern (below). Etches now climbs to 20 wins, 1 defeat, 17 knockouts, while Sera falls to 22 wins, 8 defeats, 13 knockouts.
Allen vs Gavern
A win is a win. But I don’t think any fighter wants to ever win a bout in the same fashion Dave Allen did. The 4th round Retirement outcome doesn’t come anywhere close to telling the whole story. Undefeated Allen came to trade blows with well-travelled Heavyweight Jason Gavern on the Brook vs Bizier undercard; unfortunately Gavern had very different plans.
I’m not quite sure what the story was behind Gavern’s behaviour – it no doubt had something to do with taking this fight at three day’s notice – but it created a whole lot of confusion. Did Gavern quit on his stool? Was it something else? Did his corner retire him to stop the referee calling a disqualification? Who the hell knows?
There were moments when Gavern did throw punches, and even land, but the aging journeyman seemed happier spoiling, smothering, and shouting ‘whoooop!’. For some reason. And, like, a lot. The referee certainly had his work cut out in this one, having the unusual task of telling Gavern to actually fight, stop talking, and to quit exercising other time-buying infractions like wrestling Allen to the ground. Odd stuff.
I guess there is something to take away from this encounter. Allen was the boss – I’m reaching here – and did win every round. That is true at least. Against an opponent who didn’t want to fight, Allen was of course never going to be involved in a classic. Anyway, it’s done and dusted. Allen now bulks his record to 9 wins, no defeats, 1 draw, 6 knockouts, while Gavern returns home with 27 wins, 21 defeats, 4 draws, 12 knockouts.
Townend vs Poxton
Andy Townend put in a blistering performance in his English Junior Lightweight title defense, taking out Craig Poxton in the opening round. ‘The KO Kid’ lived up to his alias tonight, demonstrating dynamite power, knocking down Poxton with a crunching right hand. Poxton fought on, but couldn’t withstand the ensuing onslaught, being dropped twice more courtesy of Townend’s thunderous right.
There was a second or two remaining until the bell, but the referee didn’t hesitate to step in. And I don’t think anyone could argue with that decision. Townend now improves to 16 wins, 3 defeats, 11 knockouts, while Poxton reduces to 9 wins, 4 defeats, 1 knockout.
Give us your take on Brook vs Bizier in the comments, plus the rest of the Matchroom Boxing card below.
