KELL BROOK returns to action this weekend for the first time since winning the IBF welterweight title from Shawn Porter in August last year. The euphoria of his world championship victory didn’t last for long. Within weeks a machete attack in Tenerife left his career in tatters, and his future uncertain. But he’s back and can expect a hero’s welcome in Sheffield when he makes his maiden defence against rugged Romanian, Jo Jo Dan.
BETWAY are not anticipating a hard night for Brook, making him a huge 1-14 favourite. One can see why Dan is such a hefty underdog. Although he’s been beaten only twice (tough but limited Selcuk Aydin inflicting both) he appears to have the style that Brook will relish.
Dan is no mug, of course, and can – when the opposition allows – box nicely from range but his punches lack zip (only 50 per cent of his fights have ended inside schedule) and are unlikely to faze the sharp-shooting Brook. The Englishman is a smooth pressure fighter capable of dictating the distance and pace in a long fight, or rapidly moving through the gears if he gets a sniff of an early night.
What we must not forget, though, is that horrendous ordeal that Brook suffered and the subsequent layoff he encountered. If the Sheffield star is not mentally focused as a result, Dan might have a chance of making any punter that backs him via BETWAY at 7-1 considerably richer. Significant underdog Carson Jones almost took advantage of a badly prepared Brook in 2012 but even then, the unbeaten British boxer proved his toughness and won a decision.
The draw is always tempting – this time priced by BETWAY at 25-1 – but it’s very hard to pick anything other than a home win for the fighter.
The best value – unless you sense a monster upset – will be in picking a round that the champion will triumph. Anywhere between five and nine look the most tempting.
| Fight Winner | 1 | X | 2 | ||
| 28 March 2015 | |||||
| 22:00 (GMT) | Kell Brook – Ionut Dan Ion | 1/14 | 25/1 | 7/1 | |
| Total Rounds | Over | Under | |||
| Kell Brook – Ionut Dan Ion | 10/11 (+9.5) | 4/5 (-9.5) | |||
| Round Betting | |||||
| Kell Brook Round 1 | 25/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 2 | 20/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 3 | 16/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 4 | 12/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 5 | 10/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 6 | 10/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 7 | 10/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 8 | 10/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 9 | 10/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 10 | 12/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 11 | 16/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook Round 12 | 18/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook to win on points | 6/4 | ||||
| Draw | 25/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan to win on points | 20/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 1 | 125/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 2 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 3 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 4 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 5 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 6 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 7 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 8 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 9 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 10 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 11 | 100/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Round 12 | 100/1 | ||||
| Method Of Victory | |||||
| Kell Brook KO, TKO or Disqualification | 8/13 | ||||
| Kell Brook Decision or Technical Decision | 6/4 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion KO, TKO or Disqualification | 14/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion, Decision or Technical Decision | 20/1 | ||||
| Draw or Technical Draw | 25/1 | ||||
| Will The Fight Go The Distance | |||||
| Kell Brook – Ionut Dan Ion | Yes – 11/8 | ||||
| No – 8/15 | |||||
| Round Group Betting | |||||
| Kell Brook in Rounds 1 to 3 | 7/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook in Rounds 4 to 6 | 4/1 | ||||
| Kell Brook in Rounds 7 to 9 | 7/2 | ||||
| Kell Brook in Rounds 10 to 12 | 11/2 | ||||
| Kell Brook in Points Decision | 8/13 | ||||
| Draw | 25/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion in Rounds 1 to 3 | 50/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Rounds 4 to 6 | 40/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Rounds 7 to 9 | 40/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Rounds 10 to 12 | 50/1 | ||||
| Ionut Dan Ion Points Decision | 25/1 | ||||
On the undercard the home fighters are all favourites (see below) with Sergey Khomitsky the most tempting underdog to back due to his history of upsetting the odds; both Frank Buglioni and Jamie Moore were unexpectedly vanquished in Britain.
| Fight Winner | 1 | X | 2 | |
| 27 March 2015 | ||||
| 19:00 (GMT) | Matty Askin – Ovill McKenzie | 6/5 | 25/1 | 4/6 |
| 28 March 2015 | ||||
| 19:00 (GMT) | Charlie Edwards – Mikheil Soloninkini | 1/100 | 25/1 | 25/1 |
| 19:00 (GMT) | Frankie Gavin – Bogdan Mitic | 1/100 | 33/1 | 20/1 |
| 20:00 (GMT) | Adam Etches – Sergey Khomitsky | 1/3 | 22/1 | 9/4 |
| 20:00 (GMT) | Gavin McDonnell – Oleksandr Yegorov | 1/10 | 25/1 | 11/2 |
| 22:00 (GMT) | Kell Brook – Ionut Dan Ion | 1/14 | 25/1 | 7/1 |
| 29 March 2015 | ||||
| 00:30 (GMT) | Jhonny Gonzalez – Gary Russell Jnr | 5/4 | 22/1 | 8/13 |
| 02:00 (GMT) | Nonito Donaire – William Prado | 1/100 | 28/1 | 18/1 |
| 04:00 (GMT) | Donnie Nietes – Gilberto Parra | 1/100 | 33/1 | 18/1 |
