Sunday 31 May 2015 09:43, UK
Kell Brook outclassed Frankie Gavin to defend his IBF world welterweight title with a sixth round stoppage.
The world champion was rarely troubled by the former amateur star and followed up a crunching uppercut with a straight right to send his challenger reeling before pummelling his opponent on the ropes to force an intervention from the referee.
Brook’s speed and high-quality jabs had Gavin on the ropes from the very first round, with a smart combination at the end of the opener earning the champion an ideal start.
Gavin made life tougher for Brook in the second, as the two technical operators sized each other up, but once again the champion got through with a straight right to stamp his authority on the contest.
Brook continued to find his range in the third round, backing Gavin up onto the ropes with a right before landing an uppercut through the guard.
Birmingham boy Gavin had his best spell of the fight at the start of the fourth, firing in a right hook, but was soon retreating once again, as Brook dominated the centre of the ring and snapped his opponent’s head back with a straight right.
Now in complete control, Brook stepped up his intensity in the fifth, seeking the stoppage, and another upper cut sent Gavin into the corner once more. The challenger eventually managed to break free but his single-shot attacks were having little impact on the Sheffield fighter.
And it was all over in the next. Brook landed an uppercut through the guard and then capitalised on the opening when Gavin flung a desperate right hook in response, firing a straight shot to the chin.
The impact had Gavin back-pedalling but Brook followed his man and finished the bout with a flurry of blows on his challenger, giving referee Steve Gray no option but to step in and end the contest.
