| |
|
|
Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Jo Jo Dan Believes Brook Is
Taking Him Lightly
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL —— The Montrealer Romanian Jo Jo dan will try to
capture his first world title Saturday evening in Sheffield,
England. Dan (34-2-0) will challenge the IBF welterweight
champion of the world, the British Kell Brook (33-0-0), “I
know I will have to get a good strategic fight, said Dan
Friday. I will have to use my mobility and my speed to score
points and force Brook to make mistakes. I will need to
fight with intelligence and intensity. Brook has the
reputation to be a dangerous puncher. However, apparently,
he does not like to face a fighter who put a constant
pressure on him. I really believe in my chances to capture
my first world title. I am a southpaw who has the weapons to
cause him problems in many situations. And the fact that
Brook is talking constantly of his future big fights, pushed
me to believe he is not afraid of me. If he thinks it’s just
a formality, he will will have a huge surprise when the
fight will start.”
Pierre Bouchard, the Jo Jo dan’s trainer, is very confident
to see his fighter cause a surprise in England. “It’s a huge
challenge, but Jo Jo is ready for, said Bouchard. We know
what Brook can do in the ring, and i know what Jo Jo can
bring to the table. I am very optimistic. I know how much Jo
Jo has the desire to become world champion. And I know that
Jo Jo is not afraid to suffer in the ring to get a win. He
is really courageous.”
At the weight in, Brook posted an official weight of 146.6
pounds, versus 146.2 for Dan.
Dominic Ingle, the Brook’s trainer said: “Kell is working
hard in the gym, but he loves to eat. He will take care of
Jo Jo Dan, and after, I really believe he will move up in
the middleweight division. I am expecting a solid
performance from my fighter Saturday. He made several
technical mistakes against Porter, and he knows it. I am
sure he will have a very good fight technically and
strategically.”
Brook won the IBF 147 pounds world champion August 16th in
Carson, California, in beating Shawn Porter (25-1-1), a
fighter from Las vegas, by majority decision
(116-112-117-111 and 114-114).
“I could move up eventually in the super welterweight or in
the middleweight division, but not on a short term, said
Brook. My intention is to take care of Jo Jo Dan, and
challenge the winner of the mega fight opposing Floyd
Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao May 2nd in Las Vegas. I
really want to be involved myself in a mega fight, and I am
positive I have the talent, the desire and the experience to
win a fight against the biggest stars of the welterweight
division. Jo Jo Dan was deserving to face me, because he won
an elimination bout (against Kevin Bizier in Québec City),
like I did to gain a fight with Porter. It was extremely
exciting to become world champion last August in California,
but it will a lot of more exciting to face Jo Jo Dan in
front of my fans. Don’t worry, I won’t take Jo Jo Dan
lightly. I want to have a perfect performance in front of my
fans, and get out of the ring with the IBF belt in my
hands.”
It will be the first time that Brook is fighting since the
attack he has been victim in Spain Last September. Outside a
bar in Spain, a man hit Brook with a machete and inflicted
him several cuts.
|
|
|
