By Ryan Burton

On September 10th, Kell Brook (36-1, 25KOs) surprised many with how competitive he was against Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs) before getting stopped in 5 rounds.  Brook, who holds the IBF welterweight title, jumped up two weight classes to face the hard hitting GGG for the IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight belts.

BoxingScene.com recently spoke to WBA  welterweight champion Keith Thurman who was perplexed at Brook's decision to move up in weight when were several top fighters available in the welterweight division.

"Honestly man what was a surprise is what manager pulls their undefeated welterweight champion of the world into a championship bout two weight classes above," said Thurman.

The soon to be 28-year-old Thurman believes that Brook would have had a much better shot at winning if he fought a heavy hitter in the welterweight or super welterweight division prior to facing the fighter many feel is the hardest hitter pound-for-pound in the sport.

With that being said, Thurman still believes that Brook will be able to secure a big fight in the future but that the damage that he took against Golovkin could linger.

"The real dilemma is that he wasn't favored going into the fight and he didn't win the fight. The problem is he is now an undefeated welterweight - not necessarily an undefeated champion. See what I'm saying? Luckily, being an undefeated welterweight you really can etch that into the media and keep it as that and promote that and There is still a lot to talk about. No welterweight has ever beaten him," Thurman said.

"He is still a great fighter but the problem is they said he was injured with an orbital bone fracture. It's happened to other fighters in the past. Hopefully he has a full recovery. Nobody would want Kell Brook subjected to more damage from left hooks. If he can't make 147 and fights at 54 you're looking at a puncher like Canelo. At 147 you're looking at a puncher like me.

"Kell Brook's biggest mistake was to not face punchers like Keith Thurman.  To not face a puncher like a Canelo Alvarez before facing a puncher at 160. We're talking about punchers from multiple weight classes that he didn't mess with in his own weight class. That was a big mistake. 10 ounce gloves, you think there is a little extra cushion, there is but all that extra weight."

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