by David P. Greisman

After Kell Brook stopped Carson Jones in their July rematch, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport said a big name would be next for Brook. Hearn wanted Shane Mosley but ended up with Vyacheslav Senchenko, an opponent he described as “commercially perfect.”

Hearn cited Senchenko’s credentials as a former welterweight titleholder, as well as his win in November 2012 against a returning Ricky Hatton in Manchester. Hearn spoke August 16 to BoxingScene’s David Greisman and Tim Starks of Queensberry-Rules.com at the weigh-in for the fight between Daniel Geale and Darren Barker in Atlantic City.

“We have to understand the world we live in here,” Hearn said. “This is a business. It’s absolutely flying at the box office. So people like the fight. I got attacked a little bit by the hardcore.”

Brook, 27, is 30-0 with 20 knockouts. Senchenko, a 36-year-old who hasn’t fought since the Hatton win, is 33-1 with 22 knockouts, that lone loss coming via a stoppage on cuts against Paulie Malignaggi in April 2012.

“Mosley was my first choice. I mentioned Mosley and I got abused by fans,” Hearn said. “Brook-Mosley in the U.K. is a massive fight. But the hardcore, as the hardcore do, hated the fight without thinking about the commercial aspect. You’ve got to remember about Kell Brook: Kell Brook is a wonderful talent, [but] look at his wins: Matthew Hatton, Carson Jones, Hector Saldivia. Senchenko is levels beyond anything he’s ever been in with before.”

David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter @fightingwords2 or send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com