Prospect of the Month (June): Burley Brooks
In boxing, it's what have you done for me lately. You're only as good as your last performance! That's good news for this month's "Prospect of the Month." who hadn't won a fight since pre-pandemic 2020, a first-round knockout of a journeyman named Melvin Russell on the swing bout of the Ugas-Dallas JR card in Biloxi, Mississippi, was the last time 27-year-old Burley Brooks of Dallas, Texas was in the winner's circle. Brooks followed up with two losses and a draw, and after a nearly two-year layoff, Brooks stunned former world champion Caleb Truax, ruined his homecoming, and sent the 39-year-old into retirement. Brooks moved his record to 7-2-1 (5), in beating a former world champ, changes his career trajectory from b-side journeyman to contender, picked up the biggest win of his career, sets himself up for something much bigger, and brings home our "Prospect of the Month Award."
That was not to be the case. Brooks, who had never fought a 10-rounder before, or even an 8-rounder, took a major step up, and he saved his career-best performance for his best opponent. Brooks dominated the 10-round affair, and it was never in doubt. After a bit of a slow start, Brooks got cooking in the third with a flurry that backed Truax backward. The North Texan got going in the second half after a fairly even first half of the 10-round affair, outworking and outlanding his opponent. A flurry at the end of the round again dazed the former champ. Brooks connected with a left to the body just after the halfway point of the eighth round. Brooks was deducted a point in the ninth for losing his mouthpiece for a fourth time but remained undeterred and dominated the final stanza. A five-punch barrage from the Texansent Truax into the ropes with about 1:50 remaining in their fight. Brooks slammed on the gas and dominated the remainder of the round. The cards were academic and were all in favor of Brooks 96-93X2 and 98-91.
In just 10 professional bouts the Texan has gone from emerging prospect to forgotten journeyman B-side to now contender. Things move that quickly in professional boing and one win can change things. The super middleweight landscape is an interesting one, you have one world champion holding all the belts who is fighting a jr middleweight instead of the loaded talent in his division on his side of the street. While this Months Prospect of the Month isn't nearly ready for the top-tier 168-pounders on the PBC side, Morrell, Big Charlo, and Benavidez are all still levels and levels ahead but Brooks should have something big on the horizon. A name like Kyrone Davis or Demond Nicholson would be easily makeable by PBC. If they really wanted to test him, Anthony Dirrell or Lennox Clarke would be a massive step ups, should Brooks pass that test, he will find himself on the fast track for a title shot.
