KELL BROOK is hoping to return to the ring on March 7, 2015, in Sheffield according to his promoter, Eddie Hearn.
The IBF welterweight champion’s first defence of the title he won in August against Shawn Porter has been delayed due to the stabbing he endured while on holiday in Tenerife, but the Brit is scheduled to resume training next week. He has until March 15 to make a voluntary defence.
Presuming he negotiates that maiden defence – potentially against the winner of the December 19 eliminator between Ionut Dan Ion and Kevin Bizier – then a bumper summer showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez or Amir Khan awaits.
“We’ve pencilled in March 7 in Sheffield [for Brook’s return] and he starts training next week,” said Hearn. “It’s interesting. Originally, [Leonard] Bundu was going to fight Jo Jo Dan in a final eliminator but now it’s [Kevin] Bizier against Dan, so maybe we’ll fight the winner of that to get it out of the way to clear the path for a big fight in the summer.”
Hearn likes the idea of bring over Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez to Britain to challenge his charge in defence No.2.
“I love the [Juan Manuel] Marquez fight,” Hearn continued. “I’ve spoke to Top Rank and Marquez’s people. I think Brook-Marquez over here is a wonderful fight and a wonderful event.”
Marquez recently admitted in Las Vegas his future is uncertain, but Hearn is confident the old warrior will fight again.
“If he doesn’t fight Pacquiao, he would love a crack at a world title in a fifth weight, and he can try that against Kell Brook. Bring him over here, I think it’s brilliant.”
The other name on Brook’s big fight radar is, of course, Amir Khan who takes on Devon Alexander in Las Vegas on December 13. The 2004 Olympic silver medallist has made no secret of his desire to fight pound-for-pound leader, Floyd Mayweather.
“We have to see what happens with Amir Khan,” said Hearn. “I think he beats Alexander quite handily and then after that, does he get the Mayweather fight or not? If he doesn’t, he will fight Kell Brook.”
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