Saturday 14 January 2017 09:16, UK
Promoter Eddie Hearn expects to make a decision on Kell Brook’s next opponent in a "couple of weeks" as talks continue over a British battle with Amir Khan in May.
Hearn held further negotiations with Khan’s team this week and has drawn up two possible dates of May 20 or May 27 for the long-awaited domestic clash against Brook.
A discussed fight with Manny Pacquiao is another option for IBF welterweight champion Brook, who also has to fulfil a mandatory defence against Errol Spence Jr, but Hearn remains hopeful that he can reach an agreement with Khan.
"Kell is going to box in May, and really who he boxes is going to be decided in the next couple of weeks,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“Myself and many of the team around him want to see him move to 154 pounds. I don’t think he’s the same fighter at 147 pounds, that he is at 154.
"He’s world champion at 147, he’s a fighter, he’s a very proud man and he doesn’t want to vacate. He doesn’t want to move and swerve fights.
"Amir Khan wants to fight him at 147 pounds. Good thinking, because that’s Amir Khan’s best chance to beat Kell Brook. Kell Brook will fight Amir Khan at 147 pounds.
"If he stays at welterweight, he’s also got the Errol Spence mandatory as well, great fight, but it’s not really as big as the likes of Khan and Pacquiao.
"So, discussions with Top Rank are ongoing, really it is just a case of where do we go? Do we go to 154? Do we go with Spence? Do we go with Khan?”
Khan has suggested that he would prefer to take a warm-up fight in April and has urged Brook to keep his IBF belt by defending against Spence Jr.
But Hearn believes neither fighter will be at a disadvantage by taking the fight next and has hinted that a rematch clause could also be offered to Khan.
"The Khan fight remains the No 1 priority, it has been for three years,” he said.
We can do two fights if he needs the security. That’s a fight that has to happen, May 20, May 27.
“We’ve had meetings with Khan’s team again two days ago in my office and more next week. He lost in his last fight, he got knocked out in his last fight by [Saul] Alvarez. We lost in our last fight against Gennady Golovkin.
"Kell’s coming back to make a weight that I think he shouldn’t be fighting at, recovering from a fractured eye socket.
"Now may be the great time to face Kell Brook, now may be the great time to fight Amir Khan; let’s just jump in and find out.
"We can do two fights if he needs the security, That’s a fight that has to happen, May 20, May 27."
