Tuesday 7 February 2017 17:17, UK
Eddie Hearn has told Sky Sports News that he hopes a deal for Kell Brook to defend his IBF welterweight title against mandatory challenger Errol Spence will be concluded by the end of the week.
Promoter Hearn said negotiations over the proposed showdown are going well and the IBF have agreed to extend Tuesday's deadline for purse bids until February 14.
"We've asked for a week's extension from the IBF because I feel we're very close to making a deal," confirmed Hearn.
Brook is recovering from surgery to repair a broken eye socket sustained during his brave bid to dethrone middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovin in September.
The Sheffield fighter stepped up two divisions against 'GGG' but suffered his first defeat after 36 wins when his corner threw in the towel after five rounds at the O2 Arena.
He will return to 147lbs to defend his title against the American after talks about a proposed domestic showdown with Amir Khan broke down.
Spence, 27, who fought at London 2012, but missed out on a medal after losing in the quarter-finals, has an unblemished record of 21 wins with 18 stoppages.
The fight is likely to take place at the end of May and could be in the UK, however, venues on both sides of the Atlantic still being discussed.
