Kell Brook is still the reigning IBF welterweight champion and he has until February 24 of next year to decide if he wants to defend that title against mandatory challenger Errol Spence Jnr or move up to 154. As fans know, Brook bulked up for a middleweight title challenge of Gennady Golovkin in September, and the Sheffield fighter says he now craves further massive fights.
But will these come at 147 or at 154? Brook says the broken eye socket he suffered at the damaging hands of GGG is now “healing well,” and that his weight has “settled down.” Still, Brook is not yet sure if his future lies at welter or junior-middle. However, Brook told ESPN.com that he is very much interested in facing the likes of Manny Pacquiao (who Brook expects to beat Jessie Vargas this Saturday, via points verdict) Amir Khan, Spence and the Danny Garcia-Keith Thurman winner – so maybe Brook will look to try to hold onto that IBF belt.
“Once you have become world champion, you really need special fights to keep you motivated in training,” Brook said. “A world title unification fight would do that. My weight has settled down so I could still make welterweight. I’ve got Spence on the horizon and there’s the likes of Garcia and Amir Khan as well, but I don’t know yet. The eye socket is healing well but I still have some stitches in my mouth.”
Brook, 36-1(25) said he will not return until his eye is “100-percent,” but that he is hoping to be back in the spring of 2017. If Brook does choose to stick around at 147, and if he can make the weight safely and soundly, there are some huge fights there for him – maybe. But will Khan actually fight Brook? Will the Garcia-Thurman winner? Spence of course wants his shot at Brook, far more than he wants to fight someone for the vacant belt if Brook does move up a division.
If Brook does stay at welterweight, common sense says that huge all-British match-up with Khan could, should and will finally happen. Still, Brook faces a massive challenge holding onto his 147 title if he gets in there with the incredibly gifted Spence Jnr. Either way, Brook will have no easy path next year.
