Jessie Vargas claims he can beat Kell Brook on Sheffield soil

The American is due to meet the South Yorkshireman at the end of July/early August, at Sheffield United’s ground.

Vargas says he has signed for the contest - but it seems Brook hasn’t yet. Which, to some in the local boxing scene, has suggested a possible sticking point over finances. Matchroom, the promoters, have previously insisted it’s more a matter of confirming a date, in line with the Football League fixture list that is due to be announced on Wednesday.

Brook has been quiet of late. But Vargas says he is developing well in training camp.

Vargas says the key to an ‘away’ win over Brook is to follow the game plan of his new trainer Dewey Cooper.

“The key for this fight is Dewey Cooper,” Vargas told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “He’s coming up with the game plan for September 3, and as long as I follow it, I know we’re going to be victorious.”

The Journal says Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) had Cooper in his corner for the first time on March 5 when he stopped New Yorker Sadam Ali in the ninth round in Washington, D.C.

Vargas has employed a variety of trainers in recent few years - including former champion Erik Morales and Roy Jones Jr, but the Journal says he seems to “have finally found his groove with Cooper in the corner.”

Vargas said: “I have 100% confidence in my entire team, not just Dewey,” Vargas said.

“We’re going to train hard and train smart and be totally prepared.”

Meanwhile promoter Eddie Hearn has again been quoted as saying that Brook would stop Amir Khan if the pair ever met.

Khan “says he’s got three or four fights left in him. Does that mean three or four times he’s going to get knocked out? Because if he fights Kell Brook, he gets knocked out, and he knows that as well” Hearn said.