Sheffield boxing: Kell Brook plays the field as he recovers from eye op

With his injured eye socket repairing after his September 10 defeat to Gennady Golvkin, Brook’s camp has been looking at the Sheffield fighter defending his IBF title against mandatory challenger Errol Spence, possibly at Bramall Lane stadium.

Brook admits it is a body-sapping job just getting down to the welterweight.

But he said: “It took me a long time to get that world title at welterweight and I just can’t give it up. You know, as much as it’s going to kill me to make the weight - Spence is the mandatory.

“He’s a very good fighter, maybe a fantastic fighter. I think I can make it and be strong at the weight.

“He’s not really heard of, but he can fight” Brook told Fighthype.com

“We’ve seen him fight. It’s maybe a fantastic fight, but there’s Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia. They’re fighting each other (March 4.) I’d love the winner. I’d love a unification with Manny Pacquiao.

“I heard in the press that I inspired him in the Golovkin fight to come back to the sport. So why not lock horns together and fight each other? I’d love to eventually fight Canelo (Saul Alvarez) and all the top fighters in that weight (light middleweight.)

Brook was granted a 60-day medical extension before having to confirm his IBF defence, that expires in February.

The 30-year-old Ecclesall man can, however, seek a further extension if he needs to.