Former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) is looking to make a big splash in the junior middleweight division.

Brook is slated to return to the ring on a date in early March in his hometown of Sheffield.

He's looking to bounce back after suffering back to back stoppage losses. Brook moved up by two weight divisions last September, when he moved up to the middleweight division to challenge IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC champion Gennady Golovkin. After a good start, Golovkin proved to be too big and stopped Brook in the fifth round. Brook suffered a fractured orbital bone that required surgery and months of recovery.

In May, he made a mandatory defense of his IBF belt against unbeaten Errol Spence. Again starting well, Brook fell apart in the second half when Spence took over the fight and stopped him for the win. Brook once again suffered a fractured orbital bone.

Brook wants to have a good comeback fight to shake off the rust, and then he wants a world title opportunity.

The junior middleweight division is stacked at the moment and the world title options are very tough with three undefeated kingpins at the top - WBC champion Jermell Charlo, IBF champion Jarrett Hurd or WBA/IBO champion Erislandy Lara.

"I think I'll have a meaningful fight, a comeback fight, a warm-up fight, and then we'll be looking at jumping back on the high horse for a world title," said Brook to Sky Sports.

"They are all very good fighters, they're all world champions, they're all talented fighters. Once I come back with a win, and my confidence is up there again, I'll be looking at those names."

The fought belt, the WBO, is held by Miguel Cotto who retires next month after facing Sadam Ali. Brook was also in the running for that fight.

"We came pretty close," Brook said. "I left it to Eddie [Hearn] but I know that we were in talks and everything else, and I know that we were very close with it, but for one thing or another, it didn't happen.

"I would have loved that fight. I think the fans would have loved that fight. Miguel Cotto is a serious warrior. He's entertained us for years and I would have loved to have shared the ring with him."