By Edward Chaykovsky
IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (34-0, 25KOs) has warned Floyd Mayweather Jr. (48-0, 26KOs), who holds the WBO/WBC/WBA titles, to stay very far away.
Both of them are scheduled to return on September 12th. Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Brook at a venue to be finalized in the UK - tentative for the O2. Brook would like to get Mayweather in the ring on that date but says his likely opponent is Brandon Rios.
"Yeah we're very close to making that [Rios] fight happen now and it looks like it's going to be September 12. There's also another fighter who wants to fight on that day and that's Floyd Mayweather Jr. If he wants to compete at welterweight and unify the division then it's a natural choice to fight me," Brook said to Sky Sports.
"He's boxed at a really high level against Manny Pacquiao but is now talking about other names that bring nothing to the table. Me, I'm unbeaten, I bring a world title to the table and I believe I can beat Floyd. You never know with Mayweather. He's got the rest of the titles and I've got the IBF title so it makes sense.
"If I were him, I'd keep well away from me. I am hungry and I want to take that zero and turn it in to a one. People would really be excited about that fight. There's me and Keith Thurman that can cause Mayweather problems. I'd love to take the task of beating Floyd Mayweather. I'm going to be ready for September 12 whether it's Rios or Mayweather."
"It's looking like it'll be the O2 in London. It's a fantastic arena and I got a fantastic reception there last time."