By Edward Chaykovsky
Eddie Hearn, who promotes IBF welterweight world champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25 KOs), is hoping to finalize a deal for a May fight with Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs).
Brook's next ring outing is being positioned for May 20 or May 27. The opponent, and the weight limit, is up in the air.
Brook has been out of the ring since getting stopped by middleweight king Gennady Golovkin in five rounds last September. He moved up by two weight divisions to take the fight and suffered a fractured orbital bone during the contest.
There are some issues regarding the money. Obviously Khan wants the lion's share of the split, but Hearn believes Brook's stock and value as a fighter has risen with the Golovkin fight - and Brook is a world champion at 147.
"When you're talking about a split; Amir might say 'I'm a much bigger name'," Hearn told Sky Sports. "We disagree because we're world champion. How much value do you put on a belt? I always say to fighters that 'without each other, you aren't getting paid'.
The weight is another issue. Hearn admits that he would like to see Brook move up to junior middleweight. Brook has an outstanding mandatory obligation to undefeated Olympian Errol Spence (20-0, 18 KOs). Brook wants to defend his title, but he's also mulling the idea of a jump in weight to 154. Khan will only fight Brook at the welterweight limit of 147.
"We've got to decide whether to stay at 147-pounds or move up to 154-pounds," Hearn said. "I want Kell to move up to light middleweight, he shouldn't be at welterweight. But Amir knows his best chance is at welterweight. There's rumours that Amir wants to take a warm-up fight first, which would be disappointing. We have a meeting on Friday. Hopefully we can say 'let's get this going'."
