Hearn: We Made 'Huge Offer' To Jessie Vargas For Kell Brook

By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport is hoping to finalize a unification between IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs) and WBO beltholder Jessie Vargas (27-1, 19KOs).

Vargas, who held the WBA world title at junior welterweight, won the vacant WBO title at welterweight in March after knocking out previously undefeated Sadam Ali in nine rounds.

Brook retained his title in March after knocking out mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier of Canada.

Hearn, who promotes Brook, had tried to get Amir Khan, who instead decided to move up by nearly two weight division to challenge WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. He also tried to get Adrien Broner, but that likely won't happen at the moment as Broner battles his legal problems.

The Matchroom promoter made what he calls a 'huge offer' to Vargas for a Brook unification on UK soil. Vargas is ready to travel for the right offer - and he wants some assurances regarding neutral officials for the fight.  Some of the other options viewed by Hearn include former world champions Robert Guerrero, Lamont Peterson and Andre Berto.

"Vargas is right up there," said Hearn to Sky Sports. "Adrien Broner we offered a huge amount of money to, but I don't think he's going to take the fight right now.

"Andre Berto had a decent win the other week, Lamont Peterson wants the fight, Robert Guerrero wants the fight. These are all solid names but we want the titles if possible so Vargas is a priority.

"Will he travel? I'm not so sure but we've made him a huge offer. It's tough getting the fights for Kell right now because everyone knows how good he is… we may have to go to America for that defining fight."