By Edward Chaykovsky
IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-1, 25KOs) is back in training and looking forward to getting back in the ring.
Last month, Brook suffered the first loss of his career when he was stopped in five rounds by IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight king Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin at the O2 Arena in London.
Brook fought very well in the fight, but in the second round he suffered a fractured right orbital bone. The injury worsened as the fight played out and his trainer, Dominic Ingle, threw in the towel during the fifth.
Because of the injury, Brook was forced to undergo surgery - but now he's well enough to get back in the gym and hopes to return to the ring in the first half of 2017.
"First day back in training today. A bit of movement, get a nice sweat on," Brook said in an Instagram video. "I'm ready for those big fights in early spring next year."
For the fight with Golovkin, Brook moved up by thirteen pounds and two weight divisions. So far, Brook has refused to rule out a return to 147-pounds and he's yet to vacate his title. If he returns to welterweight, he is under an order to make a mandatory defense against Errol Spence. The sanctioning body is applying a lot of pressure to see that fight through and he's have to make up his mind on the matter, sooner than later.
Most experts, and Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn, believe he is better suited for the junior middleweight limit of 154-pounds.
Brook received some Hall of Fame support. Former five division champion Sugar Ray Leonard wished him well and does not want to see him rush his ring return.
“I just want to say a speedy recovery to Kell Brook for his eye surgery that he suffered from Triple G in his fight. Just take your time. You fought magnificently, you’ll come back but give yourself time to heal totally, mentally, spiritually, psychologically and physically," Leonard said in a video interview.
