By Elliot Foster
Howard Foster has been named as the referee for a world title fight next week.
The IBF have confirmed that the Doncaster man, who was the third man when Carl Froch controversially stopped George Groves inside nine rounds at the Manchester Arena back in 2013, will take charge of Kell Brook's IBF welterweight title fight against Errol Spence Jr.
The pair clash for the Sheffield man’s world crown on May 27 at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Showtime in the States.
Foster received criticism for his officiating during the first Froch vs. Groves fight and, incidentally, Groves will appear on the same Sheffield bill as he battles Fedor Chudinov for the vacant Super WBA title in the super-middleweight division.
But the 55-year-old Yorkshireman has since overseen a number of other significant bouts in this country, including Anthony Joshua's successful IBF heavyweight title defence against Dominic Breazeale last June along with AJ’s showdown with Dillian Whyte in December 2015.
He was also in charge of Jorge Linares’ majestic display against Anthony Crolla at Manchester Arena in March.
As previously reported, Team GB stars Lawrence Okolie and Joe Cordina have been added to the packed undercard.
The Rio Olympic duo have enjoyed great starts to life in the paid ranks with both men boasting a pair of stoppage wins from the first two fights with Okolie blasting away his first two opponents inside a round and Cordina landing a fourth round KO at Wembley Stadium as he kicked off the Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko card in April.
Okolie was set to appear on that bill but time defeated his chance to fight Russell Henshaw, so they will meet at the home of Sheffield United, and their addition to the card makes it a hat-trick of GB Olympic stars on the bill as Anthony Fowler makes his pro debut.
Brook and Spence top the action in the steel city where George Groves faces Fedor Chudinov for the vacant WBA World Super-Middleweight title.
Jamie Cox meets Lewis Taylor for the WBA Inter-Continental Super-Middleweight title on his Matchroom Boxing debut while Dave Allen takes on with Lenroy Thomas for the vacant Commonwealth Heavyweight title.
Tickets for the night are still on general sale priced as follows: tiered seating at £40, £60 and £80 and pitch seats at £80, £100, £150 and £200 –VIP Packages are sold out.
Watch Brook vs Spence Jr, from Bramall Lane, Sheffield, on May 27, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book now by visiting http://www.skysports.com/brook.