According to promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) could be next in line to face Manny Pacquiao after the Filipino superstar has fought Jeff Horn in April.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, confirmed on Tuesday the 38-year-old would put his WBO world welterweight title on the line against Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) on April 22nd as part of a planned world tour by the eight-weight world champion.
Promotors are already queuing up to make sure their fighter is next in line to take on 'Pacman' and Hearn believes his welterweight star Brook is the near the top of the list.
'Special K' has not fought since he was stopped in five rounds by IBF, IBO, WBC, WBA middleweight champion Gennady Glolovkin in September. Brook suffered a fractured orbital bone but is back in the gym ahead of his next match.
A British showdown with Amir Khan has been discussed for a May date but as yet no deal has been signed.
Brook will instead likely have his next fight against the mandatory challenger for his IBF welterweight title, Errol Spence Jr, before moving on to bigger and better things.
Hearn claims his main aim is still to organise a domestic bout with Khan but says the option to face Pacquiao in the autumn is also on the table.
"I have been speaking with Bob Arum about a Kell Brook versus Manny Pacquiao fight," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"We are ready to go with that right now, but I think they like the idea of fighting Horn first, so we will now try and work for an Autumn fight.
"Obviously our priority is the big British fight with Amir and we also have the Errol Spence Jr fight. Either way, Kell's future will be mapped out in the next month."
