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IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook is keen on a unification bout with WBA king Keith Thurman, says promoter Eddie Hearn.
Brook had been expected to make the third defence of his crown against Brandon Rios in September but with negotiations stalling, it now appears 'The Special One' (35-0-KO24) will fight later in the year.
Thurman defended his title at the weekend, stopping Luis Collazo in seven in Tampa, and Brook was quickly on the phone to Hearn requesting a unification clash.
Hearn told Sky Sports: "Kell Brook is up for fighting anyway, whether it's Mayweather, Thurman or Khan - it doesn't really matter.
"We were looking at getting Kell out on September 12 but it's likely now that it will be the end of October back in Sheffield.
He believes he can beat everyone in the division. He has respect for Thurman and they've complimented each other in every interview but it's a fight that's inevitable down the road.
"We talk all the time whether it's by text or on the phone. He watched Thurman's performance and he's always fancied the fight - it's not a case of he saw it and thought he was poor. It's just a fight he believes he can win.
"He believes he can beat everyone in the division. He has respect for Thurman and they've complimented each other in every interview but it's a fight that's inevitable down the road.
"We'd like to keep growing Kell in the UK. We wouldn't rule out a US fight and Thurman is focused on the US thing. Kell is ready to fight anyone if the deal makes sense.
"There's nobody in the division I could ask him to fight and he wouldn't. I love the Timothy Bradley fight and it could be unification as well, so that's a fight we're also interested in.
"If Kell has to travel to the US for those fights then it's not a problem but he's a pay-per-view fighter in the UK and doing well so that's where he sees his future. He wants the best and will travel to do it but my job is to try and make these fights in the UK. That's best for British boxing."
Brook has made no secret of his desire to face British rival Amir Khan in the past - but Hearn has dismissed the idea that Khan (31-3-KO19) is interested in the fight.
Amir Khan is ducking Kell Brook, says Hearn
Hearn added: "We wait and wait on Khan. Maybe if he doesn't get the Mayweather fight then it's an idea he'll start to entertain. They've never entertained it before or wanted to find out terms.
"They know we'd take the fight in a heartbeat. We know Amir would be looking for the better end of the deal and perhaps that's possible but until we sit down and discuss it, it's just a pipe dream.
"I don't think Khan is interested in the Brook fight. He mentions every welterweight apart from Brook. Everybody seems to wants the fight apart from Amir."
Brook was last in action on May 30, halting domestic foe Frankie Gavin in the sixth round at the O2 Arena in London.
http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news...er-eddie-hearn
Brook had been expected to make the third defence of his crown against Brandon Rios in September but with negotiations stalling, it now appears 'The Special One' (35-0-KO24) will fight later in the year.
Thurman defended his title at the weekend, stopping Luis Collazo in seven in Tampa, and Brook was quickly on the phone to Hearn requesting a unification clash.
Hearn told Sky Sports: "Kell Brook is up for fighting anyway, whether it's Mayweather, Thurman or Khan - it doesn't really matter.
"We were looking at getting Kell out on September 12 but it's likely now that it will be the end of October back in Sheffield.
He believes he can beat everyone in the division. He has respect for Thurman and they've complimented each other in every interview but it's a fight that's inevitable down the road.
"We talk all the time whether it's by text or on the phone. He watched Thurman's performance and he's always fancied the fight - it's not a case of he saw it and thought he was poor. It's just a fight he believes he can win.
"He believes he can beat everyone in the division. He has respect for Thurman and they've complimented each other in every interview but it's a fight that's inevitable down the road.
"We'd like to keep growing Kell in the UK. We wouldn't rule out a US fight and Thurman is focused on the US thing. Kell is ready to fight anyone if the deal makes sense.
"There's nobody in the division I could ask him to fight and he wouldn't. I love the Timothy Bradley fight and it could be unification as well, so that's a fight we're also interested in.
"If Kell has to travel to the US for those fights then it's not a problem but he's a pay-per-view fighter in the UK and doing well so that's where he sees his future. He wants the best and will travel to do it but my job is to try and make these fights in the UK. That's best for British boxing."
Brook has made no secret of his desire to face British rival Amir Khan in the past - but Hearn has dismissed the idea that Khan (31-3-KO19) is interested in the fight.
Amir Khan is ducking Kell Brook, says Hearn
Hearn added: "We wait and wait on Khan. Maybe if he doesn't get the Mayweather fight then it's an idea he'll start to entertain. They've never entertained it before or wanted to find out terms.
"They know we'd take the fight in a heartbeat. We know Amir would be looking for the better end of the deal and perhaps that's possible but until we sit down and discuss it, it's just a pipe dream.
"I don't think Khan is interested in the Brook fight. He mentions every welterweight apart from Brook. Everybody seems to wants the fight apart from Amir."
Brook was last in action on May 30, halting domestic foe Frankie Gavin in the sixth round at the O2 Arena in London.
http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news...er-eddie-hearn
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