By Alex Milne

Kell Brook could be set for a fight against a big name after Eddie Hearn said the former IBF welterweight champion is ready for a major bout.

The Sheffield born 33-year-old was due to fight on the June 1 Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz undercard at Madison Square Garden, but Brook withdrew in order to preserve himself for a high profile occasion.

He hasn’t fought since December, when he got a decision win over Michael Zerafa in their WBA super-welterweight final eliminator at Sheffield Arena.

Brook has now identified Amir Khan or Terence Crawford as his preferred opponents, and Hearn is preparing for meetings with Crawford’s promoters Top Rank to discuss the potential match-up.

Crawford beat Khan in six rounds earlier this year, with Brook watching from the stands, and having recovered from his loss Khan is said to be keen to get back in the ring, and would welcome taking on Brook, potentially in October or November of this year.

Speaking about Brook’s schedule, Hearn said: “He’s not fighting June 1. He just wants to jump into a mega fight now.

“He wants the Terence Crawford fight; we’ll see if the Amir Khan fight can ever materialise. It’s still a big fight, it’s still a fight people want to see. Khan didn’t really take a lot of damage in the Crawford fight, apart from one in the nuts, so we’ll have to see.

But Kell wants Crawford, he wants Khan, he wants any major fight and I don’t think he can get himself motivated for anything else. There hasn’t been any conversation since the [Crawford] fight. We’re due one this week, so we’ll see.”

Khan is of the opinion that Crawford is a more likely opponent for Brook than himself.

“I’m hearing he’s fighting Crawford next,” he said. “I think they just don’t have that many opponents for Crawford.

“They might just take the Brook fight. I think there’s some truth in that. I believe he could face Crawford next.”

Article courtesy of Alex Milne & The Mirror