Kell Brook will defend his IBF world welterweight title against Errol Spence Jr after it was announced last night that terms had been agreed on the fight. No further details have been given at this stage but reports suggest that the fight could well take place in Sheffield in May.
This will be the first fight for Brook since he lost his unbeaten record in a terrific fight with Gennady Golovkin up at middleweight last September. Brook was beaten by the brilliant Triple G but he lost little in defeat as he gave one of the pound-for-pound kings a tough fight, before eventually coming up short.
That defeat had no impact on his status as a World Champion down at 147lbs and following a lengthy search, Brook will now face a very tricky mandatory challenger from the USA. A potential all-British super fight with Amir Khan has fallen through which has left Special K with little alternative than to fight the 26-year-old mandatory challenger from New York.
Spence Jr comes into this fight as one of most exciting young fighters in the sport and he will believe he can return home with the belts. This will, undoubtedly, be the biggest test of his career but he has wins against good world level fighters like Chris Algieri and Leonard Bundu on his record, and he appears to hold no fears ahead of a clash with the more seasoned Brook.
The bookmakers have the betting for the fight close and in truth this is a no-win fight for Brook. Win easily and he will have beaten a fighter the majority of sports fans won't have heard of, whilst another defeat would put his career on the back-foot as he waits to grab another super-fight.
Brook badly needs a win in what could well be his last fight down at 147lbs and this is a fight not to be missed. Roll on May!
