By John MacDonald.

Kell Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) will announce who he’ll face in the first defence of his IBF welterweight title on Thursday. Brook was due to reveal his opponent on Monday but has delayed the announcement due to “other opportunities” according to his promoter, Eddie Hearn.

“We are looking to close Kell’s March opponent in the next few days and announce on Thursday. We were planning to announce on Monday but other opportunities have presented themselves.” Hearn told BoxingScene.

The fight which will take place at the Motorpoint Arena in Brook’s home city of Sheffield will act as homecoming for “Special K” who’ll be in action for the first time since winning the title from, the then-unbeaten, Shawn Porter at StubHub Center back in August of last year. Since then Brook was the victim of a vicious machete attack whilst on Holiday in Tenerife. The injury required him to have 32 metal staples in his thigh to close the wound. Despite the severity of the attack, Hearn is convinced his fighter is ready to return to world level opposition straight away, with mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan (34-2, 18 KOs) a possible foe.

“Even though Kell is coming back from a terrible injury, he is flying in camp and ready for a big fight,” said Hearn. “In an ideal world we would fight Jo Jo Dan and clear our mandatory. We were first told he wouldn’t be ready but now it appears he might be so we will see how that plays out.”