Kell Brook is remaining hopeful that Floyd Mayweather Jr will agree to face him in September, despite acknowledging his likely opponent at London’s O2 Arena will be Brandon Rios.
The 29-year-old British IBF welterweight world champion has successfully defended his belt on two occasions, with his comfortable sixth round victory against Frankie Gavin at the O2 Arena on May 30 the most recent.
Amir Khan has spurned an opportunity for a tasty all-British encounter, so the American Rios has been lined up for Brook’s next defence on September 12.
Brook, who won the world title when he defeated Shawn Porter on points in California last August, has not completely given up on unbeaten 38-year-old Mayweather deciding to break with tradition and fight outside America while also unifying the welterweight division.
On Rios, Brook told Sky Sports News HQ: “Yeah we’re very close to making that fight happen now and it looks like it’s going to be September 12.
“There’s also another fighter who wants to fight on that day and that’s Floyd Mayweather Jr. If he wants to compete at welterweight and unify the division then it’s a natural choice to fight me.
“He’s boxed at a really high level against Manny Pacquiao but is now talking about other names that bring nothing to the table. Me, I’m unbeaten, I bring a world title to the table and I believe I can beat Floyd.”
He added: “You never know with Mayweather. He’s got the rest of the titles and I’ve got the IBF title so it makes sense. I’m unbeaten and I think it’d be a massive fight, Britain against America. I think it’s a big, big fight.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s WBA super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg will put his belt on the line against Kike Martinez at the Manchester Arena on July 18. Quigg is 1.25 to win, while Martinez can be backed at 4.00.
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