Eddie Hearn says he will do 'all
he can' to make Kell Brook's IBF world welterweight title fight
take place in the UK.
Brook is now the mandatory
challenger to Devon Alexander, who took the belt from Randall
Bailey in New York on Saturday just hours after The Special One
blasted his way past Hector Saldivia with a third-round stoppage in
Sheffield.
Hearn has already entered
negotiations with Alexander's camp but is prepared to go to purse
bids if a deal cannot be reached.
Alexander has already stoked the
fires ahead of the potential bout, saying: "I'm not even worried
about Kell Brook because I barely know him and who is he anyway?"
While his trainer Kevin Cunningham has insisted the fight will
'have to happen in the States'.
However, Brook's promoter Hearn
has other ideas.
"We will be doing all we can to
try and make this fight in the UK," he said. "I read Kevin
Cunningham's comments and with all due respect, it's not up to him
or Devon where the fight is.
"We have now entered an official
negotiation period with his team and if we can't find a middle
ground then we will go to purse bids. If I win the purse bids then
Alexander has no choice but to come and fight in England or vacate
the title.
"I know we can easily fill the
12,000 Sheffield Arena and we also have significant domestic and
international TV backing. If we are in a purse bid situation I am
confident we can be very competitive."
25/10/2012 23:19:41