Alexander vs Brook: Kell Brook suffers ankle injury, fight to be postponed

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing says he's asked for a "three to four week delay" on Kell Brook's trip to the United States to face Devon Alexander on Showtime, which had been scheduled for January 19. Brook suffered an ankle injury in training.

"Kell sustained an ankle injury that has hampered his training and running work over the last few days. I'm concerned mainly for the travelling UK fans and it's in no-one's interest for the fight to fall through closer to the time, so last night I requested a three to four week delay to the original date of January 19. This will eradicate the risk and ensure Kell will be 100 per cent for the biggest fight of his life."

Brook (29-0, 19 KO) is in line for his first shot at a world title, as Alexander (24-1, 13 KO) holds the IBF welterweight belt. The two were set to meet at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, but other venues could come into play with the date change.

Alexander and Brook could fight on February 16, which currently isn't booked by either HBO or Showtime, and that would also not be a large delay for another pair of fights that were reported for the January 19 date, Lucas Matthysse vs Hank Lundy and Selcuk Aydin vs Jesus Soto-Karass. HBO will have Andre Ward vs Kelly Pavlik on February 23, and February 2 may be too early for Brook to surely be at the 100% that Hearn wants.