Kell Brook Returns July 7, Hearn Promising "Top Name" Opponent

Welterweight Kell Brook will return to the ring on July 7 in Sheffield, according to Sky Sports, and promoter Eddie Hearn is promising a big name opponent.

"Kell delivered in a big way against Matthew (Hatton) and proved he is worth the hype. Now we will deliver another big night for him against a top name that we will announce soon."

Brook (27-0, 18 KO) dominated Matthew Hatton on March 17 in Sheffield, in front of 10,000 fans at Motorpoint Arena. Let's take a look at some of the names who could be in line to face Brook on July 7, and we'll even try to handicap promoterspeak for "top name."

First of all, right off, every single one of these fighters are not in the running: Floyd Mayweather Jr (fighting May 5, also going to jail, also he's Floyd Mayweather Jr); Manny Pacquiao (fighting June 9, also he's Manny Pacquiao); Miguel Cotto (fighting May 5, also he's Miguel Cotto); Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson (fighting May 19); Shane Mosley (fighting May 5); Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto (fighting June 23); Mike Jones (fighting June 9).

Jan Zaveck

Zaveck (32-2, 18 KO) just won a fight over Bethuel Uushona, and though he looked rusty, he's still a top 10 welterweight and a former world titlist. Zaveck proved last year, when he traveled to Mississippi to fight Andre Berto in front of a few people, that he is willing to travel to try and make a name for himself outside of Slovenia. He'd be a quality step up from the likes of Hatton and Lovemore N'dou. Despite his own somewhat empty record, he really can fight, and would be no easy out.

Vyacheslav Senchenko vs Paulie Malignaggi Winner

This is highly unlikely, but maybe the winner would fight in just over two months after their April 29 fight, and the winner will also be the WBA titlist. Again: Highly unlikely, but I'm sure some will float the idea. This is mostly to say it's highly unlikely. Highly unlikely.

Junior Witter

Well, he does exist. Witter, 38, does exist, and does still have some name value in the UK.

Joshua Clottey

He says he wants to fight at 154 from here on out, but he might be able to go back to 147, and the reality is he's not having an easy time finding any meaningful fights now that he's back in action.

Honestly, I really have no idea what direction they might go -- it's going to be tough for Hearn to deliver an actual top name for Brook by anyone's standards but those of an as usual exaggerating promoter. The best news, and without question good news, is that Brook is staying active and not just waiting. It will probably amount to a stay-busy fight, but that's really just the landscape right now. If he keeps winning, the fights will come.

The fight will air on Sky Sports, likely paired with Wladimir Klitschko's rematch with Tony Thompson from Germany.