Eddie Hearn: Kell Brook-Jessie Vargas unification fight nearly a done deal

It looks like IBF welterweight titlist Kell Brook (36-0, 25 KOs) will finally get another notable fight as negotiations for a unification bout against WBO titlist Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) is close to being finalized. Vargas is willing to make the trek to Sheffield to face Brook at Bramall Lane and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn says negotiations for the fight are over 90% complete.

"The crux of the deal is done in terms of the money, the airline tickets and the hotels. Now it's just a case of putting it into the contract. When you've sent a draft contract, you get a reply with a few things to tweak and we're just finalising those things now.

"I'm very confident and I think that some time next week, we'll finally get the fight that Kell Brook has been craving for so long. That's the plan, at Bramall Lane."

Hearn also says that August 20, August 27, and September 3rd are possible dates being thrown around for the fight, as they will need to schedule the bout around Sheffield United's playing schedule.

Since winning the IBF title from Shawn Porter in August 2014, Brook has made three rather ho-hum defenses against JoJo Dan, Frankie Gavin, and most recently Kevin Bizier. A fight against Jessie Vargas should be considerably more competitive than those bouts. Vargas most recently won the vacant WBO title by knocking out Sadam Ali in the ninth round back in March.