Brook vs Spence: Progress made in negotiations, purse bid pushed back

A purse bid for the mandatory IBF welterweight title fight between champion Kell Brook and challenger Errol Spence Jr has been pushed back a week, as the two sides are making progress in negotiations, according to ESPN.com.

Brook (36-1, 25 KO) is represented by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, while Spence (21-0, 18 KO), an Al Haymon fighter, is represented by Tom Brown and TGB Promotions. The sides initially had until Tuesday (tomorrow) to reach a deal, but didn’t want to rush through any of the particulars. An extension of one week was requested, and granted by the IBF.

It is now expected that a purse bid will be avoided, meaning we should have an announcement of the fight being done within the next seven days.

The fight is a good one, with Brook, 30, returning to welterweight after a daring move to middleweight last September to challenge Gennady Golovkin, which resulted in a stoppage loss and a broken orbital bone. Spence, 27, has been a monster since turning pro after the 2012 Olympics, where he represented the United States, and most recently has torn through Chris Algieri, a former junior welterweight titleholder, and Leonard Bundu, a former European titleholder, with ease.