Boxing News of the week: Kell Brook vs. Amir Khan, Errol Spence future, Degale unification and more!

IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook and domestic rival Amir Khan continue to trade barbs over social media. Heading into highly anticipated clash with Saul Canelo Alvarez for the WBC middleweight title, Khan has been critical of Brook’s resume. “My advice for Kell is to take those hard fights – take those big fights. You’re upsetting all the fans. He needs to get in there with the big names. He is ruining his career. Kell was offered the Miguel Cotto fight. Is the true? I’d take the Cotto fight. That is a good fight.” Going on further, Khan stated the much talked about fight between them may never happen, “The fight between me and him is gone past it. I don’t think it will ever happen.”

Days removed from a stellar victory over Chris Algeri, Errol Spence Jr has been ordered to face Konstantin Ponomarev by the IBF to secure the mandatory spot. The undefeated Russian also holds an unblemished record of 30-0, 13 by way of knockout. Should Spence get by Ponomarev, Errol has expressed an interest in travelling to the UK to face Brook.

IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale hopes to line up a unification bout in London this year. Ahead of his April 30th defence against Rogelio Medina in Boston, DeGale mentioned a 168lb unification clash with Badou Jack as a target on home soil. Following a number of trips stateside, DeGale is keen for a big homecoming event. Jack on his part, must first negotiate Lucian Bute on the same night. Should Bute spoil the party, DeGale welcomed a return bout, “If Lucian wins well, we can do it again. But this time we do it in London.”

Artur beterbiev is set for his first outing in eleven months on June 4th at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The highly touted Beterbiev will square off against Argentine Ezequiel Maderna. Beterbiev lost his spot in an IBF final eliminator last year due to injury, but hopes to secure that spot in 2016.

Following his loss to domestic rival Carl Frampton, Scott Quigg is looking to secure at shot at WBA title vacated by Frampton as soon as possible. A bout between Frampton and Guillermo Rigondeaux was turned down by Frampton’s camp, which led to the title being vacated by the Belfast native. Rigondeaux has been ordered to face Moises Flores by the WBA, with Quigg hoping to step in with the winner, “Hopefully we can go straight back in for a world title. I want to be back where I belong – at the top.”