Kell Brook to face mandatory IBF challenger Kevin Bizier before Amir Khan summer showdown

Kell Brook is set to defend his IBF welterweight title against Kevin Bizier in the coming months before a summer showdown against Amir Khan. The 29-year-old was scheduled to make a third defence his belt against Diego Chaves in October 2015 but a rib injury suffered in sparring forced him to pull out.

While there is still to be confirmation of the bout, Brook has hinted a meeting with Canadian fighter Bizier is on the cards, retweeting an article from ESPN's Dan Rafael detailing the upcoming fight.

Rafael's article claims the location and date of the fight will be confirmed later this week, although Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn insists it will take place in the UK. Bizier, 31, became the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt with an eliminator victory over Fredrick Lawson in November 2015.

Brook won his IBF title in impressive fashion in August 2014 against Shawn Porter and comfortably defended his belt against Jo Jo Dan and Frankie Gavin in 2015. An eagerly anticipated showdown with long-term adversary Khan has been widely touted for the summer of 2016 with Wembley a possible venue for the all-British showdown.

Khan, who has not fought since his victory over Chris Algieri in May 2015, has spoken enthusiastically over a rematch with Danny Garcia but is open to a meeting with Brook.

Hearn meanwhile told Sky Sports in December 2015: "We're pushing forward for the Amir Khan fight and we expect it to happen at the end of May or early June. In the meantime, if we have to deal with the mandatory then it's likely we'll travel to America to do it because it's more appealing there than here."

Khan has previously told Brook he needs to "step up" and fight a better calibre of opponent before he faces him, with Brook responding by questioning whether the 29-year-old is still even fighting, having fought just once in eight months.