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IBF welterweight titleholder Kell Brook plans to make his first defense in March and will announce his opponent during a Jan. 19 press conference in Sheffield, England, in accordance with a release from promoter Eddie Hearn on Tuesday.

Brook (33-0, 22 knockouts), 28, won his belt by unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Shawn Porter in August and is being targeted for an appearance at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield in March.

“I can’t wait to finally see Kell make that walk at the Motorpoint Arena as world champion. The year 2014 was one of incredible highs and lows,” said Hearn of Brook, who has also recovered from a leg wound resulting from a September stabbing incident in Tenerife, Spain

“The bravery he has shown to come back from that life-threatening injury has been quite remarkable. People doubted Kell before he ripped the world title from Porter in America,” said Hearn.

Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya had expressed interest in Brook fighting an all-English clash opposite countryman Amir Khan if neither Floyd Mayweather Jr. nor Manny Pacquiao were available.

De La Hoya, who promotes Khan, made his assertion prior to Khan’s unanimous decision victory over Devon Alexander last month and before it appeared that Mayweather and Pacquiao were close to announcing a deal to face each other.

Brook has also has expressed interest in facing Khan, this not long after having beaten Porter.

Prior to Alexander, Khan, 28, had made his welterweight debut last May with a unanimous decision over ex-beltholder Luis Collazo on the undercard of Mayweather’s majority decision over Marcos Maidana.

Another fighter who has mentioned Brook as a potential opponent is two-division titlist Tim Bradley, 31, who is coming off last month’s disputed draw with Diego Chaves.

Hearn believes Brook can beat anyone.

“The fact is that Kell is a special fighter and I believe he will go on to unify the 147-pound division,” said Hearn. “It will be an emotional night for Kell and another big statement will be made.”

HUGHIE FURY, TYSON’S COUSIN, RETURNS TO ACTION ON GENNADY GOLOVKIN-MARTIN MURRAY CARD

British heavyweight prospect Hughie Fury (14-0, 8 KOs), the cousin of division counterpart Tyson Fury, will return to action on Feb. 21 against Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko (24-1, 16 KOs) on Feb. 21 in Monte Carlo, according to a release from promoter Mick Hennessy.

Fury, 20, will fight on the undercard of a main event featuring WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin against Martin Murray.

Fury is coming off a decision over Danny Hughes in May and Rudenko, a unanimous decision loss to undefeated Lucas Browne in August that ended his own streak of four consecutive knockout wins.

“I’m just delighted to be back training and to have a big fight on the horizon. The last eight months have absolutely killed me, really. I’ve spent my days doing nothing and just getting really bored. I was basically watching films all the time. I was out of the gym completely,” said Fury, who was suffering from an undisclosed illness.

“All I could do was swim. I had to stick to the medication and do exactly as I was told. It’s been very frustrating for me and for everybody around me. I’ve had to sit and watch everyone else crack on and have fights, including members of my own family, and I’ve been able to do nothing with my own career. It’s been very hard. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and make a statement. I feel good and healthy now though. I am 100 percent healthy.”