Photo by Naoki Fukuda

IBF welterweight title holder Kell Brook is clearly in no mood to hang around as he targets a showdown with American contender Brandon Rios before the end of the summer.

That would make it a hat-trick of defences for 28-year-old Brook (35-0, 24 knockouts) in exactly five months, and complete a truly remarkable recovery from the horrific life-threatening machete attack he sustained in Tenerife only last September.

At the London O2 Arena on Saturday, Brook, THE RING’s No. 1 at 147 pounds, totally outclassed English compatriot Frankie Gavin, stopping him in the sixth round. However, while nobody would deny Brook, who also beat Romanian Jo Jo Dan in March, a couple of comfortable comeback bouts, he is the first to recognise that he must now step up the pace and quality of opponent.

Hence, the desire to tempt Rios (33-2-1, 24 KOs) into the ring on August 29 at his beloved Sheffield United FC’s Bramall Lane stadium. Brook believes that clash contains all the necessary ingredients to be a genuine thriller.

“There’s talk about Brandon Rios and that’s a fight that really excites me,” the Sheffield star said to Sky Sports News HQ. “We all know Brandon Rios comes to fight. He loves to be entertaining for the fans and that’s what I want to do. I want to give an all-action fight and he’s the prefect candidate for the job.”

As for a possible domestic blockbuster against long-time rival Amir Khan, who outpointed American Chris Algieri last Friday, Brook appears to be losing interest fast.

“Let’s leave him to do whatever he’s doing and whoever he’s fighting. The fact is I am world champion and I have all these challengers wanting to take the belt off me. So I am going to be involved in some massive fights,” he said.

Harry Pratt is on Twitter: @gharrypratt