Video: Khan can wait as Brook focuses attention on battle with Hatton

The 25-year-old fights on home canvas at the Motorpoint Arena, screened live on Sky, and is the headline act for what will be the biggest bout of his career.

Brook has been linked with showdowns with the likes of Andre Berto, Victor Ortiz, Devon Alexander and, of course, Bolton’s Amir Khan, but the Steel City fighter says such contests can wait as he prepares to settle the debate on who is the No 1 welterweight in Britain.

“Matthew is a very dangerous opponent and one that I am full of respect for,” said Brook.

“I know that if I take him lightly he will beat me so I have been 100 per cent focussed on him – I’ll let others do the talking about these fights in the future, right now it’s all about Hatton.

“Fights with world champions are what every boxer dreams of and I am no different. But at no point have I taken my eye off the ball during the build-up to this fight, even when people have asked me about Khan and the rest.”

A 10,000 crowd is expected for tonight’s fight, to the delight of promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s my job to look beyond this fight for Kell, but I know he certainly won’t be doing that.

“Khan, Ortiz, Berto, Maidana and Alexander are all fights that we want to make this year. We will have 10,000 fight fans in the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield for Brook versus Hatton, so what sort of numbers do you think a fight with Amir Khan would bring?”

“Matthew is a proven fighter who has had a lot of fights. He’s boxed Saul Alvarez, he’s never been stopped and he’s got the Hatton name.

“It captures the imagination and it’s going to be a mega-fight.”