Kell Brook to fight Michael Zerafa in Sheffield as he builds towards Amir Khan

Brook will face Australian Zefara as he pursues a clash against Amir Khan

Kell Brook will take another step towards Amir Khan in December (Getty)

Kell Brook will continue his boxing comeback against former Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Michael Zerafa at Sheffield Arena on 8 December.

The Sheffield-born fighter comfortably beat Sergey Rabchenko inside two rounds in March to win the vacant WBC ‘silver’ super-welterweight title, his first fight since losing back-to-back fights against Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence in 2016 and 2017.

Brook has split from his trainer Dom Ingle ahead of his much-anticipated return due to him not being able to join the British boxer during his training camps in Fuerteventura and Brooks retains that they have not fallen out. Brooks is currently training with former boxer and personal friend John Kewkes.

This fight will likely be Brook’s last before taking on Amir Khan, who is on something of a resurgence himself. Standing in his way is a less straightforward opponent given Zerafa’s professional 25-2 record, 14 win by knockout, but Brook said he will relish the challenge.

"I'm delighted to be back at Sheffield Arena in front of my people," said Brook. "The Special One is back and all of my focus and attention is on getting myself ready to put on a spectacular performance for my loyal fans.

"I want to close the year in special fashion and set up some blockbuster fights in 2019 - I was ringside for Amir Khan's last fight, so let's see if he'll be there on December 8, or will he be too shook for Brook?”

Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, who promotes Khan and Brook, says that beating Zerafa could be the final step before the pair meet. "We know that the Khan fight is on the horizon but this is all part of Kell's preparation for being razor-sharp and bringing his weight down to 147lbs - Zerafa aims to spoil the party,” he said. "I'm delighted to see Kell back in the ring and I expect Zerafa to give it everything.”

Zerafa, who usually fights in his home country Australia, boasts a reasonable record and is adamant that he can thrive as the underdog in his most high-profile fight yet. "I thrive from being the underdog and I believe that Kell Brook's team have made the mistake of overlooking me,” he said. “I'm a completely different fighter to the man that lost to Peter Quillin and on 8 December 2012 I will prove that.

"I've already dreamt of beating Kell and replayed the fight over and over in my head. I was born for greatness and December 8 is the beginning of my rise to the top of the sport.

"Kell is a true warrior and a great champion but he's been in some tough fights and put a lot of miles on the clock. I see a ship with a lot of holes and too many holes leads to a sunken ship.

"He's been in there with the best, but I believe I belong in the same ring as those fighters. On 8 December there will be a huge upset and I will make a lot of people eat their words."

Jono Carrol will face Guilaume Frenois in an IBF super-featherweight final eliminator on the undercard that will also feature Josh Kelly and Dave Allen, providing they come through unscathed after their fights on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tony Bellew undercard.