By Jonathon Fell: The reason I ask is that in spite of the fact that IBF welterweight champion Kell “The Special One” Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) has his March 28th hometown mandatory challenge versus Jo Jo Dan for the IBF strap, plans are clearly being made for Kell’s next step.

Since ripping away the IBF strap from former champion Shawn Porter in August 2014, Brook has not fought, his Autumn homecoming was ruined when he was stabbed in the leg while on holiday. A long rehabilitation followed and Kell is now ready to showcase his skills again. Up against Dan, it appears to be somewhat of a mismatch, the big, strong and precise Brook should have too much for his mandatory challenger.

“Everything happens for a reason” is a term banded around somewhat loosely in boxing but it really appears that Brook ticks many boxes with this upcoming bout. He satisfies his hometown fans with a homecoming world title fight in Sheffield, he satisfies the IBF by facing his mandatory challenger in a timely fashion and come May 3rd he will find himself as only one of two champions at 147 lbs.

Brook who turns 29 in May is currently 33 – 0 with 22 wins by knockout is not getting any younger, but given that he has not been in tough fights during his career, I expect him to have another 5 years at the top. Brook recently revealed that he wants the big names in unification clashes, which can happen, but way down the line I think.

Brook will have no shortage of options for later in 2015 and beyond. Names like Marquez and Rios appear to be top of the pecking order currently, while his British counterpart appears unwilling to take the fight at this juncture, opting to chase mega fights with the likes of Floyd Mayweather.

Despite being the IBF champion, Brook is not well known in the USA and given the strength of the IBF division, Brook will find himself matched with top level fighters more or less for the rest of his career. Outside of the big 2, look at Thurman, Guerrero, Bradley, Ortiz, Maidana and of course the rematch with Porter. Can Brook cherry pick his opponents, to try to keep his belt or does he fight all-comers with a view that he can beat them?

It’s clear that Brook will not get a fight with Mayweather or Pacquiao anytime soon so with the potential names touted, it is down to them somewhat whether they want to chase the big money fights or whether they fancy a trip to the UK to earn their stripes by trying rip away the title from the champ in their backyard.

I certainly see Brook maintaining his world title status throughout 2015 and in order to do this it is down to his team to match him with challenging, competitive and commercially successful fights, look to see Brook – Marquez in an outdoor cash cow for Hearn and Matchroom or the dream of Brook – Khan in an even bigger outdoor cash cow. Fights that Brook, for me wins by the way.

Were he to face off against the likes of Thurman or even a resurgent Berto, I see this as big tests for Brook and fights with big risk and low reward at this stage. Hearn is very precious about his fighters and is always drilling home the point of assuring a stable future for his fighters and with Froch remaining inactive, Brook becomes his prized asset and he will want to ensure he nurtures Kell and that he remains a world champion for as long as possible