Kell Brook v Errol Spence at Bramall Lane on May 27


Tempers flared between Kell Brook and Errol Spence Jr at Bramall Lane on Wednesday ahead of their May 27 IBF world welterweight title fight.

Brook and Spence attended a press conference at the ground, the home of former's beloved Sheffield United, where the venue and date for the bout was formally announced and the pair ended up throwing threats and insults at each other.

The contest will see Brook returning to welterweight for the fourth defence of his IBF title after being defeated, via a fifth-round stoppage, by middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin in September.

Things started to become fiery on Wednesday when unbeaten American Spence's trainer Derrick James suggested Brook and his camp should stop talking up his efforts against Golovkin.

Brook's trainer Dominic Ingle stepped in to defend his man, before the 30-year-old Sheffield fighter himself began shouting and pointing at his opponent, waving a clenched fist as he said: "You're getting some of this".

Spence responded with "I'm knocking you out, I promise you" before branding Brook a "clown".

The 27-year-old also suggested Brook was "living off two good rounds" against Golovkin as an argument broke out between the two camps about who had the more impressive record.

Brook, whose loss to Golovkin was the first defeat of his career, described himself as the "southpaw slayer" and said as he pointed at Spence: "You have made a big mistake, boy.

"Have a good look at this (the belt), and you want to go sightseeing around Sheffield, because that is all you are going to go away with, sightseeing, not this. Understand that."

Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) and Spence (21-0, 18 KOs) then continued to exchange words as they posed for head to head photos.

Brook has endured struggles in the past to make the welterweight limit, and says his team have been advising him to fight at a higher weight.

But he did not want to vacate the world title he won 2014, and is vowing to follow up a victory over rising star Spence by unifying the welterweight division.

"The team around me were telling me to move up in weight," Brook said.

"But it has taken me too long just to give this title away. It may be tough to make welterweight, but I have a great nutritionist who will take me down to the weight slowly. I'm looking forward to getting in there and giving the fans a magnificent fight.

"After I have beaten Spence, I want the Thurmans of the world (WBC and WBA champion Keith Thurman) and to unify this division."

Brook added: "A lot of people wrote me off (for the Golovkin fight), but I went in there and showed what balls I had.

"He bust my eye in the second round, but I still stood there and had it out with him. I learned a lot from that.

"And with me making welterweight, I'm the biggest welterweight out there, so I believe I'll be bullying these guys.

"When I do have to really grill myself to make that welterweight weight and then put the weight back on healthily, I'm like a beast in that ring the day after.

"He (Spence) is looking the part, but he's never fought anything that has even come close to me.

"He has never fought an animal like me, who is so determined to become great and wipe out the division."

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