In his previous bout in September 2016, he had moved up two weight divisions to challenge the undefeated top ranked Middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin.

[2][3][4] Following this defeat Brook and his team entered into talks with Amir Khan over a potential grudge fight, while also keeping his IBF mandatory Errol Spence Jr. as an alternative.

Eddie Hearn mentioned talks were already ongoing with Spence's manager Al Haymon for a fight to take place possibly in the UK in May.

[11][12][13] At a press conference at Bramall Lane, Sheffield on 22 March, the fight was officially announced to take place on 27 May 2017 live on Sky Box Office in the UK and Showtime in the US.

[17] In the chief support George Groves challenged former titleholder Fedor Chudinov for the vacant WBA super middleweight title.

After a cagey opening round, Brook was able to land his counter overhand left with greater frequency throughout the first half of the bout and was typically the more aggressive fighter.

Spence was able to trouble Brook with a right hook in third round, which forced the champion to stumble back momentarily, and was consistently able to land shots to the body.

By the eighth round Brook's left eye was swelling noticeably and Spence would begin to take control, clearly winning the ninth.

He beat the count, and Spence attempted to finish the fight but Brook would land a pair of left undercuts that helped him make it out of the round.

[23][24][25][26][27] ESPN's Dan Rafael had it 95–94 in favour of Spence, as did Sky Sports' Carl Froch, BBC 5 Live's Steve Bunce and FanSided.

[30][31] Speaking to Sky Sports in the ring after the bout Spence would praise Brook saying "I give Kell all the credit, and the hardcore fans here.

Amir Khan is a fight we have wanted for five years, but at the moment it is all about making sure Kell is OK." The day after the bout Brook confirmed to Sky Sports that a CT scan showed he had broken his left eye socket, meaning he would likely have surgery.