Former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) is preparing for a very physical fight with junior middleweight contender Sergey Rabchenko.

Brook will make his debut at 154-pounds against Rabchenko on March 3rd in Sheffield.

The bout will serve as Brook's first ring return since losing the IBF title by way of an eleventh round stoppage at the hands of Errol Spence last May, also in Sheffield.

Brook suffered a fractured orbital bone in the loss to Spence and he underwent surgery to get the injury healed up.

He believes the move in weight will do wonders for his career going forward.

"I'm going to be a lot healthier when I get in the ring," Brook told Sky Sports News. "I can weigh-in, replenish myself and get fully focused on the fight instead of the scales again. I'm going to be a real handful on March 3. I'm rising again, I'm coming back and can't wait to be chucking plenty of chocolate brownies and getting in a tear-up."

After the loss to Spence, there was talk that Brook would actually retire from the sport, but the Sheffield fighter had a change of heart and decided to march ahead.

He's very familiar with the abilities of Rabchenko. The two of them have sparred in the past. Brook was very impressed with their sessions and credits Rabachenko with being a very physical fighter.

Based on what he knows, Brook stated that he needs to be in his very best form to avoid the possibility of getting derailed is his comeback.

"He uses the ring well, he is a very clever fighter," said Brook of the Belarussian.

"He's not coming to lay down. I could have picked easier opponents but I needed the bit between my teeth and not be cutting corners. I have to be fully on it - if not I could get found out in this fight."