By Edward Chaykovsky

Retired super middleweight champion Carl Froch believes Kell Brook (35-0, 24KOs) is the man to take over the welterweight division.

For years Floyd Mayweather Jr. ruled the welterweight division and defeated all comers. Last September Mayweather retired, with his 49-0 record intact, after winning a twelve round decision over Andre Berto.

Brook returns on Saturday in Sheffield, where he defends his IBF welterweight crown against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier of Canada.

Froch makes it clear that he's not trying to say that Brook is a better fighter than Mayweather, but he believes Brook is capable of beating any fighter on Mayweather's record - including Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

"I am not saying he is as good as Mayweather because no one can dispute Floyd's greatness, but look down that welterweight list - Kell is good enough to beat any of them. People always say Mayweather picked his times perfectly, but even if he did, look down his record and I can't see anyone Kell couldn't beat - now or back then," Froch told Sky Sports.

"Brook is the heir to the welterweight throne and can be the best in the world. There is no reason he can't take over, but there is a big 'if' as well. The one thing he needs to do is start getting these big fights - not just his mandatory challenges - and he needs to keep active, get some momentum going. He has had too many setbacks and needs to get going. Of course that stabbing after winning the world title didn't help, nor did that rib injury that stopped him fighting against Diego Chaves at the end of last year."

This is his third mandatory and it is not going to be easy against Kevin Bizier but he has to put all this to bed, these injuries and these mandatories. The one thing he needs is a big, defining fight, then we will see just how good he is. The welterweight division is one of the deepest around, he is the IBF world champion, so he has to be champing at the bit to take on the best, and take over from Mayweather."