Kell Brook Ready to Return to the Ring After Overcoming Life-Threatening Injury

Kell Brook simply cannot wait to defend his IBF welterweight title in Sheffield.

The bout against Romanian Jo Jo Dan (34-2, 18KOs) on Mar. 28 will give the local boy the chance to finally show off the belt he claimed last September in California. 

It will also mark the final stop on a long and challenging journey for Brook, who has had to deal with so much since he out-pointed American Shawn Porter at the StubHub Center.

Less than a month after he fulfilled a boyhood dream and became a world champion, the British boxer found himself lying in a hospital bed in Tenerife wondering if he would ever fight again.

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Brook was holidaying on the Spanish island when he was involved in an altercation that left him with a 12-inch stab wound in his leg.

The injury to his left thigh was so severe that he initially feared for his life, per Daily Mail, never mind his career.

Thankfully, Brook has been able to make a complete recovery.

He admits, though, that getting back to full fitness has been a drawn-out process, one that has challenged him mentally and physically: “It has been hard going through the rehab.

“I was so behind with my fitness. I’ve been taking baby steps and gradually getting back into it.

“Boxing is all I’ve ever done. I’ve never had an injury as serious as that before. To start from scratch and to build myself back up…it was hard.

“But I stayed positive and did everything that I was supposed to do. It’s been a long road getting back, but I’m just so happy now that there are no issues.

“I’m glad I’ve followed the plan. Now the leg is fine and I’m counting down now until my first defence.”

His preparations for the first defence of his title will include a return to Spain, only this time it is strictly for business reasons.

Along with several other fighters from the famous Wincobank gym that is owned by the Ingle family, Brook will attend a warm-weather training camp.

It will be a case of sun, sea and sit-ups for The Special One, a prospect he is relishing: “It’s different scenery. It splits up training, rather than coming into the gym each day and doing the same thing.

"You get on the plane and it seems to lift all the fighters. We all live together and speak a lot about what we are going to be doing. We work hard and bounce off each other.

“You can’t beat a [bit of] sunshine either, a bit of vitamin D. We work hard, eat well and make sure we rest too.”

Brook’s life has also seen one other major change since his last fight.

The Yorkshireman became a dad for the second time in February, meaning he now has “a lot to defend” each time he steps between the ropes.

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Brook—still unbeaten after 33 fights as a pro—knows that becoming a world champion has opened doors for him in a division littered with star names.

Having a title means he does not have to chase the type of money-spinning fights that can provide long-term security for himself and his young family.

The biggest of the lot would be an all-British clash with Amir Khan; Wembley has been suggested as a venue, per Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph, for a summer showdown between the pair.

While refusing to look too far ahead, Brook knows a win over Dan brings the possibility of facing Khan a little closer: “I think it’s too big of a fight not to happen.

“But he’s doing his thing and I’m doing mine. If our paths cross then they cross.

“I’m looking at getting Jo Jo Dan out of the way. I’m concentrating on that first.” 

Juan Manuel Marquez has also been talked about as a potential opponent for later in 2015.

The Mexican was in London at the start of the year to support compatriot Daniel Estrada for his fight against Kevin Mitchell, with Marquez telling Sky Sports' Ringside show there were no plans to hold any negotiations during the trip.

Firstly Brook has to win at the Motorpoint Arena—it is a long climb to the top but a much shorter ride back down.

Dan earned his shot at the champion by beating Kevin Bizier in a final eliminator in December of last year and the 33-year-old—born in Romania but now based in Canada—has lost just twice in his career.

“I’ve seen little bits of him—he looks very tough," the champion said of his next opponent. "He’s very experienced, a big welterweight who is coming to win.

“Not many people fight for a world title, so we know he’s going to give it everything."

However, Brook has no intention of seeing his homecoming ruined: “I nearly lost my life, so there’s no way I’m losing this world title to him.”

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations in this article were obtained via interview.