Kell Brook’s remarkable rise, from humble Sheffield background to TWO stabbings before crowning glory as IBF champion
KELL BROOK will meet Amir Khan in the ring for their eagerly anticipated fight at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The Yorkshire brawler, 35, will be looking to end their feud when they square off for the first time on Saturday.
Brook has enjoyed a remarkable rise from his humble beginnings in a council house in Sheffield.
And the man nicknamed Special K has overcome TWO stabbings to keep his boxing dream alive.
In 2014, he earned his crowning glory – defeating Shawn Porter to win the IBF welterweight title.
Outside the ring he has had the loving support of his glamorous wife Lindsey who is always ringside cheering on his beau.
Background
Brook began boxing when he was just nine at the Ingle Gym in Steel City.
His father took him in an effort to help his lad channel his energy more positively.
The gym, steeped in history thanks to household names Jonny Nelson and Prince Naseem Hamed coming through its doors, proved to be Brook’s safehaven.
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He impressed his trainers with his potential and began his amateur career aged just 12.
In 2003, he fought for England at the Four Nations Junior Tournament – winning gold. Days later, aged just 18, he turned pro.
Big dreams
Brook steadily moved through the gears early on in his boxing career, winning belts and earning recognition.
In 2008, he knocked out Barrie Jones and won the vacant British welterweight title.
Then, almost two years later, he swiftly dispatched of Pole Krzysztof Bienias in six rounds.
Brook added to his titles by defeating Matthew Hatton, younger brother of Ricky, by unanimous decision in 2012.
But, away from the ring he was involved in scrapes that could have cut short his sporting achievements.
Stabbings
Before becoming British champ, Brook suffered a nasty stabbing to his buttocks after an incident in his hometown.
However, worst was to come in 2012 when he was away on holiday in Tenerife.
After befriending punters in a bar, he ended up in an apartment with another man.
Things turned ugly in the early hours after they were drinking – with Brook claiming he was the victim of an unprovoked attack.
The man slashed Brook’s thigh with what was described as a machete three times.
He told the Daily Mail: “This guy was stood over me, shouting and swearing. I am trying to scramble away.
“I was thinking about my daughter, that I need to get away. I was covered in blood, panicking, feeling so drained and weak from the loss of blood. I feared for my life.”
Brook managed to get away, and was found on the street passed out before being rushed to hospital.
His injuries required 32 metal staples, but in truth it could’ve been far worse.
Crowing glory
Two years after his horror in Spain, Brook would achieve his greatest success.
Fighting at the StubHub Center in Carson, California he became the IBF World Welterweight champion with a majority decision over former champion Shawn Porter – the clear favourite.
Landing 158 of his 441 thrown punches, he outboxed the American to claim the title.
Afterwards, he hilariously revealed he didn’t sleep for three days just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
He told The BBC: “I think I’d have to say [the highlight would be] winning the world title.
“Obviously, going to Carson, California, into America – his back garden – and winning the world title.
“I didn’t sleep for three days because I was scared that if I went to sleep I would wake up and it would be a dream. I swear I was walking on air.”
Hasn’t all been plain-sailing
With 39 wins from 42 fights, Brook has already sealed his legacy in British boxing.
There has been some disappointment along the way, though.
Last time out, he lost out to Terence Crawford for the WBO Welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – who unforgivingly delivered a killer blow to knock his rival out.
Intriguingly, the judges had scored Brook as leading the fight before the TKO.
Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr are the other two fighters who have managed to get the better of Brook in the ring, with his first loss against Triple G.
But he was praised for showing courage to step up two weight divisions to make the fight.
Still, he needed surgery to fix a broken eye circuit.
Mrs Brook
Brook is often joined in the ring after fights by his other half, Lindsey.
Although, she prefers to keep her private life away from prying eyes and not much is known about her personally.
Pretty Lindsey, also 35, is mother to Brook’s three children.
Nevaeh was born in 2012 and Estelle was welcomed three years later, months before Brook’s machete attack.
Their third daughter, Vienna born in 2019 is now three.
Should Kell be successful against Khan, you can bet they will all have something to celebrate.