Kell Brook is one of the standout British fighters of his era. The former IBF welterweight champion made magic on both sides of the Atlantic during a career spent at the highest level of the sport. On Saturday, the 36-year-old announced he would hang up his gloves for good, less than three months after defeating his arch-rival Amir Khan via a sixth-round knockout at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Announcing the decision in an interview with the Telegraph, Brook said: "I've had a long chat with my family and my parents, and it's over for me. I'll never box again.
"It's a little emotional to be actually saying this out loud. My mum is relieved. I think everyone around me is pleased.
"Truth is, boxing is a very, very tough, dangerous sport, one in which you can be legally killed in the ring, and I've finished now with all my faculties intact."
To celebrate Special K's glittering career, we take a look back at his greatest nights in boxing.
Lovemore N’Dou (UD12, June 2011)
Already a former British welterweight champion, Kell Brook arrived on the world stage by outpointing a former IBF light welterweight champion. N’Dou had never been stopped in his career, providing a durable and rigorous test for the Sheffield man.
Brook had never been beyond eight rounds at this point in his career, but he was able to out-hustle the experienced South African to claim a wide unanimous decision.
Carson Jones II (TKO8, July 2013)
Hardened American Carson Jones had provided Brook’s sternest career test a year before. ‘Special K’ eked out a majority decision on that occasion, but was in deep trouble at stages in the fight. Many were expecting another nip-and-tuck affair in the rematch.
Brook came into their second encounter with improved conditioning, and ground Jones down to score a late stoppage in their scheduled ten-rounder. This battle was vital to Kell’s development, showing he could adapt his game against a tricky foe.
Vyacheslav Senchenko (TKO4, October 2013)
Senchenko had broken British hearts when he brutally ended Ricky Hatton’s 2012 comeback via knockout in 2012. Now it was Brook’s turn to try and derail the former welterweight champion.
Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he belonged at world level, Brook demolished the Ukrainian boxer from beginning to end, before securing a fourth-round TKO. After a patient career moving through the levels, this dominance of a man who had been world champion the previous year showed that Brook was ready to fight for a belt of his own.
Shawn Porter (MD12, August 2014)
Brook travelled to California to meet unbeaten IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter. An underdog in a foreign land, the Sheffield star was not about to let his long-awaited shot slip through his fingers. Brook had been ranked as number one welterweight contender for two years, and now was finally the time to make good on his immense promise.
Porter started strongly, but Brook battled through heavy weather to take the play away from the champion. Kell finished the stronger and took a deserved nod on the cards. After the fight, he called out Amir Khan. A mere eight years later, we finally got to see that fight.
Frankie Gavin (TKO6, May 2015)
Gavin had been Britain’s most renowned amateur star, and had lost just once in the pros by the time he fought for Brook’s world title at the o2 Arena in London. Despite this decorated background, Brook showed the difference in levels between a star amateur and a world class pro.
Brook methodically broke down Gavin and stopped him in six rounds, making the former British and Commonwealth welterweight king look severely overmatched. Making the second defence of his IBF belt, Brook looked every inch the experienced world champion.
