Kell Brook insists he ‘will never box again’ as he retires after Amir Khan’s grudge match

Former world champion Kell Brook has officially announced his retirement from boxing – three months after he settled his bitter dispute with Amir Khan by winning a grudge match

Kell Brook has announced his retirement from boxing, insisting his “heart is out of it”.

The 36-year-old from Sheffield retired from professional boxing with an impressive 28-3 record. His decision comes just three months after he stopped British rival Amir Khan in the sixth round of their grudge match in Manchester.

“I’ve talked to my family and my parents for a long time and it’s over for me. I will never box again,” Brook told The Telegraph. “It’s a bit emotional to say that really out loud. My mother [Julie] is relieved. I think everyone around me is happy.

“The truth is boxing is a very, very tough, dangerous sport, one where you can legally get killed in the ring and I’m done with all my skills now.”

Brook turned pro fighting in September 2004, beating Peter Buckley on points in his hometown. It’s a product of Brendan Ingle’s famous gym, Wincobank in Sheffield, which has produced several world champions – including “Prince” Naseem Hamed and Jonny Nelson.

On the chances of a comeback, Brook added, “I just don’t see it. It’s not there anymore…if I hadn’t boxed I would have been in real trouble, my life might have gone off the rails considering where I’m from.”

“I will always be grateful to Brendan Ingle and his sons Dominic and John for helping me find the discipline and structure in my life.”

Brook realized his dream of becoming a world champion in 2014 by defeating American Shawn Porter in California and winning the IBF welterweight title. He has successfully defended the title three times, posting a 36-0 record in March 2016.

The Sheffield fighter suffered the first loss of his career in September 2016 when he moved up to middleweight to challenge Gennady Golovkin for the WBC, IBF and IBO world titles. He was stopped on the fifth lap.

Brook fought modern-day greats Errol Spence and Terence Crawford in world title bouts, but was stopped by both American fighters.

He concluded: “Ever since I started boxing at the age of nine, my dream has been to become a world champion. It was a special night. I’ve been in the ring with Golovkin, Spence, Crawford and finally got my fight with Amir Khan. After that, I don’t think I had to continue.”