Former Welterweight World Champion Kell Brook has announced his retirement from Boxing at the age of 36

The Sheffield born fighter has had an illustrious boxing career, winning 40 of his 43 professional fights and holding the IBF world title from 2014 to 2016.

The announcement comes just three months after his long overdue grudge match against Amir Khan, in which Brook was victorious, stopping Khan in the 6^th round. Both fighters looked a shadow of their former selves in the fight, and many will be relieved that Brook has decided to hang up his gloves.

Brook won the IBF title with a majority decision win over Shawn Porter in 2014. He went on to make three title defences.

A dying breed of fighter, Brook was known for challenging himself in the ring against tough opponents. His three losses came against world champions, with his fight against Golovkin demanding him credit.

Brook held his own in the fight and was winning on the scorecards. Unfortunately for Brook, a broken eye socket prompted his corner to throw in the towel in the 5^th round.

Brook said to the telegraph, regarding his retirement: “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. 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.”

For Brook, the Amir Khan fight was the perfect way to tie up his career. Khan and Brook’s feud dates back to their teenage years as amateur boxers. As with many boxing grudges, the feud was formed as the result of a sparring session.

Khan claims that he got the better of the Sheffield based fighter during an England squad training session, and that Brook has always been somewhat bitter about not getting selected for the Athens Olympics.

However, Brook refutes, as he states that his eyes were always on turning professional rather than nurturing his amateur career.

The two finally clashed heads in February with Brook coming out victorious after a 6^th round TKO finish but an end to years of resentment.

“I needed the Khan fight, I needed to settle the grudge, the feud. There is no dark feeling left in me now. I think when you have been in the ring with someone it passes, it leaves you.”

Brook now retires having gained the respect of just about everyone involved in boxing, especially in the UK, and will always be remembered as one of Britain’s best of the modern era.

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