• Kell Brook v Jo Jo Dan

Brook makes perfect comeback on return from stabbing

Kell Brook had Jo Jo Dan on the canvas twice inside the first two rounds © Getty Images

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Six months after being victim of a machete attack that left him fearing for his life, Kell Brook dished out a vicious attack of his own in his first world title defence.

Brook made a stunning first defence of his IBF world welterweight title by flooring Romania-born, Canada-based Jo Jo Dan four times before the challenger's corner pulled him at the end of the fourth round at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield.

Unbeaten Brook decked Dan twice in the second and fourth rounds to prove there should be no doubts over his fitness after his left leg was left leg was stabbed in attacked three weeks after winning the world title. The assault left Brook's career in doubt, but on Saturday he paved the way for bigger, more lucrative nights in the boxing's hottest weight division.

The curving scar on Brook's left thigh was hidden by his shorts and there was no other sign that the attack had left a damaging mark on the Sheffield boxer.

Brook did not appear restricted in his movement and he appeared his usual confident, focused self as he made a composed start and found his taller opponent with rights.

The 28-year-old needed blood transfusions and 32 staples to fix the wound - but he showed there should be no doubts about his recovery with an impressive fist round.

Brook calmly picked off his taller challenger with right hands in the first round and there was better to come in a stunning second.

Early in the second, Brook nailed Dan with a crunching right uppercut on the inside and the Romanian touched down with one glove.

Dan was quickly up but he was soon down again from a straight right for a second count and was then able to avoid further punishment.

Brook landed more big shots in the second, including a left uppercut, but could not finish Dan off.

Brook, who returned to fitness with the help of the Sheffield United physio team, unloaded more big blows in the third round but a lot missed the target.

Dan was in more trouble late in the fourth round when a chopping combination floored him again for a count.

And when he got up Brook landed a sweet left hook to dump him on the canvas on the bell for the end of the fourth round.

Dan's corner then stopped the fight at the end of the fourth round - saving their boxer from more punishment to an in-form fighter.

Brook's next move will be ringside for the $300million scrap between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2, hoping to create interest in a fight against either of them later this year.

But before a dream fight against the winner of Mayweather-Pacquiao for four world welterweight titles, Brook will face either Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Marquez or American Brandon Rios at Bramall Lane this summer.

Brook, who comes from the same Wincobank Gym as former world champion Naseem Hamed, saw his first defence as the key to bigger and more lucrative fights.

Like so many, Brook wants to face the winner of the megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, who clash for the three other versions of the world welterweight title in Las Vegas on May 2.

Brook plans on being ringside at the MGM Grand to talk up the prospect of fighting the winner of Mayweather-Pacquiao before a second defence in June or July. Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Marquez and American Brandon Rios have both been mentioned as possible opponents for Brook this summer at Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United.

If it is Marquez or Rios in the opposite corner this summer, it will give Brook a better opportunity to convince the boxing world that he deserves a crack at either Mayweather or Pacquiao because this win over Dan will not be enough on its own.

Dan is relatively unknown and might not have been the type of marquee name Brook wants to be facing. But his mandatory challenger did allow Brook to ease back into action after contending with the horrific stabbing injury that caused him to postpone a planned first defence in December.

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