Kell Brook: What makes Special K truly special?

IBF Welterweight champion Kell ‘Special K’ Brook makes his long awaited return to the ring later this month, defending his title for the first time against Canada-based Romanian Jo Jo Dan.

Brook landed his title with a somewhat unexpected points decision over the big hitting Shawn Porter in August 2014 but a stabbing incident has seen him sidelined until now.

The Sheffield fighter is yet to become a household name in the UK but talk of a domestic dust up with Amir Khan continues unabated and now he has the belt Brook will not relinquish it with ease.

Here are some of the moments that have shaped the 28-year-old’s career to date, proving the undefeated pugilist can live up to Special K moniker.

Brook v Barrie JonesWith his record at 16-0 and having never gone past six rounds Brook faced steely Welshman Barrie Jones for the vacant British title and dominated the fight from start to finish.

Jones’ corner threw in the towel in the seventh and just in time too, with a knockout looking obvious.

Brook v Kevin McIntyreBrook may have surprised some when winning the British title but there was no doubting his skills after his first defence when he disposed of experienced Scot Kevin McIntyre, who came into the fight in arguably the form of his life.

Brook v Lovemore N’douAustralia-based South African N’dou represented a step up in class for Brook, having held the IBF Light Welterweight title until losing a split decision to Paulie Malignaggi.

He’d also taken Saul Alvarez the distance prior to facing Special K and while the Sheffield man also couldn’t knock him out he put in a master class to win the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Welterweight strap.

Brook v Vyacheslav SenchenkoSenchenko will forever be known to boxing fans as the man that put the final nail in Ricky Hatton’s career with a ninth-round stoppage of the Hitman in his own backyard at the Manchester Arena.

The experienced, former champion gave Brook food for thought with some solid right hands in the fourth, but the Englishman soon turned the tie and dispatched of The Ukraine Master in devastating fashion.

Brook v Shawn PorterBoth fighters went into the title decider with unbeaten records but with Malignaggi, Devon Alexander and Julio Diaz among his victims, Porter was favourite to extend the 28-year wait for an Englishman to return home with an American’s belt.

But alas, it wasn’t to be for the Ohio man as Brook fought the fight of his career to convince the judges at ringside.

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