Boxing champ Brook stabbed in Spain attack
Bloody scene in Tenerife as British star knifed weeks after breakthrough victory
BRITAIN’S newest world champion boxer Kell Brook was recovering in hospital last night after he lost a significant amount of blood in a knife attack while on holiday in Tenerife.
Brook, who shot to prominence by winning the IBF welterweight title last month, was stabbed in the leg and suffered a cut to his arm in the incident during a night out in the island’s Golf del Sur resort. He is said to have left a trail of blood as he staggered 100m before raising the alarm.
The 28-year-old from Sheffield was yesterday described as being in a “stable” condition by his promoters, Matchroom, while local officials hinted at the extent of his injuries.
“This morning a 28-year-old British man was stabbed at Golf del Sur in San Miguel de Abona,” said a spokesperson for Spain’s Guardia Civil. “He was stabbed in the left leg and is hospitalised. He lost a lot of blood. There are no arrests at this time and the Guardia Civil is investigating.”
This is the second time Brook has been the victim of stabbing. In 2007 he was knifed in the side and buttocks while leaving a nightclub in his home town. He returned to the ring six months later.
The attack also comes just a month after another prominent member of the British boxing community, former European light-middleweight champion-turned-trainer Jamie Moore, was shot in the legs in Marbella.
Brook had been linked with major fights against American pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather and fellow Englishman Amir Khan following his breakthrough victory less than three weeks ago.
He upset previously unbeaten American Shawn Porter in Los Angeles by winning a unanimous points decision, extending his own record of 33 victories and no defeats.
It is not known how Brook’s injuries will affect his career, but a proposed first title defence in December now appears to be in serious doubt.
Brook jetted off to the Canary Islands with his heavily pregnant partner to unwind in the aftermath of his title success. She had gone home by the time of the incident, at around 6am.
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn revealed this week that talks had taken place over a possible May showdown between Brook and Khan at Wembley Stadium. Hearn had previously identified WBC and WBA champion Mayweather as a potential opponent next year.
Moore, who was shot in the thigh and hip, said: “It’s shocking what has happened to Kell and I hope it’s not too serious. I was in hospital for eight days in Spain and they looked after me brilliantly. But there is the language barrier, so it can be a bit intimidating. I just hope he’s okay.”
FACTFILE: KELL BROOK
■ Age: 28
■ Nickname: Special K
■ Division: Welterweight
■ Height: 5ft 9in
■ Reach: 69in
■ Titles: IBF World Welterweight, IBF International Welterweight, WBA Intercontinental Welterweight
■ Record: Won 33 (22 knockouts), lost 0, drawn 0