Britain’s IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook has told a British newspaper he is determined to resurrect his career after being stabbed in the leg while on holiday.
The 28-year-old was attacked on the Spanish island of Tenerife in what he called “an unprovoked attack”, less than a month after his majority-decision IBF title win over America’s Shawn Porter in California.
The unbeaten Sheffield fighter said the attack took place in his assailant’s apartment in the early hours of September 4 after a night of drinking went wrong.
“Without warning or caution, one swipe,” Brook told Saturday’s edition of the Daily Mail. “I was a victim of an unprovoked attack. Without warning, I was getting (hit with a) machete by this guy to my leg.
“This guy was stood over me, shouting and swearing. I am trying to scramble away. I was thinking about my daughter, that I need to get away.
“I was covered in blood, panicking, feeling so drained and weak from the loss of blood. I feared for my life.”
Spain’s Civil Guard told AFP that an investigation into the incident had been opened, but the Daily Mail reported that Brook’s attacker was still at large.
Brook said that although he currently has no feeling around the wound in his left leg, he is confident of making a complete recovery so he can take on fellow Briton Amir Khan.
“I’m thinking positive because I have to, but believe me, I will get better and then I’ll smash Amir Khan,” he added. “Nothing will stop me from coming back and defending (my belt). Nothing.
“The dream scenario would then be to fight Floyd Mayweather. I’m a young lion and I believe I can be one of the greats.”