Jo Jo Dan: record, next fight and profile →
Two fighters have been scheduled for action on September 11th at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. Undefeated welterweight contender Prichard "Digget" Colon (15-0, 12KOs). Colon had a very vicious knockout as part of the Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN card, when he knocked out Michael Finney in two rounds on August 1.
For Kell Brook, Saturday represents far more than just a title defense. It’s more than a homecoming. What his showdown versus Jo Jo Dan reflects the will of a fighter to overcome any obstacle. It was in that spirit that the boxing world awaited with baited breath as the unbeaten Brit recovered from wounds suffered during a machete attack while on vacation in Tenerife last fall. His first fight since that incident – and since dethroning then-unbeaten welterweight titlist Shawn Porter – comes on Saturday, as he defends versus Dan from the comfy confines of the Motorpoint Arena in his hometown of Sheffield, England.
An emotional ring return was expected given all that Kell Brook has been through in between fights. The unbeaten welterweight fought for the first time since a machete attack last fall, making the first defense of his alphabet title with a one-sided 4th round stoppage of Jo Jo Dan. The triumphant return was a fitting homecoming, with Brook scoring four knockdowns in front of a capacity crowd at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. From the moving ring entrance to the performance to post-fight crowd reaction, it was an overwhelming experience for a fighter who wasn’t 100% that his career would continue beyond last year’s title winning effort.
Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield - Making the first defense of his IBF welterweight title, Kell Brook (34-0, 23KOs) crushed mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan (34-3, 18KOs) in four rounds. It was an unexpected one-sided contest where Brook simply overwhelmed Dan. Brook started fast, outboxing Dan and scoring a knockdown in the second with a big uppercut. Dan beat the count and quickly went down for a second time from a series of shots. Dan did all he could to survive until the bell. Dan tried to regain some ground in the third, but he was getting rocked by every big shot that connected. In the fourth, Brook dropped Dan for a third time with a combination in the closing moments. In final few seconds of the same round, Brook dropped Dan for a fourth time with a massive left hook.
Kell Brook will defend his IBF welterweight title against Jo Jo Dan in Sheffield on Saturday just six months after fearing his life was over. The 28-year-old was stabbed in Tenerife in September and was left fighting for his life with blood pouring from a 12-inch wound. But on Saturday night he will walk out in front of a home crowd for the first defence of the title he won against Shawn Porter in California last summer. Having fought his way up through the city's sports halls and leisure centres to top the bill in front of an expected crowd of more than 10,000, Brook admits his biggest battle might be to stop his emotions getting the better of him.
David Haye has always talked a good fight though in the past three years he has done more jawing than warring. Plus a fair amount of partying judging by his fleshier-than-usual features these days. The last time he unleashed his famed Hayemaker was on the chin of Dereck Chisora in their blockbuster scrap at Upton Park in July 2012. Subsequently he pulled out of two proposed big money dates with Tyson Fury, first with a cut eyebrow caused in sparring for the fight and then for surgical repair to his shoulder. It seemed that we had seen – although not heard- the last of the charismatic former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion. But now the constant murmurings of a possible comeback have grown louder with Haye recently declaring that 2015 will see the return of the Hayemaker "bigger, better, faster stronger and with a new plan."
Kell Brook was all smiles at Friday's weigh-in ceremony and for very good reason. The unbeaten welterweight enjoys a triumphant homecoming this weekend, as he faces mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in their title fight Saturday evening in Sheffield, England. Both fighters made weight—Brook at a primed-and-ready 145.6 lbs., Dan at a finely tuned 146.25 lbs.—for the 12-round clash, which airs live on Sky Sports in the UK and also in a rare Saturday matinee edition of Showtime Championship Boxing in the United States. The Showtime portion will precede its already scheduled doubleheader airing later in the evening from Las Vegas.
Kell Brook was all smiles at Friday's weigh-in ceremony and for very good reason. The unbeaten welterweight enjoys a triumphant homecoming this weekend, as he faces mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in their title fight Saturday evening in Sheffield, England. Both fighters made weight—Brook at a primed-and-ready 145.6 lbs., Dan at a finely tuned 146.25 lbs.—for the 12-round clash, which airs live on Sky Sports in the UK and also in a rare Saturday matinee edition of Showtime Championship Boxing in the United States. The Showtime portion will precede its already scheduled doubleheader airing later in the evening from Las Vegas.
Be Real Boxing catch up with IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook to discuss a variety of subjects, including Saturday's mandatory defense against Jo Jo Dan. Brook’s clash with Dan is part of a huge night of boxing in Sheffield as local favourite Adam Etches defends his IBF International Middleweight title against Sergey Khomitsky and Gavin McDonnell continues his fairy tale story challenging Ukrainian Oleksandr Yegorov for the vacant European Super Bantamweight title.
Be Real Boxing catch up with welterweight contender Jo Jo Dan to discuss his mandatory clash with IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook on Saturday night. Brook’s clash with Dan is part of a huge night of boxing in Sheffield as local favourite Adam Etches defends his IBF International Middleweight title against Sergey Khomitsky and Gavin McDonnell continues his fairy tale story challenging Ukrainian Oleksandr Yegorov for the vacant European Super Bantamweight title.