By Elliot Foster

Kell Brook will look to underline his status as the best welterweight in the world having demolished his mandatory challenger.

The Sheffield man, who was returning from 10 months of inactivity, ousted Canada’s Kevin Bizier inside two rounds at the Sheffield Arena to retain his IBF crown.

Brook, now 36-0 (25 KOs), dazzled live on Sky Sports in front of a capacity crowd in what many saw as a marking time clash and he will now look to move on to bigger challenges.

It took only five minutes and 15 seconds of ring time for the victory to be confirmed and now Brook, 29, and his promotional team of Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport can look to the big names –– and the other champions –– in the wake of the one-sided demolition of the 31-year-old, who slipped to 25-3 (17 KOs).

A sweetly-timed right counter from Brook started the demise of the French-speaking former IBF Inter-Continental champion and he pounced on the opening with several more hurtful shots, leaving Bizier slumped against the ropes.

But that wasn’t the end. Bizier, to his credit, rose from the canvas but a couple of further cuffing shots causes referee Marcus McDonnell to wave off the fight and give Brook the go-ahead to celebrate about making the third successful defence of the crown he won overseas 18 months ago.

“People don't realise what goes on behind closed doors,” Brook told Sky Sports post-fight.

“I've missed my daughter's birthday, weddings [and more, but] I love it for nights like this and I was levels above Mr Bizier tonight.”

“I need a bit between my teeth,” he continued when asked about what’s next on the agenda, “a threat on my hands to really drive me.

"I love that green [WBC] belt [and I want the champion] Danny Garcia. I'd love [Timothy] Bradley, [Keith] Thurman, [Shawn] Porter.

“Any in that hat, I'll fight. Let's unify the division and in time, we will move up."

Promoter Eddie Hearn is now tasked with the unenviable task of delivering on the big fights and big nights for ‘The Special One’, but he says that the pressure on his shoulders is something he thrives on.

“We like the pressure. It's what Kell needs,” he told Sky Sports’ Andy Scott.

“We had to fight Bizier or be stripped [of the IBF title]. Kell Brook is a beast. You can only prove he's the best against Bizier so far.

"He's got a clean bill of health and we're going to land that big fight. We have to. He's got the belt. We will travel to America if we have to but we'll do what we can to bring them to Sheffield.

“Whether it's [WBO welterweight champion Jessie] Vargas, [aforementioned WBC champ Danny] Garcia or [ex-WBO kingpin] Timothy Bradley. We'd walk to New York for [former WBC middleweight titlist] Miguel Cotto.

“There's many who wouldn't be standing here after what he's been through over the last 18 months and I think he's pound-for-pound the best in Britain.”