Former WBO welterweight champion Kell Brook has no problem with staying retired from the sport.
Brook walked away from boxing in 2022, several months following his stoppage of career rival Amir Khan last February.
At 37-years-old, Brook is simply kicking back and enjoying himself by attending live boxing events from the sidelines.
But, he admits the final decision to stop boxing was not an easy one to make.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, dealing with life as a normal person,” Brook told Evening Standard Sport.
“I’ve been so institutionalized into boxing. When that came to a complete end, I didn’t know how to go about my day-to-day things. I felt like my life had ended. Nobody was phoning me, telling me to eat this or go to sleep at this time. Nobody teaches you how to deal with retirement. They teach you how to become world champion, how to avoid shots and win a fight. But nobody prepares you for dealing with life after boxing.”
On the other hand, Brook has expressed interest in returning to the ring for a fight with unbeaten welterweight Conor Benn.
The two were involved in a physical altercation last month in Dublin.
While Brook was conducting a ringside interview during the Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron event at 3Arena, he was confronted by Benn – which led to immediate shoving and a pull apart.
The idea of the contest coming off is not possible at the moment, because Benn is still without a license from the British Boxing Board of Control. He is also provisionally suspended by UK-Anti Doping. Benn’s issues with both organizations are connected to two drug test failures from last year.
A few months back, the British Board issued an open warning, stating that any licensed boxer to step in the ring with Benn – in the UK or elsewhere – would face consequences.
Until Benn is able to resolve his issues with the BBBoC, Brook will not entertain the scenario of fighting him.
“I don’t like the guy,” Brook said. “That’s a fight I could get up for. He’s not even won a British title. Don’t get me wrong, he’s looking the part against fighters he should be beating. He’s got it all there, looks like he could go all the way. But if I go in there with him, I’d take that zero and turn it into a one.”
“I’m with the BBBoC. I don’t want to be in trouble with them for fighting Conor. If he can get approval from the board and the all-clear, then the fight can definitely happen. Until then, it won’t.”