Kell Brook to face Jo Jo Dan

By Dan Rafael | ESPN.com

Welterweight titlist Kell Brook, who is ready to return to action after suffering a stab wound that forced him to miss a fight last year, will make his first defense against mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan.

The fight will take place March 28 at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England, Brook's hometown. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn made the announcement Thursday.

As the mandatory challenger, Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) won a 147-pound world title by majority decision against American Shawn Porter on Aug. 16 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

The 28-year-old Brook was supposed to make his first title defense late last year -- the opponent had not been announced -- but he suffered a stab wound in his leg during an incident while he was on vacation in Spain in September.

"After everything that's happened over the last six months, it feels incredible knowing I will be defending my world title in Sheffield," Brook said. "I want to get this mandatory out of the way and then target those megafights that are out there in the division. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images  Mandatory challenger Kell Brook beat American Shawn Porter last August to capture a welterweight title. He will make his first title defense against Jo Jo Dan on March 28.)

"There is no chance that I will be underestimating Jo Jo Dan, though, as I know how he will be feeling, having worked so hard to get into the mandatory position just like I did, but I will be working twice as hard to keep the belt that I earned."

Dan (34-2, 18 KOs), 33, a native of Romania living in Montreal, beat Kevin Bizier for the second time on Dec. 19, claiming a split decision in Quebec City in a title elimination fight to become Brook's mandatory challenger.

"To see Kell walk out in front of a sold-out crowd in his hometown of Sheffield is going to be an emotional night," Hearn said. "Kell has gone to America and beaten an American to win the world title; it's a massive achievement and it shows that he is a very, very special fighter.

"Jo Jo Dan is a tough fight. There's no way that Kell can be anything but 100 percent to beat him, and I have no doubt that he will be. There are some massive fights out there for Kell if he can take care of Jo Jo, but his focus is solely on Dan and I expect him to shine on March 28."

 Don Rafael

Source:  espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12210901/welterweight-titlist-kell-brook-face-jo-jo-dan