Kell Brook throws down gauntlet to Amir Khan

Kell Brook lands a punch on Jo Jo Dan during their world title bout. Picture: Getty

Sheffield’s Brook thrilled his home city with a fourth-round stoppage of Romanian Jo Jo Dan, crowning his comeback from a life-threatening stabbing in Tenerife last summer.

It was Brook’s first fight since beating Shawn Porter to win the world strap he had long coveted, and he left the  baying crowd in little doubt as to who he wants next.

“If you’re watching, come and get in this ring with me,” Brook told Khan. Promoter Eddie Hearn added that Wembley Stadium was free for the pair on 13 June.

Speaking about the fight, which saw him floor Dan four times, Brook said: “It was truly amazing to walk out in front of all my fans and I didn’t think I would ever box again.

“Here I am filling arenas. I can’t put into words how much it means to be back and defending a world title. It means everything to me.

“It was hard there holding it together and seeing everyone there on their phones.

“This is where I belong and I’m sorry that I kept you waiting but I hope you had a good night and enjoyed world championship boxing. I’m back baby. I caught him with some good clean shots but he kept getting back up. I’ve been out for a while. There’s much more to come from me.

“That’s just to knock the cobwebs off and I will be back out in June in a  massive fight. I’m back.”

On his leg, which was badly damaged in the stabbing, he added: “The leg feels fine. The leg feels as good as the other leg. There is no problem with the leg.”

Victory paves the way for a more  lucrative fight this summer, with Brook also targeting the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez and Marcos Maidana as well as fellow Briton Khan.

Brook was always expected to retain his belt, despite Dan being a respectable opponent largely due to his inflated  No 1 ranking with the IBF.

The Yorkshireman grabbed his world title chance with both hands last year, stepping up in class to grab the IBF belt from American favourite Porter  in August.

However, Brook’s world turned  upside down weeks later when he was attacked while on holiday in the Canary Islands.

The “Special One” – with a new record of 34-0, (23KOs) – acknowledges how lucky he is to still be alive, let alone still boxing, and insists he has fully  recovered from his injuries.

And so it seemed against Canada-based southpaw Dan, who entered the ring a heavy underdog with a record of 34-3 with 18 early wins. Brook landed three early right hands which were more sharp than damaging. As the round progressed they had more intent, though, with one in particular catching Dan cleanly in the final minute of  the opener.

Brook’s range-finding left set up a hurtful right and then Dan was put down by a sharp uppercut.

The visitor got to his feet but Brook took his time and had his man down again with another straightforward, clean right hand.

Dan got up a second time as Brook went looking for the stoppage. The challenger looked to have nothing left, however, and it was early in the round.

Another right cross landed and even a jab had Dan’s legs wobbling. Brook showed maturity to be patient, with 10,000 baying fans on their feet.

Dan somehow saw the bell to end the round and was desperate to regroup in the intervening 60 seconds.

He showed his heart, too, coming out fighting in the third despite looking out of his depth against the hometown  favourite.

Brook began swinging wildly looking to hurt his man again. Eventually one landed, but again Dan swallowed it and saw the round out.

Dan came out fighting in the fourth and was actually landing occasionally, although Brook remained in charge.

He was down again as the seconds ran out in the fourth, a combination culminating in a right putting him to the canvas.

As the bell rang for the end of the round, he was down again – but again beat the count – before his corner  decided enough was enough and asked referee Earl Brown to halt the bout.

On the undercard, Doncaster’s Gavin McDonnell won the vacant European super-bantamweight title with a stylish, competitive unanimous decision win against decent Ukrainian Oleksandr Yegorov.

Former amateur star Frankie Gavin eased to victory over Bogdan Mitic on his debut for promoter Matchroom.