Kell Brook Says One Fight Could End His Retirement: Conor Benn

Kell Brook hasn't fought since February 2022, when he stopped Amir Khan in a rivalry that had simmered for the best part of a decade. Now 40, the former IBF welterweight champion says there's exactly one fight that could drag him back through the ropes: a grudge match with Conor Benn.

Brook, who won the 147lb belt by beating Shawn Porter in 2014 and defended it three times, told the 'Fight Your Corner' podcast he could get himself up for a Benn showdown, calling it a massive fight. The catch is timing. Benn (25-1, 14 KO) challenges WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KO) on September 12, and Brook's interest hinges on Benn coming up short.

The 2023 Dublin Flashpoint

The bad blood traces back to a ringside dust-up in Dublin in 2023, which briefly floated a Brook-Benn fight before it fizzled. Brook isn't convinced Benn ever seriously wanted it. He suggested Benn may have simply been keeping his name in the headlines during a difficult period, chalking it up to the way boxing tends to work.

Benn has clearly moved on to bigger targets. Coming off a unanimous-decision win over Regis Prograis, he's landed a world-title crack at Garcia, who beat Mario Barrios on points in his last outing. Both men have proven they can go the distance lately, but Garcia's 20 knockouts in 25 wins make him the more dangerous puncher on paper.

Why Brook Stays Selective

Brook's career arc explains why he's picky about a comeback. His only losses came in ambitious spots: a step up to middleweight against Gennady Golovkin, then a brutal stoppage at the hands of Errol Spence Jr at Bramall Lane that ended his welterweight reign. He walked away on a high after the Khan win rather than chasing one payday too many.

That's what makes the Benn talk interesting. Brook isn't chasing a title or a legacy fight here — he's chasing a name and a domestic sell. A losing Benn looking for a rebuild opponent would give both men a reason to say yes, which is more than the 2023 flirtation ever produced.

For now it's hypothetical, and it stays that way unless Garcia does his part on September 12. The card also features cruiserweight lineal champion Jai Opetaia (30-0, 23 KO), who's expected to appear on the undercard. If Benn wins, this whole conversation evaporates. If he loses, Brook has already made it clear the door isn't fully shut.