Friday 5 September 2014 18:42, UK
Kell Brook needed a life-saving operation after being stabbed while on holiday in Tenerife, his family has revealed.
The world welterweight champion is recovering in hospital following the incident, which happened in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Brook's injuries - to a leg and arm - were initially thought to be relatively minor, but a statement from the Sheffield fighter's family has laid bare the extent of the attack.
It read: "Kell Brook got stabbed three times in his leg and once in the arm. He was critical, lost a lot of blood. Had a major operation that saved his life.
"The Brook family want to thank all the staff at Tenerife hospital for their great work. The operation was a success and Kell is awake and starting his recovery from this horrendous attack. We thank you all for your well wishes and support."
Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn is in the Canary Islands and is expected to release a further statement on Friday.
In the meantime he has released on his Twitter account pictures of the IBF champion sitting up in his hospital bed.
Brook won his first world title and extended his unbeaten record to 33 fights when he outpointed Shawn Porter in California last month.
