Kell Brook’s trainer Dominic Ingle has explained that Kell Brook was pricing himself out of a fight ahead of his decision to retire.
The 36-year-old former world champion last fought in February, when he settled his longstanding rivalry against Amir Khan at a 149lb catchweight.
Brook was an impressive winner and it rekindled talk of further high-profile fights for the veteran, with suggestions that it would take a £10 million payday to tempt him back in the ring against boxers such as Conor Benn or Chris Eubank Jr.
Speaking to Boxing King Media, Ingle claimed that Brook has essentially decided to step away from the sport rather than continue his career, and the figures he demanded were to ensure that only a huge offer would be made to tempt him back.
“That’s the kind of money Kell would want just to consider it,” he said.
“He was kind of pricing himself out of the job, really. ‘Well, so if you really want me to do it, give me that kind of money.’ I’m not particularly bothered. It’s kind of throwing out there just to put people off, well, that’s a ridiculous amount we’re not going to bother with that fight.
“I think that’s why Kell did it, really.”
Ingle continued, explaining why Brook had come to the decision that his time was up.
“I think when he got back to normal life, looked at his kids, his family, his house, and everything and thought, ‘What do I need this for?’” he offered.
“‘I enjoy myself now. [I’m] 36.’
“Like I said, go out on a high. Enjoy your life. It is a bit of an adjustment. Of course it is.
“We look back on that night with great fondness because it was a tremendous night. It was even a tremendous night for Khan really even though he got beat. He made plenty of money and got a good response and he played the part. He turned up. He gave the fight fans a fight that they wanted. It was not the right decision for him, but he still got credibility, I don’t care what people think. He had a great career himself.”