Kell Brook has resisted the temptation to go down the celebrity route when picking who carries his belt to the ring.

The IBF strap is in the hands of his friend and fellow boxer Lee Noble, who earlier took to Twitter, external to speak of his pride in seeing the level Brook has reached.

Image source, Lee Noble Twitter

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Kell Brook must have been thinking about this moment when he was on his back in a hospital bed. He stares at the ring as he walks slowly from the top of the entrance ramp.

"The defending champion...Kellllllllll Brooookkkkk," says Michael Buffer.

The lights go out. Kanye West's 'All of the Lights' starts playing and Brooke rises from underground onto a platform. This is glitzy.

Here comes Jo Jo Dan. Black t-shirt on. I'd love to tell you the tune he enters to but it's some sort of foreign rap.

I'm going to commit and say it's a catchy number. He looks relaxed.

Go on, say it. I know you want to. It is Saturday night, there is boxing on. All together... one... two... three

"LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE".

If ever there was a sign Kell Brook has made it in the sport, the fact legendary announcer Michael Buffer is on duty tonight is pretty definitive.

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Did you know that after eight years of using his famous catchphrase, Buffer took out a trademark on it which has reportedly netted him over $400m (£268m)?

Let's get ready to coin it in eh Michael?

Kell Brook stands in the tunnel. We have a ring walk on our hands and guess who is on the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's get this party started," he says.

Kell Brook fans, I don't want to worry you but it has been several years since your man fought a southpaw.

Our visitor for the night - Jo Jo - is one of those awkward customers.

Why is it tricky? As Brook leads with his left hand, Dan will lead with his right, their feet will be closer together as a result and the angles from which attacks can arrive are changed up.

Image source, Getty Images

Jo Jo Dan was wonderfully honest when asked about Kell Brook's hopes of fighting Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao in the welterweight division.

"Who doesn't want to fight for a million dollars," Dan told IFL TV. "It doesn't matter, you go there, fight one round and get the money. I want to fight them too, but I'm not thinking about that fight, I want to focus on Kell Brook.

"I feel great, in the best shape of my life and confident. I know what he does, what he's good at and not, we will see that in the ring. I'm ready to adjust whatever he is going to bring."

Tony Bellew
Former light heavyweight world title challenger on Radio 5 live

"It is testament to Kell's character that he is back here tonight. It was a very tough time for him after the stabbing incident.

"I have been in touch with him since it happened and it has been a long process of five and six months where he had to build up the strength in his leg.

"But the carrot is being dangled in front of him of what fights he may have in the future. I saw him backstage and I'm not going to lie, he said he is nervous. I said he had to go out there and show what he could do and show all the hard work that he has put in."

Let us be honest, Kell Brook will not be on the minds of either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao as the pair prepare for boxing's showdown of a generation on 2 May.

But the pair (and specifically the man he tips for the big fight) are rolling through the mind of 'Special K'.

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"I see Mayweather winning the fight," Brook told BBC Radio 5 live. "He believes he will win with a passion. Pacquiao has lost before and can lose again.

"Mayweather can control the pace and is a brilliant defensive sharpshooter. For me he takes over the fight halfway through and wins convincingly.

"On 3 May there will only be two men in the division with world title belts. I would love to do a unification with the winner."

Brook is talking the talk but must hold on to his IBF title to have any hope of a big payday against the winner of Mayweather-Pacquiao, who will hold WBA, WBC and WBO crowns.

IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook tells Sky Sports: "It's overwhelming. I'm looking forward to it, buzzing, excited. Itchy knuckles. I can't wait to show the fans. I've kept them waiting.

"I want to make a statement. It's going out to the world and I want to show them why I'm champion."

This fight is being shown in America. Why is that important? Spread the word and hope Floyd Mayweather fancies granting you a payday.

The crowd are booming along to The White Stripes hit 'Seven Nation Army', the drum beats and they get louder. Spotlights race around the arena so it's show time any minute now.

One local fighter just got dropped heavily. The unthinkable cannot happen here can it? Brook can't go the same way?

Tony Bellew
Former light heavyweight title challenger on Radio 5 live

"I'm looking forward to an exceptional night of boxing. This fight looks to be a really good one. This is Kell's homecoming, but he has a good fighter in front of him and he has beaten some good fighters. He is here on merit."

Listen to live commentary from BBC Radio 5 live by hitting the live coverage tab.

He may have a name like a character from a London musical, but Jo Jo Dan is no fluffy character.

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He is number one in the IBF's welterweight rankings behind champion Brook and has only lost twice in 34 fights, both times to Turkey's Selcuk Aydin.

It is five wins in a row now for Dan, who has not fought in his home country since 2010 and so a boisterous crowd shouting for the champ will probably hold little fear.

Whatever happens tonight, the name 'Jo Jo Dan' is about as boxing as boxing can get. It's perfect for those fight posters promoters love to push.

Kell Brook's world title success against undefeated Shawn Porter in August via majority decision was his toughest outing in a while.

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Before meeting the American, Brook put away four straight opponents inside the distance, so his last full 12 rounder prior to Porter was in July of 2012.

Porter was the only undefeated fighter he has faced in his career.

Some more of your suggestions for greatest sporting comebacks.

Thomas Johnston: Eric Abidal. Beating cancer twice and still being able to compete at the highest level of world football. Inspirational.

Sam Quarlena: Ben Hogan's US Open win at Merion in 1950 after his car crash.

I thought Austin Powers was the only man who had 'Mojo'? Apparently not.

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"Winning this world title takes his Mojo to another level," says Kell Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn. "When he walks out, Michael Buffer calling his name, I think you'll see something special.

"The danger is overlooking Jo Jo Dan but I know Kell hasn't done it in camp. He's trained harder than he did for the Porter fight, he's had a lot more to overcome, he's ready."

Brook was efficient and tactically superb in seeing off Shawn Porter to claim the IBF title. He threw nearly 200 fewer punches than the deposed champion, landing 158 from 441 thrown, a 36% connect rate.

And so...

It's time for Kell.

These men now seem a long way away for Adam Etches.

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Andy Lee (left), middleweight king Gennady Golovkin (centre) and Martin Murray (right) are now only dream fights for some time.

He wanted these fights in the coming years. Patience will be key now.

The new IBF International Middleweight champion is Sergey Khomitsky and boy has he subdued this arena with that smash.

Adam Etches is back up again, he needed a stool briefly in the middle of the ring. Boxing is so punishing, the young fighter was talked up, given all the praise he could handle but this is a humbling and now it's time for a brief re-build.