KELL BROOK is making a long-awaited return to the ring to fight Mark DeLuca on February 8.
The former IBF welterweight champ will scrap in front of his home fans in Sheffield over a year since his last bout.
Brook is on the main card alongside Kid Galahad
Brook, 33, beat Australian Michael Zerafa last December before going through some “dark times” and having a year out.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m so happy to be back and I can’t wait to put on a performance for my city on February 8, live on Sky Sports.
“I’ve had a year out, there has been some dark times but what I’ve realised is I love this sport and I know I have some of my biggest years left in the game.
“DeLuca is a strong, gutsy fighter who is always ready for war but I’m planning on putting on a statement and showing the world that I’m still a force at 154 or 147lbs.”
DeLuca, 31, is a southpaw from Massachusetts and has a record of 24 wins, one defeat.
Brook has won his last two fights after bouncing back from defeats against Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.
There were fears for his career after suffering broken eye sockets in both fights that left him requiring surgery.
His surgeon at the time warned him of blindness he if he continued boxing.
In 2018 he also revealed how he battled with depression during an interview with the Guardian.
Elsewhere on the card Kid Galahad takes on Claudio Marrero in an eliminator for the IBF featherweight title, Terri Harper takes on Eva Wahlstrom and Dave Allen is back in the ring.
Galahad added: “Every opponent at this level has to be respected and that’s what I’ll do.
“He’s a game kid in a life changing fight, similar to me. So it will be a tough night but I’ll prepare fully.
“I am grateful to the IBF, Matchroom and my team for making sure they made a sensible decision to get me back into the Final Eliminator – something I think is deserved and most of the fans do too.”
Kell Brook is making a return to the ring in FebruaryCredit: PA:Press Association
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
