KELL BROOK blew away four stone, 14 months of ring rust and Mark ‘The Bazooka’ DeLuca to kickstart his world title comeback.
The 33-year-old former IBF king battled nothing but depression in 2019, as he lost out on a string of high-profile fights and ballooned up to 15st.
Kell Brook enjoyed a triumphant homecoming in front of his adoring Sheffield crowdCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Special K then delivered a huge left hook to end it in the seventhCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
And he vowed to retire if he could not defeat the unfancied American southpaw at his local Sheffield arena in a super-welter tune-up on Saturday night.
But, after seven one-sided rounds of pinpoint punching, DeLuca was rescued from his own boundless bravery to allow Brook to target a second major crown.
After finishing the bout with a bludgeoning left hand, the 39-2 ace said: “I felt very fit after so long out, I was a little rusty.
“The Bazooka was very durable so I had to chip away to get the sensational finish.
“I always question myself but in the gym but I have been beating up lots of 20-year-olds.
“I drop the kids to school and go straight to the gym like a proper professional now. 2020 is the year I become a champion again.”
The opening was the sort of ugly and gritty session that would have reminded Brook exactly what he was trying to get himself back into.
DeLuca looked well short of elite talent but awkward and strong enough to make it an uncomfortable evening for the ex-welterweight king.
DeLuca was sent crashing through the ropes by the YorkshiremanCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
The American failed to beat the count after being outclassed in SheffieldCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Brook battled nothing but depression in 2019 but returned to the ring in impressive fashionCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Brook snapped the visitor’s head back with a lead right and left hand but DeLuca lunged back with a bodyshot as the best form of defence.
DeLuca’s cautious style proved he was definitely not being paid by the punch but the flurries that Brook was allowed to fire off were almost all caught on the underdog’s high guard.
Brook scored heavily in the third and moments after bloodying DeLuca’s nose he was folded into the canvas with a straight right and left hand.
DeLuca beat the count but Brook had the stench of claret filling his nostrils and he was close to getting the finish before the bell saved the overmatched 31-year-old.
The one-sided stanza ended with a face-off as the pair went nose-to-nose but only one was streaming with blood.
A leaping DeLuca left hook then sent shards of spit and sweat from Brook’s head into the crowd and a straight right moments later had a similarly theatrical effect.
And when Brook backed him up in response, DeLuca dared to smile and shake his head, as if Brook’s thunderous punches were not really hurting him.
But Brook was already so comfortable he ended the round switching stances and smacking his rival at will.
DeLuca dared to start the fifth with a sweet left hand but that just woke Brook up and he bossed the rest of the shift.
The Brit was not at his elusive best but DeLuca did not have the power to hurt him the way Errol Spence and Gennady Golovkin did in his only career defeats.
During the sixth, a fight broke out in the crowd that grabbed most of the audience’s attention because the action inside of the ring was becoming too one-sided.
DeLuca was dangerously brave and one Brook shot sent a chunk of his facial flesh into the expensive seats at the end of the stanza.
Warhorse DeLuca was wobbled at the start of the seventh and then floored moments later with a monster left hook and the fight correctly called off before he could stumble to his feet and protest.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
