Kell Brook v Mark DeLuca

Kell Brook says he will announce his retirement in the ring if he loses to Mark DeLuca on 8 February.

Brook, 33, will face the American after a 14-month spell out of the ring.

Sheffield's Brook has endured a testing period since 2016, having broken both eye sockets and given up his world welterweight title.

"This last chapter of my career, I'm giving it my all," Brook said. "If I get beaten I can walk away with my head high, knowing I have given everything."

He told the 5 Live Boxing with Costello & Bunce podcast: "If I get beaten by DeLuca, I will announce my retirement in that ring. If I can't beat him, what am I doing?"

He now feels that if he were to retire - even as a former world champion - he would not feel fulfilled with his achievements. BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello says the admission is "staggering".

Brook has said he was "a mess" in the aftermath of losing his IBF world welterweight title to Errol Spence Jr at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane in 2017, and resorted to "drinking too much" because he felt down.

He turned to counsellors and said he "poured my heart out to them".

Ask why he now feels happy, Brook said: "I think it's age. And I think it's realising the window of opportunity is very small now. I have realised I have been cheating myself and it is me who pays for it. So I am going to give myself the best opportunity to give my all.

"It's me who walks in my shoes. I know that I have never been 100% but now I am 100%. But I am not a young buck any more and I have to look after myself. I have to go to bed at night, not cut corners, do it by the book.

"Obviously I was young and thinking I could do it all as a world champion but I am sitting here now and the penny has dropped. I have seen the light now."

DeLuca has been beaten just once going into the Sheffield Arena bout.

Brook has lost twice in a 40-fight career, during which he travelled to the US to land a shock world-title win against Shawn Porter in 2014.

His trainer Dominic Ingle added: "I always say with fighters that they all come to the realisation that after 30 it all starts to fall into place.

"The mind gets a bit smarter. Whether the body can keep up is another thing. It's a big fight for Brook and he will decide whether he can go on to bigger things.

"Kell was destined for big things. It has always been a case of keeping him on track as he has had a lot of people around him hyping him up.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cp...ookgraphic.png

"He has been out well over a year and we just don't know with his age whether he is going to do it. I think 2021 might be the last year. He has been rejuvenated and we have to ride this wave as long as we can."

t is hard to escape the notion that Brook has become the forgotten man of British boxing.

I remember being at one of the very first news conferences he was at after joining forces with promoter Eddie Hearn. People were saying 'this is the special one' and 'this is a very special kid'.

He went on to win the British title, then, in one of the single best wins ever by a British boxer, he beats Shawn Porter in the US. That was one of the great wins.

BBC Radio 5 Live analyst Steve Bunce: Saying he is a forgotten man is not too strong.

He turned pro at 18 and got £300 for his first fight. For his third fight, he didn't even get paid. He started his career facing obscurity and hardship.

I've had him on a dozen things and he's talked about walking away. He has been in some black, hellish holes. I have to be honest, by about the summer of 2017, I thought it might have been all over for Brook.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/51104000

Brooks finished, was always over hyped and has had a wasted career.
DeLuca can bang and should end Brook on Saturday.
No One cares about this.

Probably best bet if he's insistent on going forward, roll your dice with DeLuca who somehow resides near a top five ranking and look for a shot at one of those wba trinkets who hand them like stale doughnuts at a blood drive. Can't erase wear and tear, age and over a year out and he'll be fortunate to find even reasonable success near top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS6p5HELwMo

Anna looking lovely as always

Martin J Ward has won every single round here, Amparan has been game enough but its been so one sided its been dull as fuck

White Rhino up next, I'm guessing that they will be chucking him in with a bin man, he's only there now cuz the fans like him and he will take up a bit of ring time.

OK here is what Dorian Darch's Twatter profile says

Quote:

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civil engineer and professional boxer will fight anyone anywhere you will spark me if your good but get a shock if your not!x

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I can't find anywhere in the Hotel showing the fight on me Hols and the last place I am taking the Mrs is some sports bar, so going to check in on this thread for the rbr for Brook / DeLuca.

well you haven't missed anything on the undercard so far anyway.

hopefully @Master will drop in for his usual RBR cuz there is a very good chance I'll fall asleep before the main event.

Galahad is a dirty fucker

Cracking round from Galahad in the 7th then

Marrero quit on his stool after the 8th, Galahad fought really well, roughed Marrero up for the first few rounds and then just started beating him up once he'd knocked the fight out of him.

The birds are fighting now so I'll read my book for half hour before the main event comes on

Thanks Batman.

good win for galahad, ref was shit

In the first round Brook stalking the southpaw DeLuca to win the round. It was slow and uneventful.

Very scrappy and poor 2nd round from Brook who is a class above DeLuca but getting unnecessarily hit by him.

2 nil Brook

Brook busts up and knocks down DeLuca in the 3rd round. Quality 3 punch combination to put him down.

De Luca just throwing huge shots and hoping that he can stick one on Brooks face but it ain't happening for him, Brook just taking his time and picking him off.

This ain't gunna last much longer.

Brook super confident now in the 4th and is slowly trying to break down the brave but outclassed DeLuca. Brook going southpaw at times.

4 nil

Brook fighting more in a southpaw stance in the 5th but DeLuca still in there surviving.

5 nil

Brook is battering DeLuca and bloodying his face in the 6th round.One way traffic.

6 nil

DeLuca knocked down and stopped in the 7th round. DeLuca was not in his league and showed bravery.

Brook looked okay but against Smith it will be a hard fight! Kell is really just slightly over the hill DeLuca was a tough limited opponent who was brought over as a opponent no more well done Kell.

Thanks Master.

The final punch was a jab which knocked down DeLuca who was battered, bruised and cut up at the end.

They are setting up the Liam Smith fight which should be good domestic matchup.

I am glad they have given up on chasing the Amir Khan fight.

Missed it all after cancelling Dazn :p. Thanks for rbr and info gents. I'd like to see Brook do well and maximize his last ride.

Brook vs Smith is a decent fight at this stage. Probably slightly favour Brook but could be a pretty even match up.

forgot all about this one.

one more big fight for Kell then needs to call it a day.

hope that idiot Khan doens't talk his way into a big pay day