Kell Brook plans on looking sensational against Mark DeLuca!
When Kell “The Special One” Brook (38-2, 26 KO’s) steps in the ring on February 8 to face Mark “Bazooka” DeLuca (24-1, 13 KO’s), he will do so under a great deal of scrutiny. First and foremost, the Special One was last in the ring on December 8, 2018 against Michael Zerafa. This is over a full year ago and, therefore, there is an expectation to see some form of ring rust.
Yet, more importantly, fight fans will be looking to see if Brook still has retained the type of fighting ability that will allow him to dominate at the elite level. Along with Zerafa, the only other professional bout that Brook fought in 2018 was with Siarhei Rabchanka. Neither of which are viewed as being top tier world beaters.
FIGHTING WITH A NEW CONFIDENCE
To make the matter a bit more foreboding, the Special One was bouncing back from a completely abysmal 2017 and horrible fourth quarter of 2016. On September 10, 2016, Brooks infamously jumped up two weight classes from welter to middleweight to tangle with the destructive Kazakhstan fighter Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KO’s).
After enjoying fleeting early success in the prizefight, Brook ultimately got beat up, stopped and exited the ring with a broken eye socket. In his very next bout, he returned to 147 to defend his IBF welterweight strap against Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr (26-0, 21 KO’s) in a hometown dust-up at the Bramall Lane Football Ground, located in Sheffield, UK.
Unfortunately, Brook was thoroughly out-boxed, supplied a fresh beat down and exited the ring with his other eye socket broken and minus his IBF title. However, let the Special One tell it, he has put those unsavory events behind him. Brook is now ready to begin a successful new chapter in this professional career.
“A different force, the almighty has gotten into me. I found myself and I wish I would have found myself ten years ago. But it’s something been happening to me that is absolutely fantastic and I don’t want it to go away.
“This is the happiest that I’ve ever been in my life. This is the best that I have ever felt, you know, spiritual, mental, everything is on point. And we’re a few days away so, we’re going to get the very, very best version of me. I know that I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself, but I’ve said it now.
“All the talking is done now as well and everyone is still going to have their own opinion until Saturday night. Until they see with their own eyes and see what they see. What I’ve been doing in the gym, if I mirror anything near that in this fight…sensational!”
THE REINVENTED KELL BROOK
Provided that Brook proves that he has returned to his old form (a BIG ‘if ‘for many!), like all top flight boxers the Special One will turn his sights toward obtaining another world title.
“[if successful against DeLuca] Whosoever got one of them titles, I’m knocking on that door, you know? However it spins, whoever, whichever comes first, whatever deal we can do first, I am ready for them!”
However, Brook has already tasted some very bitter defeat in his career. Consequently, he knows better than to overlook DeLuca in the ninth hour before their dust-up.
“I’ve had pressure all my life, but top athletes and top performers perform the very best under that pressure. So, bring that pressure on!
“[on his upcoming performance on Saturday] They can expect from me chocolate brownies and vanilla ice cream going to be flying about! Expect that night, fireworks, excitement, punching power, ring craft, durability, you’re going to see it all Saturday!”
By: Bakari Simpson
