Photo by Matchroom Boxing
Brook back in business
Britain’s former IBF world welterweight champion Kell ‘Special’ Brook showed how special he can still be with an emphatic knockout of tough ex-American marine Mark DeLuca in Sheffield on Saturday.
The fight was at the higher 11 stone (154lb) super-welterweight poundage and the Sheffield southpaw showed he still has the pop to compete in the bigger division. In a fight that Brook (39-2, 27 KO’s) was dominating from the onset the stoppage eventually came at 1:15 mins of the seventh round with a powerful screwed left jab.
DeLuca was dropped earlier in the third and was thoroughly beaten. His record falls to 24-2, 13 KO’s.
During the post fight interview the former champ enthused about a domestic dust up with Liverpudlian and ex-WBO world champion Liam Smith, in attendance at ringside. Showing full respect for Smith’s accomplishments and world pedigree Brook said he would willingly take the fight. Smith had earlier showed equal desire for the fight to happen which bodes well for a British audience and possible quality world title eliminator.
Big domestic heavyweight dust up is on !
In a heated press conference last week Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions confirmed the eagerly anticipated rookie/crossroads fight between undefeated Londoners Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois and Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce. The fight will take place at the O2 Arena on Sat 11th April.
Both fighters have been professionals for less than three years but compiled records of 14-0, 13 KO’s (Dubois) and 10-0, 9 KO’s (Joyce) respectively. In what is viewed by many as a ‘pick ems’ fight with the younger Dubois the slight favourite look for the hype to build over the coming weeks. Fireworks are expected on the night in a bout to be broadcast on BT Sport Box Office.
Lerena defends IBO cruiserweight crown
South African Kevin Lerena (25-1, 12 KO’s) defeated former WBA champion Firat Arslan in Germany on Saturday to retain his IBO cruiserweight (200lb)title. The sixth round technical KO win over the veteran Arslan (47-9-3, 32 KO’s) has set Lerena up for a shot at the WBA title in Belgium in the spring. The 27 year old South African is ranked #5 cruiserweight by The Ring magazine.
In other news Cuba’s double Olympic gold medallist Guillermo ‘The Jackal’ Rigondeaux (20-1-0, 13 KO’s) won his second professional world title with a split decision victory against Venezuelan Liborio Solis in an early ‘fight of the year’. The 39 year old Cuban is now WBA world bantamweight champion (118lbs) to add to his title at the higher super-bantamweight. A difference of 4 pounds.
The Undisputed 