Fast Results from the U.K.: Brook KOs DeLuca in 7; Galahad Halts Marrero

Whitman, Massachusetts southpaw Mark DeLuca proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Kell Brook who returned to the ring tonight in his hometown of Sheffield, England after a 14-month break.

Brook’s only previous losses were to Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr, but he was busted up in both fights and he was coming off a lackluster performance in his last start vs. Michael Zerafa. A strong showing tonight was imperative if he was going to stay relevant in the welterweight division and he delivered the goods vs. brave but outgunned DeLuca who was counted out in the seventh round.

After two rather nondescript rounds, Brook knocked DeLuca to his knees in round three with a series of right hands climaxed by a harsh left hook. DeLuca arose with blood pouring from his nose which was presumably broken. In round four DeLuca was saved by the bell, but the ex-Marine soldiered on. The huge left hand that put him down in round seven left him sprawling on the canvas. DeLuca struggled to his feet and seemingly beat the count, but the referee said otherwise and it was an appropriate call considering the circumstance.

Brook, who indicated that he would retire if he lost this fight, improved to 39-2 with his 27^th knockout. The valiant DeLuca suffered his second loss in 26 pro fights.

Other Bouts of Note

In a match that figured to be somewhat more competitive, Kell Brook’s Sheffield stablemate Kid Galahad broke down and stopped Claudio Marrero whose corner halted the featherweight contest after the eighth round. The bout was billed as an IBF title eliminator which positions Galahad (born Addul Barry Awad to immigrants from Yemen) for a rematch with belt-holder Josh Warrington who saddled Galahad, now 27-1 (16) with his lone defeat in a very close fight. Warrington, however, is angling for a unification fight with Shakur Stevenson who is in action next month. Marrero, from the Dominican Republic, declined to 24-4.

Former British, Commonwealth and European 130-pound title-holder Martin Joseph Ward (24-1-2) thoroughly outclassed Mexico’s Jesus Amparan (16-2) who lasted the distance but lost every round on the referee’s scorecard. Ward, who put Amparan on the canvas with body punches in rounds seven and 10, hopes to fight Rene Alvarado or Jojo Diaz before the end of the year. Both are associated with Golden Boy which has a good relationship with Ward’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

Also

The 10-round women’s fight between defending WBC 130-pound world champion Eva Wahlstrom and local fan favorite Terri Harper was the semi-windup, going off immediately before the Brook-DeLuca skirmish. Harper, from a small village in County Yorkshire, was stepping up in class against Helsinki’s Wahlstrom whose lone defeat was inflicted by Katie Taylor, but at age 23 Harper had youth on her side and youth prevailed.

Harper started strong and finished even stronger against the 39-year-old Finn, elevating her record to 10-0. In round seven, Harper caught Wahlstrom (23-2-2) off balance and put her on the canvas with a quick right hand. In the ninth, she had Wahlstrom in trouble, but Wahlstrom survived and the final round was anti-climactic. The scores read 98-91 and 99-90 twice.

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