LIKE austerity, it feels like Kell Brook has been around forever. However unlike austerity, the former welterweight world champion has succeeded in putting smiles on countless faces, such has been the excitement he’s brought to the ring throughout a 40-fight professional career stretching all the way back to 2004.

Yet even so the Ingle (Wincobank) Gym fighter still isn’t ready to hang them up — for on February 8 in front of his hometown fans in Sheffield at the FlyDSA Arena, the 33-year-old is scheduled to face United States southpaw Mark DeLuca in a non-title clash, with a view to putting himself back in the mix for another title shot down the line.

Having been out of ring since December 2018, after securing a lacklustre points victory over Michael Zerafa, Brook will be eager to impress and prove that his best days are still in front rather than behind him. In this scenario, DeLuca will not be expected to spoil the party, what with there being no stand-out names on a record of 24 victories and one defeat.