by David P. Greisman
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City - Kell Brook wanted a showcase bout for his American debut, and he gave himself one with a one-sided fifth-round technical knockout over Luis Galarza.
The time of the stoppage was 1:38.
Brook was too much for Galarza — too fast, too skilled and just plain too good. He made Galarza miss, be it by inches or by miles. He rarely missed himself, toying with Galarza, landing jabs followed by right crosses, landing left hooks followed by right hands, landing stiff jabs that popped Galarza’s head back and even landing a right uppercut from farther away than any man should.
As the bout went on, Galarza threw less and less, knowing what would be coming back in return.
But Galarza came out with more fire in the fifth — that fire was quickly put out. Brook made him miss, and soon landed a one-two, switched positions, landed another one-two, then threw a hard combination that had Galarza reeling on the ropes. The referee, Alan Huggins, stepped in. Galarza protested, but the end was coming soon anyway, had it not come then.
Brook, of Yorkshire, U.K., is now 26-0 (18 knockouts). Galarza, originally from Puerto Rico but now fighting out of Antioch, Tenn., is now 18-3 (14).
