Mark “The Bazooka” DeLuca: Fighting Marine, MASS Roots, and Boxing Beginning & Future…

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Exclusive Interview by Joshua “City” Brewer

“I grew up looking at the dress blue uniforms and seeing my Uncle’s medals and stuff. It was pretty nostalgic for me as a kid so it always made me want to grow up and serve my country.” – Mark “The Bazooka” DeLuca

Boxing is a sport of sacrifice. Every time a fighter leaves the ring a piece of the fighter is left behind. Some sacrifices are made well beforehand. In the case of Mark “The Bazooka” DeLuca, 22-1, 13 KO’s, sacrifice is simply a nine letter word. His destiny was etched in the stone from the beginning. Having grown up in the company of multiple generations of Marines and having honorably served his country himself, the term ‘first to fight’ was appropriately coined for this fighting Marine (shout out to Tunney).

DeLuca is a part of the Murphy’s Boxing stable that is once again making Massachusetts a hotbed for boxing. DeLuca recently avenged his lone loss in near shutout fashion in front of an electric crowd at the historic TD Garden Arena in Boston. This fight was on the main card of the DAZN broadcast in association with Matchroom Boxing USA.

DeLuca is now the IBA world and WBA-NABA super welterweight champion and has his sights set on those at the top of the division. His trajectory is pointing upwards and as the old adage goes, if you build it they will come. In the sport of boxing if you continue you winning, the big fights come.

RSR had the chance to speak with DeLuca on his recent fight, his current stable, and life as a Marine.

JB: In the first fight, Walter Wright one in what you described as more of a chess match. Where do you think you went wrong in the first fight and what was your mindset coming into the second fight?

My first fight, I think I was a little over zealous. I was rushing my offense a little bit and I was looking for the kill too much. Walter’s a cagey guy so he took advantage of my immaturity at the time and did a good job counter punching. This time around I just wanted to be patient and just worry about winning each round, not really a knockout or overall fight, just making sure I won each round and I think I did that pretty well.

JB: You caught him with some nice left hooks. Your left hook was story of the fight as you caught him repeatedly. Where you surprised he didn’t go down?

Yea, I shook him a couple of times. Yea, I was surprised. Again, I didn’t want to move in for the kill. My coach and I had a game plan. I saw that I shook him up but I didn’t have him in serious danger, so I just stayed to the game plan and went back to picking my shots.

JB: You started to work the body more in the latter part of the fight. You won via unanimous decision with scores of 97-93, 96-94, and 96-94. Do you feel that chapter (Walter Wright) is closed or could you see a trilogy coming about?

I think I’ve got enough of Walter Wright for now. The first fight was tight and in this fight I felt like I won pretty convincingly. I’m just going to sit down with my team and see what the next move is.

JB: 154 pounds is a hot weight (division) right now and a lot of guy are in or entering their primes. You’d be a welcomed addition up top. What are your thoughts on the division and champions and contenders right about now?

it’s definitely one of the hardest weight classes, in and around the 154 pound division. Even the 147 pound division has some big names and as time goes on those guys could possibly move up. So, it definitely could get real interesting.

JB: Anyone in specific you interested in facing or come one come all?

Any good opportunity. I’d like to fight a good name that the boxing community knows. I’ve been fighting on the lower level club shows. Matchroom Boxing was a big fight and I previously fought on a Golden Boy card. Those are big names, but I’d like to get a name somewhere in the the future and this NABA ranking puts me in a great position to do so.

JB: Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA, did you grow up around boxing and compete coming up?

I did. I grew up, my father was a boxer, so he brought my brothers and sisters, and I, to the gym. We just picked it up form there and I was the only one that stuck with it.

JB: Your Grandfather, Uncle, Two Brothers, and Cousin(s) are Marines. You’ve almost got the entire family tree. I had to send a tweet to the DAZN crew because they kept referring to you as a former Marine, there’s no such thing. What was that like growing up?

It was a lot of good stories. Not war stories or anything, just stories of service. I grew up looking at the dress blue uniforms and seeing my Uncle’s medals and stuff. It was pretty nostalgic for me as a kid so it always made me want to grow up and serve my country.

JB: How about in the Marine Corps, did do any boxing there?

No, nothing official, I didn’t box on the team or anything. I’d just hit the bag on base.

JB: You’re a part of the Murphy’s Boxing stable along with Spike O’Sullivan and Danny O’Connor, amongst others. How important has it been to have such a great team behind you?

My promoter, Ken Casey, he’s making a splash this year, you know, with Spike. He just had the new IBF super bantamweight world champion, TJ Doheny, from Australia, he’s a Murphy’s Boxing fighter and he just won his title in Japan. Ken’s doing well by us. He keeps us really busy. I fight three or four times a year if possible. He’s always doing shows and stuff. I’m real grateful to be on the team. .

JB: Well it’s always great to have and honored and prestigious individual such as yourself representing the sport. Any parting words for your fans out there?

Thanks for supporting me. You can follow me on Instagram @markiedeluca, or Mark DeLuca on Facebook. I appreciate all of the support.

On behalf of RSR, we wish Mark DeLuca the best moving forward. Stay locked in to RSR for the latest and greatest in the sport.

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