It's a kangaroo court for Sheffield's Kell Brook
Brook may have come Down Under for a relaxing family holiday, but this roo gave him a timely reminder that Australia has some punchy wildlife
Kell Brook has been in with some of the hardest men on the planet – but on a sunny day in Australia, the former Sheffield world champion found himself hopping on the back foot when a kangaroo took a dislike to him.
The boxer, holidaying Down Under with partner Ebanie Bridges, found himself going a few rounds with a very different kind of heavyweight when a territorial roo appeared to take exception to his presence.
Brook, who has shared the ring with the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Shawn Porter and Terence Crawford, met his match as the furry fighter bounded over, determined to keep him away from its fellow marsupials.
The 40-year-old Dore man was soon roo-ing the day he ventured too close.
Footage filmed by Ebanie captured the extraordinary stand-off, with Kell looking sharp in an Ingle Gym/Ricky Hatton Foundation T-shirt and shorts as he tried to keep his Australian adversary at bay.
At one point, with his phone in his left hand, the Sheffield champ even appeared to switch to a southpaw stance – a speedy switch designed to ward off the opponent.
The kangaroo stood its ground, warning The Special One that this patch of parkland was strictly for the locals. Perhaps he also had a sense that Brook ate kangaraoo meet as part of his diet before fighting Golovkin.
With the roo looking ready too come out swinging, Brook sensibly decided discretion was the better part of valour.
It was a real case of beating a retreat before things went south.
Jokes aside, these animals are no cuddly toys.
Powerful hind legs can deliver dangerous kicks and their sharp claws can inflict serious cuts, so keeping a safe distance is essential, even for a former world champion.
Brook may have come Down Under for a relaxing family holiday, but this roo gave him a timely reminder that Australia has some punchy wildlife.
And the former IBF welterweight king won't be rushing to rematch any time soon.