Golovkin Hints That He May Give Brook a Freebie To Check His Chin

By Edward Chaykovsky

IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) is not beyond the realm of playing mind games with his opponents in the ring.

In several fights, Golovkin has actually dropped his hands and dared his opponent to hit him repeatedly - an antic reminiscent of former world champion Ricardo Mayorga.

This tactic is dependent upon the opponent. Against very dangerous punchers like Curtis Stevens and David Lemieux, Golovkin relied on his boxing ability to win. Against others, especially when he doesn't feel threatened by their power or he's bored from dominating the entire contest - he drops his hands to put on a show for the live crowd.

This coming Saturday night, Golovkin defends three of his four belts against IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs), who moves up by thirteen pounds to meet GGG at the middleweight limit of 160-pounds.

The fight takes place at the O2 Arena in London. HBO and Sky Sports Box Office will carry the card.

Golovkin hints that he might use that tactic against Brook, to play with the British fighter's head and attempt to take his confidence away. Golovkin has already stated that he's down to have a "street fight" on Saturday in order to impress the UK crowd.

"People in London say 'hey Triple G, I like your style, I like your power!' They don't say 'Triple G, you're an amazing fighter' or this or that. They just like my style," Golovkin told BoxingScene.com's Declan Taylor.

"I never try [to take a shot] but my chin is just down to genetics so thanks to my parents and God. I don't feel my opponent's power, I feel something happening when I get hit but I don't feel power.

"It's like a game for me. I might leave myself open and say 'come on, come on'. But that's not because I'm crazy and I want to get punched in the face."