By Edward Chaykovsky
Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch is wondering why WBC/IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight king Gennady Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) has not moved up in weight.
Golovkin and his camp have complained about issues with securing opponents in the middleweight division. For his upcoming return, on September 10th, they were forced to secure IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs), who is moving up by thirteen pounds to take the fight.
Brook came in the picture after fighters like Canelo Alvarez, Chris Eubank and Billy Joe Saunders fell through.
Froch finds the move by Golovkin strange, since the feared puncher gave Canelo verbal hell for doing the same move in fighting Amir Khan, who moved up to a catch-weight of 155, back in May.
“He should pick on someone his own size, and if he can’t get fights at middle, why doesn’t he move up? He gave Canelo stick for fighting Khan, who was smaller,” Froch told Boxing News.
While saying that, Froch believes Brook will give Golovkin a lot more problems than many would anticipate. Froch is not very impressed with Golovkin streak of knockout victories and he tabs Brook as being the best opponent in Golovkin's long career. Many are picking Golovkin to cruise to an easy knockout victory. Froch, while not picking the upset, says Brook could certainly last the full twelve round distance in a tough fight.
"I genuinely think Brook will give him far more trouble than anyone has done before and more than anyone is giving him credit for,” said Froch. “Look at Golovkin’s CV, there’s no one on there. In terms of talent, Brook will be the best fighter he’s fought. Golovkin’s dangerous, a big puncher and he knocked out Bute in the amateurs so he can fight, but don’t be surprised if Brook gives him a really hard fight and goes the distance.”
