By Edward Chaykovsky
Former world champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson believes IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) looked physically drained at Thursday's final press conference event for Saturday showdown with IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs).
Golovkin will defend three of his four titles against Brook at the O2 Arena in London.
Brook, who fights at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds, is moving up by thirteen pounds to challenge Golovkin for his belts at the middleweight limit of 160.
Brook's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, felt Golovkin looked "drawn" and had a less than stellar physical appearance.
Nelson turned up the heat. He claims to have heard rumors that Golovkin started camp late and may not be in the best of shape. Nelson also felt Golovkin looked drawn, overly slim in face and body, and feels the middleweight king may have overlooked his underdog opponent.
"It shocked me when Golovkin was sat up there because his jaws and just below his eyes looked thin and drawn," Nelson told Sky Sports The Countdown.
"I was expecting to see that on the morning of the weigh-win without doubt, because he'd just be trimming down before getting on the scales but not 24 hours before. I am really surprised.
"I've heard a few whispers that he started training camp late for this one. Is that telling me he underestimates Kell, thinking he is just a welterweight?
"He makes out he has full respect for Kell and says he knows he's in for a tough fight, but all of a sudden, now having seen him, the jowls, his eyes and how slim he looks, I am wondering: 'Did you just measure this wrong?"
"He can't afford to do that because Kell has prepared so hard for this fight, Golovkin can't afford any slip ups here."
