By Terence Dooley
Middleweight world Champion Gennady Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs) and challenger Kell Brook (36-0, 25 early) came face-to-face in London earlier today and produced a show of mutual respect ahead of their September 10 showdown at London’s O2 Arena, which will be televised by Sky Sports Box Office in the U.K. and HBO in the U.S.
Brook holds the IBF 147lb crown, but he is taking a huge risk by stepping up in weight to face a man who claims that the big names are all running from him. Brook, though, believes that the move up to 160 is going to work in his favour as he was tight down at 147 and may have even outgrown 154 within a few fights had he moved to light-middleweight in pursuit of further world title honours.
Eddie Hearn, Brook’s promoter, certainly thinks it is a good move for his charge and will result in a fight, and upset, of seismic proportions. “I'd like to thank HBO and our international partners, I'd like to thank Sky for their long-term investment in boxing,” said Hearn.
“We are here to win and here to shock the world on September 10th,” he added. “Every now and then you make a fight that makes the hairs on your arm stand up—this is one of those.”
“When Eddie rang me and proposed this fight, I was hugely excited,” admitted Barney Francis, Sky’s Managing Director. “Kell has continuously delivered on Sky, we are big fans. We are delighted that Gennady is going to be fighting on Sky Sports and in the UK. I wish both boxers the best of luck.”
Tom Loeffler was in attendance to represent the US side of the TV equation, he said: “We really appreciated the hospitality that Eddie has shown. The heart Kell Brook has shown is much bigger than anyone.”
Then it was over to the fighters, with the challenger stressing that he will be a different fighter despite debuting at 160 for this one. “It’s wonderful for me having so much energy,” declared Brook. “I'm not minimising my meals and giving the team so much energy. I'm eating well, drinking water. I want to go down in history like my hero Sugar Ray Robinson. This is business, I have no fear. I'm ready to box and do business.”
He added: “I want to test myself at the highest level. I'm excited to see the best of me and what I can do. I always find a way to win. I'm bringing the speed up to the middleweight division and some power. It doesn't get any bigger than Golovkin. This is the biggest fight in world boxing. It makes me so excited to be in the game. It's the best fighting the best.”
Golovkin concurred, saying: “Kell is a true champion and my biggest test so far. I respect Kell and he has a very strong team. I believe I will bring a big event and big drama show. I'm very excited to be in London. Thanks to Sky TV and HBO. I can give great UK fans an amazing event.”
Abel Sanchez has guided Golovkin to the pinnacle of his division. Despite Saul Alvarez displaying previously unseen powers of evasiveness when it comes to fighting his man, the trainer believes that Golovkin does not need the WBC belt or the Mexican’s scalp to call himself The Man at 160. “These guys at this level are very intelligent, it's a chess game,” he said.
“That fear will become intelligence and (they will) excel. We are looking forward to a hard fight and to fighting the best Welterweight on the planet.”
“You need to go up the gears in this fight,” chimed Dom Ingle, his counterpart. “When you go in to a fight with fear, you perform the best. We are confident that Kell will become the new middleweight champion of the world. Kell has put in some good training so far. He will be in the best shape of his life and he needs to be against Golovkin.”
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