By Steve Kim
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs) - a career welterweight and the current IBF belt-holder in that division - faces IBF, IBO, WBA and WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) in a full-fledged middleweight bout with a weight limit of 160-pounds.
And according to Tom Loeffer, the managing director of K2 Promotions, there is no rehydration limit because such a clause isn't needed.
A lot of critics believe Brook will be significantly undersized for the contest, as he moves up by thirteen pounds in weight. Loeffler disagrees. He strongly feels that Golovkin and Brook are a lot closer in size than many people think - and the proof will come when the two fighters are side by side at the kickoff press conference.
"The IBF rules has the second day weigh-in, 10-pounds over the championship weight," Loeffler explained. "So it will be 170-pounds the next day. He doesn’t come in 25 pounds over what he weighs in the day before. He comes in pretty much right at 170 when he fights. Look, Kell Brook is a big welterweight and Gennady's a small middleweight so when you look at them side-by-side, while on paper it may seem like a big difference, but when physically they're standing next to each other it's not going to be a big difference, at all."
Gennady’s not a big middleweight anyway.
Loeffler notes that while Golovkin is 5'10, Brook is just an inch shorter.
"There was any discussion on a catch-weight, there wasn't any discussion on a rehydration clause. It's a true testament to Kell Brook who would challenge the best middleweight in the world and we certainly give him a lot of credit for that."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
