Williams on Brook Sparring: He's on Another Level To Golovkin!

By Edward Chaykovsky

British/Commonwealth junior middleweight champion Liam Williams (15-0-1, 10KOs) was surprised when his phone rang and he was asked to become a sparring partner for IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs).

Brook is training for the upcoming challenge of IBO/IBF/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs).

The fight takes place on September 10th from the O2 Arena in London, with HBO and Sky Sports Box Office handling the televised coverage.

Williams received his marching orders in the camp - fight like Golovkin and go 30 rounds with Brook.

“It’s been a massive opportunity for me” said Williams to The Star. “I was told they picked me because I had the most similar style to Golovkin in this country. I was taken aback, I hadn’t expected that. I’ve had 16 fights (15 wins, one technical draw against Sheffield’s Tyan Booth) while he’s had 36. I haven’t been rocked in the sessions but there have been a few rounds where we have given it to each other.”

“Kell is a very good counter-puncher, a boxer-fighter who can go on the back foot or come forward and have a go. I rate him very highly, he’s got everything. Ability-wise I think he is on another level than GGG and I am not just saying that because I am sparring with him. He is technically better, definitely. He punches very hard and is very accurate, he doesn’t waste shots."

Williams is not sure who will win the fight, but he gives Brook a very good shot at pulling off the upset. Brook is heading up by thirteen pounds and two weight divisions to make the contest happen.

“Obviously he’s had to jump up in weight to take the fight - but he is a massive welterweight and GGG is a small middleweight. GGG has a ridiculously hard punch. It all depends whether Kell can deal with the pressure and all the shots coming his way," Williams said.

“People recognise me as a bit of a puncher and I have been throwing some hard shots, but I have seen no vulnerability with Kell; he can take a punch. [For him to win] it depends how he takes the shots and deal with pressure, if he does well there, he wins. I don’t know who will win, but I hope he does.”