Gennady Golovkin fears me, says Kell Brook before 02 battle

Kell Brook insisted he could see 'fear' in Gennady Golovkin's eyes when they weighed in for their WBC and IBF middleweight title fight.
Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook during the Weigh In at the Indigo at The O2Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook during the Weigh In at the Indigo at The O2
Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook during the Weigh In at the Indigo at The O2

The 30-year-old reigning IBF welterweight champion will step up two weight divisions at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night to challenge a fighter widely considered the world’s most dangerous.

Golovkin’s destructive punching power and the way many of his opponents have appeared intimidated before fighting him have drawn comparisons with Mike Tyson.

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He has also had a relaxed, confident demeanour in this fight’s build-up - charming many with his smile and on Thursday speaking of his admiration for London and its people - but Brook believes there is more at play.

“I looked into his eyes, and I could see fear,” he told Sky Sports.

“He knows he’s in a real fight, Saturday night, and it can’t come quick enough, I’m ready for this moment.

“I just feel that he’s on edge, that he’s uncomfortable. I feel that it’s my time; he can see in my eyes that I want this fight. I want to shock the world. I’m at a natural, healthy weight and I can’t wait to show the world what I can do.”

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Brook’s intense struggles to make the 147lbs welterweight limit were widely known, and often appeared to undermine his preparations. He looked impressive having weighed in at 159.4lbs, and he said: “I no longer look like I’ve got my grandad’s teeth in.

“It’s not as bad, this time. I’m smiling, happy, hydrated, ready to fuel up, get in and let some rocket launchers ago. I’ve done absolutely everything I could have done in training.

“I’m ready to put my chin, everything I’ve got, to the test Saturday night and ready to take that challenge.

“(If I win it’ll be) unbelievable; I’m the man in boxing, pound-for-pound number one. Any fighter that laces a pair of gloves up, you can’t get any higher than beating the man that everyone’s fearful of, taking his titles away, in my own country. I thrive off it, I’m excited to get in there.”

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Golovkin, from Kazakhstan, has won 32 of his 35 fights inside the distance and weighed in for this fight at 159lbs. Unlike Brook, he is a natural middleweight and again appeared slightly bigger.

He refused to speak yesterday, but his respected trainer Abel Sanchez, who twice trained Carson Jones for defeats to Brook, said: “This young man’s had 350 amateur fights against the best in the world and is undefeated as a pro..

“The advantage, if you want to call it that, is (Golovkin’s experience), but Kell looked very good. But he’s going in against the best middleweight in the world.

“If it was against any other middleweight I’d give him a 50-50 chance but against this kid it’s going to be very difficult for him.”