Kell Brook says he has no respect for the punching power of IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs)
, and that he can’t wait to feel his power on September 10 next month. Brook is actually looking forward to getting hit by Golovkin so that he can see for himself how hard he hits. Brook feels that when he hits Golovkin back, it’ll make him less eager to want to come forward to throw his own power shots.
Brook says he’s eating good now and is well hydrated. He feels that he’s hitting harder because of the added weight that he has on his frame compared to previous training camps. Brook has little over a month to go before he faces Golovkin on September 10.
“The fight is going to blow up because we’re both carrying so much power, and we’re both unbeaten an we’re both very feared in our own weight divisions,” said Brook to IFL TV. “It’s the best fighting the best. There’s going to be so much drama in this fight. The power, it’s going to come down to the mind. You’re going to see the highest level of boxing, thinking, sharp shooting. You’re going to need everything in this fight. Gennady Golovkin is going to bring out the best in me. At 160, I’m very healthy. I’m eating nice meals. I’m hydrated. I’m excited to see how I’m going to be. I’m going to be an absolute animal. It’s a completely another ball game,” said Brook.
Honestly, I don’t think Brook is feared in his weight class at welterweight. I just don’t think there’s a whole lot of interest in the top guys fighting him because he’s virtually unknown to the casual boxing fans. Let’s face it; Brook is no more well known in the U.S than guys like Jo Jo Dan, Kevin Bizier and Frankie Gavin. The U.S guys are focusing on fighting opponents that the casual fans have heard about.
“When people get in there with him, they’ve already lost. It’s like [Mike] Tyson,” said Brook. “They were so scared of his power. I’m not interested in what he’s going to be doing. I’m more interested in what I’m going to be doing. You’re going to see me perform on September 10. You’re going to see me fierce. I’m going to go out there and I’m going to be first. I’m going to be first with my jab. Once he feels the power, the power I’m already getting; I’m pushing more and growing. When he feels me, he’s not getting hit with no welterweight. He’s being punched by a middleweight; strength, power, speed, thinking. It’s all going to come together on September 10th,” said Brook.
In listening to Brook yap about how fighters are more scared of Golovkin for their perception of him more so than what he actually is inside the ring, I get the overall impression that Brook is trying to give himself a pep talk to bolster his own confidence. I don’t think he’s convincing anyone that he actually believes what he’s saying. Brook just needs to face the fact that Golovkin IS a huge puncher, and that he will be knocking him out on September 10 if he lands one of his best shots.
At least if Brook comes to terms with Golovkin being too dangerous for him to be allowed to land anything, then Brook can go back to the same spoiling game plan that he used against Shawn Porter in their fight in 2014. In other words, Brook can clinch all night long to keep Golovkin from being able to throw his punches, because if he lets his hands go in any real way, then he’s going to KO Broom. That’s just the way it is.
Brook can flap his gums until he’s blue in the face about Golovkin’s power not being tremendous, but once he feels it in this fight, the end will be near. I don’t think Golovkin will look to knock Brook silly in the 1st round, because I think he’ll be looking to drag the fight out a number of rounds before knocking out the robotic Brook. Golovkin will treat Brook like he’s Willie Monroe Jr. 2.0, and carry him five or six rounds before he starts to unload on him.
“He looks very dangerous, he’s powerful. I’m looking forward to getting hit by him. Imagine thinking that,” said Brook about G. I’m looking forward to feeling his power. I have no respect for his power. He’s got to show me. I’ve got to get that respect from him. I’m looking forward to getting hit by him and seeing what his power is all about. When he gets hit by me, he’s going to be thinking twice about marching forward. The O2 is going to be rocking. The energy I’m going to be getting from the fans. I’m bringing the speed and the extra power. I’m hydrated, and I’m thinking very sharp,” said Brook.
Well, it’s nice that Brook says he doesn’t have any respect for Golovkin’s punching power, but that doesn’t sound like a healthy way to go about winning this fight. After all, we are talking about a fighter that was an eyelash of being knocked out by Carson Jones in 2012 in Brook’s questionable 12 round majority decision win over him. Brook was also staggered by Vyacheslav Senchenko.
Brook’s ability to take a hard shot to the head is very questionable. He needs to make sure he doesn’t get hit a lot by Golovkin because I can’t see this fight going the full 12 rounds if Golovkin is able to connect with his shots. It’ll be too easy, especially if Brook let’s Golovkin tee off on him just so that he can feel his power.
The fight taking place at the O2 Arena in London isn’t going to be a positive for Brook in my view. To be sure, the fans will get Brook motivated and make him more willing to mix it up with GGG. Once Brook mixes it up with Golovkin, his worst fears will come true.