Kell Brook says the daunting task of facing undefeated KO king Gennady Golovkin will be ‘fun’
FACING an undefeated knockout artist would not be most people’s idea of a fun way to spend an evening.
But Kell Brook cannot wait to lock horns with unified middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin on Saturday night.
Brook, 30, shocked the world by announcing he was stepping up from welterweight to challenge for the Kazakh’s WBC and IBF world titles.
After almost losing his life in an unprovoked machete attack in Tenerife two years ago, the Sheffield star is not fazed by what lies ahead at London’s O2 Arena.
He said: “I think you've got to be crazy to be a fighter to start with but I've stared death in the eyes. With the things that have happened in my life this is fun to me.
“At the end of the day, he's a man like all of us. I'm very fit, durable and strong and I think I'm a better boxer and faster than this guy.
“I've stood side-to-side with him and there's not really much in it, size-wise.
“I might not have the same one-punch power as him but I can definitely knock any man out if I hit them on the chin.”
Brook already knows what it takes to win a world title having claimed the IBF welterweight crown from Shawn Porter in August 2014.
Defeating Porter on points on American soil was a defining moment but toppling Golovkin would see his name written into boxing folklore.
With 32 knockouts from 35 victories, Golovkin is one of the most feared fighters on the planet.
But while Brook is fully aware of the 34-year-old's concussive power, he is looking forward to showing people what he can bring to the table at 160lb.
The unbeaten Brit added: “I do fear him, of course I do. I know he’s a big puncher and that nobody wants to fight him for a reason.
“But the fear is positive because it’s going to make me super sharp with cat-like reactions come fight night.
“There’s excitement, fear and the fear of losing all rolled into one, but that makes me the fighter I am. That makes all the top fighters perform even better under those bright lights — it’s why champions are made.
“I’m interested in seeing what I can do at middleweight because I’m not draining myself, not gaunt.
“I’m going to be fully hydrated and healthy and bring the speed and power. I’m excited at how much energy and excitement I’ll be giving to everyone once that bell goes.
“He’s known as a big puncher and is naturally a bigger guy than me, so I’ve got to use my speed and think from round one until 12 if need be.”
Brook will draw on Sugar Ray Leonard’s famous WBC world middleweight title victory over Marvin Hagler in 1987 for inspiration.
He said: “You could see the fear in Leonard’s eyes when he was in with Hagler — that’s why he was so sharp and zoomed in.
“He went out there and did it. He went from welterweight to middleweight and did it.”
Sky Sports Box Office will show Golovkin v Brook on Saturday. Order now at