Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook: Keys to Victory, Predictions for London Fight
Kell Brook squares up to champion Gennady Golovkin at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night very much the underdog.
Brook, the IBF welterweight champion from Sheffield has it all to do against the fighter from Kazakhstan, when he competes for the WBC and IBF middleweight titles.
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Stepping up two weight divisions for the contest, the Briton faces a supreme boxer in undefeated Golovkin, who has knocked out 32 of his 35 previous opponents.
But that has not shaken Brook's confidence as he went through his public workout earlier this week:
"Shot caller... #GGGBrook
— Kell Brook (@SpecialKBrook) September 6, 2016"
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Despite his own unbeaten record, the odds are stacked against Brook when the two step into the ring in Greenwich, according to Oddschecker.
Golovkin is 1/7 is some quarters to take victory with Brook out to 5/1.
Brook may be the heavy underdog but that did not stop British and Commonwealth Super-Welterweight champion Liam Williams wishing the best for his compatriot:
Golovkin, known as GGG, has been described by Paul Hayward in the Daily Telegraph as being the "world’s scariest prizefighter" and a "relentless hunter."
The announcement of the fight shocked boxing insiders, while the WBA is not sanctioning the contest on health grounds, as per John Dennen of Boxing News.
So where will the fight be won and lost? We preview the matchup.
Keys to Victory
Brook normally fights at 147 pounds and will need to stick to the gruelling task of breaking his opponent down, according to his trainer Dominic Ingle talking to George Gigney of Boxing News.
Ingle believes Brook can capitalise on the mistakes Golovkin makes during a fight and cited the determination and belief of another Briton, Martin Murray, who went 11 rounds with the champion last year, as a good marker for Brook.
The 30-year-old Brook arguably took a fight that nobody else would have, and in some ways this could play to his advantage.
“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,” Brook told reporter Ben Dirs of BBC Sport.
However, as with every fight, one punch is all it takes to turn history and the form book on its head and if Brook can play the long game, take it to the later rounds and make a significant impact on the Golovkin defence, he may stand half a chance.
Much will depend on whether Brook can maintain his welterweight speed to go with enough power at middleweight level to really trouble his opponent.
Golovkin is known as a fearsome counter-puncher.
If Brook does manage to get through and make an impact he can't rest on his laurels and believe he's hurt the champion—that is when Golovkin can really dish out the punishment and start unloading a barrage of body punches. His movement needs to be slick.
This will be GGG's first-ever fight at the O2 Arena, and strong home support can provide Brook with a massive boost, particularly as he is likely to be under the cosh.
Golovkin likes fighting around the world and has tried to arrange bouts with home boxers before. He will see a bout that he should win as the perfect chance to showcase his talents to a UK audience.
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