Gennady Golovkin primed for 'huge' clash with Kell Brook
Thursday 8 September 2016 15:57, UK
Gennady Golovkin will fulfil another ambition when he fights Kell Brook at The O2 on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The undefeated Kazakh will fight for the first time in the UK, having defeated British boxers Martin Murray and Matthew Macklin overseas in recent years.
Golovkin had been linked with a clash with Mexico's Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, but says fighting in England gives him the chance to headline in front of some of the most knowledgeable boxing fans in the world.
"I like the UK fans," Golovkin said. "People in the UK understand boxing. There's a lot of history and tradition.
"Every time I told [promoter] Tom Loeffler, 'Please, give me a chance to fight in the UK'. I have a couple of fights, with Martin Murray, with Matthew Macklin, but I want to fight here, in the UK."
He added: "I've had fights in Kazakhstan, in Germany, in Panama. This is the boxing world. The UK is huge for me. There are some great champions from the UK. People understand boxing here.
"It's like Mexico. There are true fans. I can't just stay in Kazakhstan. I can't stay in the United States. I want to fight all over the world. I want big fights."
Despite being regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Golovkin is not prepared to underestimate IBF welterweight champion Brook who is stepping up two weight divisions for the bout.
"Kell is a champion and I respect him," Golovkin said.
"I saw a couple of his fights. He has different speed, different movement and different timing. It's not easy. Yes, it's a different size for us, I'm a little bit bigger, but right now I can't say he's an easy fight for me because he's a very good fighter."
Watch Gennady Golovkin v Kell Brook, live on Sky Sports Box Office from The O2, on September 10. Book the event via your Sky remote or online here.
