Friday 1 November 2019 15:54, UK
Kell Brook can "redeem himself" with a victory over Sergey Rabchenko as he returns to Sheffield for his comeback fight, says Sky Sports expert Johnny Nelson.
Kell has got to test himself as a super-welterweight, and this is a good step forward. Rabchenko, he's got history of fighting in Britain, and we'll have to see how Kell fares against him when it comes to strength, size and speed.
You cannot throw Brook straight into the deep end, you just wouldn't do that, especially after those two back-to-back losses. The matchmaking is very important as he prepares to get back into world championship level.
I'm sure Ryan Rhodes will have a few words of advice for Kell after his fight with Rabchenko. Kell will look at what Rabchenko can and cannot do. He knows he's tough, he knows he's strong, he's durable and he cannot just jump on him and blast him out.
Kell wants to redeem himself. He will know the Sheffield fans turned out in droves, it was an unbelievable atmosphere, and it was a tough fight against Errol Spence Jr. He's got to come back and fight in front of them again to exorcise that ghost, and good on him.
The biggest hurdle for Kell will be the mental challenge. The physical aspect should be fine as I've always been surprised that he was able to make welterweight. This was a slow progression of his physical development to go up to 154lbs, but the mental side of it is everything. You can be physically 100 per cent, but if you are not mentally right, it's pointless being in there.
Kell has got to get his confidence back and I think he will, with the added strength that he's got at super-welter. He will think 'you know what, this is where I should be'.
Kell has got to get his confidence back and I think he will, with the added strength that he's got at super-welter. He will think 'you know what, this is where I should be'.
I can remember when I was cruiserweight the limit was 13st 8lbs, but when they put it up to 14st 4lbs, I could not believe how different I felt in the ring. How strong, how much energy, how fast, how sharp I was. That to him mentally will give him such a boost, such a confidence lift ahead of the Rabchenko fight.
