Golovkin vs Brook: Tony Bellew hails Brook for taking on major challenge
Thursday 8 September 2016 10:48, UK
Tony Bellew has labelled Kell Brook's attempt to defeat middleweight king Gennady Golovkin on Saturday as the biggest challenge ever taken on by a British fighter.
Brook (36-0-KO25) will step up from 147lbs to 160lbs when he challenges the undefeated Kazak, who boasts 32 knockouts from 35 fights, at The O2 Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew says the fight is huge and will have global appeal outside of boxing.
"You're talking about the most feared pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Gennady Golovkin and Kell is stepping up to the challenge," said Bellew.
"This is the biggest task ever took on by a British fighter in my opinion.
"It's a make or break fight, it's one for the ages, this is one that's got crossover appeal. It appeals to the masses, it's just a huge mega event, some fights always remain as big massive fights, this is an event that stands alone.
"The best welterweight in the world against the best middleweight in the world and it's one I can't wait for, I anticipate it to be a fantastic fight.
"Kell Brook is the biggest test of Gennady Golovkin's career. We're going to see how he likes it when things aren't going his way in this fight.
"Kell Brook needs to seize the moment, he really has to put his foot on the gas at times, I believe personally, the only way to beat Golovkin is to put him on the back foot and there hasn't been a middleweight who has been able to do that yet.
"Kell's a welterweight coming up, it is a big ask, but believe you me, he'll give it everything he possibly can."
The 30-year-old is aiming to become the first reigning welterweight to win a middleweight title since Emile Griffith achieved the feat half a century ago.
But his chances are rated as "slim" by Bellew's trainer Dave Coldwell, who worked with Brook earlier in his career.
"Being honest, I would say he has got a slim chance, but he's got a chance. I call him an underdog, but a live underdog," Coldwell told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Kell's got to box the fight of his life and, for me, in order to do it, he's got to surprise Golovkin early.
"He's got to surprise him with his strength and his speed while he's got it before Golovkin gets to his body.
"If Golovkin gets to his body then you are going to see Kell's snappiness, sharpness and power diminish rapidly."
Four-time super-middleweight champion Carl Froch believes Brook's trainer Dominic Ingle will have a game plan to keep his fighter out of trouble.
"If Golovkin can't hit him, then he can cope with the power because he hasn't got to worry about it. Dominic Ingle, his trainer, will be coming up with a plan and he knows his boxing, he has done for years and years.
"He will be coming up with a game plan that keeps him out of harm's way, hopefully for 12 rounds."
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.
