Kell Brook can beat Gennady Golovkin, says Lovemore N'dou
Wednesday 17 August 2016 15:17, UK
Lovemore N'dou believes former foe Kell Brook can spring a major surprise and beat Gennady Golovkin.
The former IBF world super-lightweight champion and multiple title challenger pushed Brook all the way in 2011, but officially confirmed his retirement from the sport on his 45th birthday, on Tuesday.
Australian-based N'dou's glittering career saw him take the likes of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Miguel Cotto the distance before his points loss to Brook (36-0-KO25), and also saw him move up at least two weights.
He does not expect the step up to middleweight to have an impact on Brook's chances, and believes the British challenger could well be the first man to trouble Golovkin (35-0-KO32) - and beat him.
"It depends how he gained that weight," N'dou told fightnews.com. "Sometimes putting on too much weight can work to your disadvantage.
"I've seen a lot of guys do lots of weight-training and reach the weigh but it slows them down. But if he (Kell) has done it the right way, his speed will work to his advantage.
"It wouldn't surprise me at all [if he won]."
N'dou (49-13-2-KO31) has fought twice on British soil, losing to Matthew Hatton in Stoke and against American Paulie Malignaggi at the City of Manchester Stadium, as part of Ricky Hatton's 'Homecoming' bout in 2008.
The world middleweight title fight, live on Sky Sports Box Office on September 10, will be the first time Golovkin has boxed on British soil, and the 'Black Panther' expects Brook to already have an advantage outside the ring.
"I think one of the most important things in boxing is having confidence and if you've got the confidence it is a big step towards winning," he said.
"He (Brook) has got that confidence which is why he's taken the fight and I've been listening to what he's been saying recently and he only talks about him winning and I wouldn't be surprised if he won. He can do it, it's possible.
"I fought the kid - he is that because I am an old man - before and although he never hurt me at any stage, I could see some talent and since I fought him, he's done some great things - even won the IBF world title.
"The other thing that is going to work in his favour is the fight is in his backyard. He's got all the support and good luck to him."
N'dou admitted he considered making a comeback four years since his last fight at welterweight, but will stay retired.
"I can't now make it official... now I am retiring from boxing," he added. "It gave me everything I've got today and it made me who I am today."
