Golovkin vs Brook: Curtis Stevens reflects on his punishing fight with 'Triple G'
Wednesday 7 September 2016 19:26, UK
Kell Brook will share the ring with Gennady Golovkin this Saturday night and we asked former opponents to reveal their own experiences of facing 'GGG'.
The IBF welterweight champion has climbed up two weight divisions to test his slick skills against the destructive fists of Golovkin at London's O2 Arena, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Stevens was floored in the second round by the powerful Kazakh in their 2013 battle, but valiantly fought on through eight gruelling rounds before the referee finally waved it off.
Brook will soon battle the most dangerous puncher in the sport and Stevens has offered his own valuable insight into what lies ahead come fight night...
What makes GGG such a good fighter?
He's very poised. He can box too. Some people think he's just a puncher, but he has good ring generalship and he stalks you very well. He knows when to engage and when to step back from the action. It's basic ring generalship.
Do you need a high work rate and a good jab to beat Golovkin?
In any given fight, people don't like punches to be thrown at them. Either I'm going to throw or he's going to throw. Somebody is going to be hit and it all depends on who takes the better shot at the end of the day. A high work-rate makes him fight more, instead of at his own pace which may not always be helpful.
Kell Brook has a great jab, but the key thing is to hit and not get hit. Brook will have to tie him up and be like a mouse. The cat chases the mouse, but the mouse runs for his life. That's why the cat doesn't catch the mouse, most of the time.
You never know at this point how the fight will play out. I'm a fan of both, but I'm just waiting to see the outcome. On any given day, I believe Golovkin can be beaten, it's not impossible.
Is GGG as strong and powerful as his record suggests?
Yes. He has a lot of power. It wasn't a one punch knockout shot that stopped me when we fought, but overall he is a powerful fighter. With that, I do think that he can be beaten. I caught him a few times and believe that I hurt him, but he has a great poker face.
Would you do anything differently if you fought him again?
I would let my hands go a little more. I was in the fight. I had great times in the fight, but I just didn't keep it up, I wasn't consistent with it. I was doing well, but then I stepped it down. The one thing I had to do was just keep pushing forward and keep being consistent in my attack.
What is GGG like before a fight?
He's cool. He's not too much of a trash talker, unless you bring it out of him. He's a cool person. I don't know him personally, but he seems cool and gets on with business.
What is your prediction for Saturday's main event?
Kell Brook is an excellent fighter and he wasn't scared to take this fight when no one else would. This is boxing. Brook has never been hit by a 160lb fighter, so we will have to wait and see how good his chin is.
He's coming from 147lb to 160lb, so we don't know how much muscle he's going to put on. The muscle could be his downfall, because it might take away from his speed, or it may better him. You never know at this point how the fight will play out. I'm a fan of both, but I'm just waiting to see the outcome. On any given day I believe Golovkin can be beaten, it's not impossible.
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.
