Golovkin vs Brook: Anthony Crolla believes the British support could see him and Kell Brook win
Friday 2 September 2016 17:50, UK
Anthony Crolla is hoping him and Kell Brook can prove the power of British boxing by winning the toughest fights of their careers.
Crolla defends his WBA world lightweight title and fights Jorge Linares for the Ring Magazine belt in Manchester, two weeks after the 'Special One' meets middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, live on Sky Sports Box Office, on September 10.
The Manchester fans' favourite believes he can not only expose weakness in his opponent and win, but both him and Brook will have the sort of support that sets British boxing apart and can make a huge difference.
"You are always humbled by the support and the buzz around the fight but certainly for this fight, there has been more than ever," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I have said a few times I am fighting a great fighter for the greatest prize in the sport so it is a dream come true, but I won't be happy until I've won it.
"Linares is the sort of fighter young fighters can learn from, but I do believe I can expose his weaknesses and there are chinks in the armour that I think I and my team have seen, so we will take advantage of.
"It's a huge fight [Golovkin v Brook], one of the biggest fights in Britain for years.
"To have a pound-for-pound star like Golovkin coming over here shows the strength of British boxing - and not just the boxing, but the fans. The atmosphere they create is like no other."
Crolla (31-4-3-KO13) has some bookmakers making him the slight favourite against three-weight world champion Linares (40-3-KO27) and knows he is by far the most daunting opponent he has faced.
The same applies to Brook (36-0-KO25) although with the Sheffield star stepping up two weight classes to face Golovkin (35-0-KO32) few are giving him a chance to become a middleweight world champion.
But Crolla, whose gym-mate Liam Smith takes on Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez the weekend between the two British blockbusters, not only thinks he can beat Linares but is not ruling out Brook doing the same.
"He is the underdog and it is a really big ask but anyone who knows Kell, or has trained alongside Kell, will know how talented he is," he said.
"He is going to need more than that next Saturday but it's a fight I can't wait to see.You only have to look at all the world champions we've got and I feel blessed to be part of that."
Two of the other Smith brothers and Crolla gym-mates have been confirmed for the Golovkin-Brook undercard on September 10.
Callum Smith (20-0-KO15) is taking on Norbert Nemesapati (21-3-KO16) and oldest brother Paul has a six-rounder with an opponent to be confirmed.
Watch Gennady Golovkin v Kell Brook, live on Sky Sports Box Office from The O2, September 10. Book the event online here.
