Fight Club: Brook facing a weighty challenge in Golovkin

Andy Lewis 08:06 08/09/2016
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  • Ready to rumble: Golovkin and Brook.

    A meeting of two unbeaten champions in their physical prime and boasting pound-for-pound top-10 credentials should set pulses racing throughout the boxing world.

    The problem with Saturday’s London showdown between Kell Brook and Gennady ‘Triple G’ Golovkin, however, is that until now they have operated a full two weight divisions apart.

    Brook is the reigning IBF welterweight champion and steps bravely into the unknown against Golovkin, the WBA, IBF and WBC middleweight title holder, with the cynics anticipating a mismatch and another crushing stoppage to add to the Kazakh’s highlight reel of punch-perfect brutality.

    That said, Brook’s obvious pedigree has convinced the odds fixers to price him shorter than any of Triple G’s previous 35 opponents – albeit way out at 5-1 to pull off an almighty upset.

    So, does Brook realistically stand a chance?

    The strength of the 30-year-old Brit is that he does everything well. He is a rounded and complete fighter, an extremely accurate puncher with a potent jab, solid power in both hands, deft balance, speed, nimble footwork and a reliable engine.

    The issue is that we simply don’t know how effective these fulsome attributes will prove against a beast like Golovkin.

    Of course, it’s not unheard of for welterweights to achieve success when moving up, but even modern greats like Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Felix Trinidad took their time, stepping into the light-middleweight realm for at least a fight or two before going in with a full 160-pounder.

    What Brook is doing is extremely rare, and he’s not just tackling an average middleweight, he’s facing the very best and a man who has knocked out his previous 22 opponents. Can he live with that sort of firepower?

    It’s a massive ask. And given that Triple G has never even been discernibly wobbled by a shot, Brook’s best chance would appear to be in winning a decision. That means 12 rounds of unadulterated perfection.

    But is Golovkin really that much bigger than Brook?

    To be fastidious: four centimetres in both height and reach, while due to rehydration rules they’ll weigh pretty much the same when the first bell rings. Those may seem nominal advantages but the small numbers mask the reality.

    Golovkin is naturally that big as opposed to Brook who has added muscle to augment his size, and while the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures present an impressive transformation, the one thing that looks the same is his chin.

    Brook’s own power may be hard to gauge given he is debuting at the weight but it’s difficult to fathom him getting near the Kazakh in that department or in sheer physical strength. He mustn’t be deluded by his new bulk and remember he is the smaller, slicker man in there.

    How will their styles match up and what sort of tactics will Brook employ?

    Golovkin’s style is a formidable blend of technical brilliance and vicious execution. He will boss the centre of the ring, stalk Brook, look to control the range, everything working off his skull-rattling jab.

    As he pushes his foe back he cuts off the ring, rips mercilessly to the body and unleashes destructive hooks and uppercuts with an innate sense of timing.

    The absolute key for Brook is to establish his own jab and consistently beat his man to the punch. If he can’t make that a successful punch then he won’t have a platform for any of his other weapons.

    His lateral movement will have to be flawless, scoring with his lead before slinking away from trouble, thus keeping Golovkin off balance and preventing him from closing the door and pinning him down.

    Brook must be awkward, slippery and elusive. He cannot afford to stand in front of Triple G or take breathers on the ropes where the 34-year-old is at his most predatory. He must box to the gameplan for a full 36 minutes, build points with accurate potshots and avoid sustained exchanges.

    He must earn Golovkin’s respect and hold his own in the middle to late rounds when most expect him to unravel.

    But should the form book hold true, what does Golovkin gain?

    With his middleweight adversaries running scared, facing Brook is a no-brainer.

    Triple G is being guided superbly by his excellent manager, Tom Loeffler, and is seemingly on a mission to put the world back in world champion.

    He has boxed in his homeland of Kazakhstan, Germany, Ukraine, Denmark, Monaco, Panama and on both coasts of the United States.

    Taking what he calls his “big drama show” to the top of a pay-per-view card in front of the febrile UK boxing audience is another opportunity to significantly enhance his brand.

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