By Phil Chadwick: On September 30th, Gennady Golovkin (35-0) will for the first time step foot on UK soil, and will walk into a sold-out 02 Arena in front of 20,000 fans to lock horns with IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0).
Many boxing pundits are predicting an easy night’s works for the man best known as ‘GGG’, and if forced to bet heavily on this fight, I wouldn’t bet against the fearsome Kazakhstan KO artist. The smart money says GGG to win by KO, within the first 6 rounds.
However, as we’ve seen time and time again in boxing history, big upsets happen… come to think of it, they happen quite often.
Firstly, I’m a big fan of GGG; his style in and out of the ring is just what boxing needs. A come forward, all action pressure-fighter who always seeks to find, trap and destroy his opponents, while remaining humble and respectful as a boxing role model out of the ring.
However, before we start hailing him as the greatest middleweight of all time who will crush Kell Brook without breaking a bead of sweat, let’s pause for a moment and take a closer look at GGG’s boxing resume and ask the basic question: who has GGG fought?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSn0RDHCous
After reviewing GGG on BoxRec, the answer is very clear – he’s fought no one. While GGG can only fight and defeat the opponents put in front of him, the fact still remains that GGG hasn’t fought a truly world-class fighter who possesses the skill-set, experience and winning-attitude to trouble his seek and destroy game plan.
When you’re torn between powder-punching Daniel Geale, European class Martin Murray or crude brawler David Lemieux as to “who is GGG’s greatest scalp” – it’s fair to say that GGG is somewhat untested.
Now enter Kell Brook; an unbeaten fighter, possessing the sharp-shooting skills found in all world-class fighters to come out of the Ingle Gym, and unlike some of GGG’s opponents – he’s coming to win. Brook is a very big welterweight, commonly acknowledged as a natural light-middleweight that boils down to make 147lbs. In a recent video Brook tipped the scales at 12st 8lbs for the 30 day weigh-in; he looked incredible healthy and strong, while retaining a chiselled physique. Brook concedes 1 ½ inches in height and 1 inch in reach to GGG, but arguably carries faster hands and fleet of foot. In my humble opinion styles always make fights, and GGG’s go-to power shot tends to be a downwards-looping hook which could make for an interesting match against Brook’s best punch – his straight right-hand.
Similar to GGG, I personally think Brook is avoided within the welterweight division and he’s clearly demonstrated his will to get in and mix it with the best, after accepting the fight with GGG almost instantly upon receiving a text from Match Room promoter Eddie Hearn.
If Brook can avoid GGG’s power and make it into the 5th round with his senses in tact, we could be in for a very interesting contest.
I was fortunate to get a ticket for the fight (20,000 seats sold out in just 12 minutes), and as I walk into the 02 Arena on September 10th I fully expect to witness a KO victory for GGG.
However, ask yourself the question one more time: who has GGG actually fought, and where does Kell Brook rank against his previous opponents?
The more I reflect on this question, the more I release that an upset on September 10th is by no means out of the realms of possibility…
Tyson vs Douglas, Hagler vs Leonard, Pacquiao vs De La Hoya, Calzaghe vs Lacy, Ali vs Foreman, Lewis vs Rahman, Sanders vs Klitschko…the list of famous boxing upsets will continue to grow. The question is, will Golovkin vs Brook be the latest addition ?
Betting Odds:
Kell Brook To Win Fight: 5/1
Kell Brook by Decision or Technical Decision: 9/1