Brook v Golovkin, Saturday, London 02
His 1987 defeat of WBC middleweight champion Marvin Hagler at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas was against the odds – and still ranks as one of the greatest bouts in boxing’s history.
Brooks said: “People still talk about when Leonard moved up [in weight] to fight Hagler – and they will be talking about this one in years to come too.
“There was drama in the fight. Hagler was the bigger guy, but Leonard was smart in the fight and he pulled it off.
“They are the fights I watch. I don’t watch Golovkin, I watch those old greats who have been there and done it and got the T-shirt.”
Unsurprisingly, few outside of Brook’s camp expect him to beat the Kazakhstani star – and some question why, finances aside, he’s even taking on the challenge.
Brook added: “It’s all a hype game, this boxing.
“People are so in fear of Golovkin before they get in the ring with him, but you will see when the bell rings that’s not the same for me. Why aren’t I worried? You have to be crazy to be a fighter to start with but I’ve stared death in the eyes and with the things that have happened in my life this is fun to me.
“At the end of the day, he’s a man like all of us. I’ve trained unbelievably well for this fight. I’m very fit, durable and strong – and I’m a better boxer than this guy.
“I’m faster. I might not have the same one-punch power as him KELL BROOK Sheffield, England May 3, 1986 Welterweight IBF Height: 5ft 9in 69in 36 wins (25KOs), 0 draws, 0 losses GENNADY GOLOVKIN Karaganda, Kazakhstan April 8, 1982 Middleweight Belts held: WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO. 5ft 10½in 70in 35 wins (32KOs), 0 draws, 0 losses but I can definitely knock any man out if I hit them on the chin.”
Calling Golovkin “a man like all of us” might be pushing it.
But after Brook’s near-death experience in Tenerife in 2014, when he was stabbed by a man wielding a machete, you can understand why he is fearless.
Doubters
He added: “I’m very confident. If I stick to my game plan and box the perfect fight, I’ve won this fight. You are going to see this.
“This fight has put a smile on my face when all those doubters said I was running scared and that I didn’t want the tough fights – this shows I do. I’m only after those top names now.”