Brook Vows To Live Up To “Special One” Moniker

Kell Brook is set for his IBF welterweight title eliminator with Hector Saldivia tonight, October 20, and ‘The Special One’ is planning to turn on the style at the top of the ‘This Is It’ bill at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, live on Sky Sports 1HD from 8pm.

Brook has reinvented himself in preparation for the biggest night of his career, bringing in a strength and conditioning trainer to improve his energy levels after admitting his preparation for his July clash with Carson Jones was not up to scratch.

The 26 year old looked in phenomenal shape at the packed public weigh-in Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield, and Brook says his focus is completely on winning tomorrow night’s bout and landing a World title shot.

“The IBF shot is a huge incentive,” said Brook, who tipped the scales at 10st 6lbs. “It’s massive knowing that I have a fight with Randall Bailey or Devon Alexander lined up after I’ve dealt with Saldivia. I want to entertain fans like Mike Tyson did.

“You knew with him that you were always going to see something special so hopefully I can produce a performance for the fans, get the title shot and become IBF World champion and join that elite group of fighters.”

The ‘new Kell Brook’ will not let anything stop him from reaching his World title goals, and that includes complacency. With 43 bouts to Brook’s 28, Saldivia – 10st 6lbs 8oz – holds a significant experience advantage over his host and Brook is only to aware of the danger the Argentine poses to his dream.

“He’s knocked more people out than I have had fights so he has been around and he knows how to end a fight,” said Brook. “There are only two losses on his record and he’s unbeaten for the last two years so I know this is going to be another tough night at the Arena.

“Hector is a tough cookie, who keeps coming and chucking shots. He likes to hold his position in the middle of the ring and dictate fights. He’s a big puncher, but if he wants to stand and fight I am more than ready to go toe-to-toe with him, as I know I can out hit him.

“With the way I am feeling now, he won’t go the distance. I won’t say what round as talk is cheap, but don’t blink tomorrow as you’ll open your eyes and he’ll be sparked out.”

Jamie McDonnell, like Brook, faces an IBF title eliminator tomorrow night, and the Doncaster man is ready to step up to World level against Nicaraguan Darwin Zamora.

“I have definitely proven myself at European level and I am ready for that next step up,” said McDonnell, who weighed in at 8st 5lbs 12oz, 12oz more than Zamora. “I would have liked one more European defence had I known I would have had six months off since my win over Ivan Pozo in March, but we didn’t know that would happen.

“The Pozo fight was a confidence booster. I knew I was bigger than him and would probably have ended up stopping him but I didn’t think it would have come in the second round.

“I know tomorrow it is going to be hard a fight as they are all going to be hard at this level because they are all world-class boxers. I don’t expect any easy fights and if those stoppages come it is good.

“The step-up is massive. A lot of the boxers you don’t know that much about. Darwin Zamora has come in at late notice so we don’t know too much about him.”

Tickets for ‘This Is It’ are on sale priced at £30, £40, £60 and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk.