Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook

[X]

Well, I am getting quite excited about this fight.

It's true that Brooke is not only taking the toughest assignment in boxing today, but also doing it never having fought at the weight before. I understand why GGG is the prohibitive favourite as he has now reached the stage in his career when he becomes a 'crossover' fighter and attains almost mythical status within the sport while still fighting. Floyd was the same, so was Tyson, Leonard, Chavez, Curry and others.

BUT .... I've always rated Brooke as a fighter. He has elements of that very confusing Wincobank style but can also really dig with his punches. Carson Jones apart, which I think was a training aberration, he has never been really pushed in the ring and I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. He has never been outboxed or physically bullied and doesn't know what it's like to lose. He has a proven chin, proven stamina and proven skills.

Undeniably the best welterweight in the world at the moment, I believe he has always been a middleweight starving down to welter. I wouldn't be surprised if he is heavier that GGG when the bell rings. He is more heavyset that Golovkin and (not that it matters) he is more muscle bound and looks like a boxer whereas GGG is gangly and - in today's terms - a small middleweight. People are also not mentioning that GGG is not a young man anymore.

Brooke will be the best opponent that Golovkin has ever fought, fighting at home and without much pressure on him to win.

I do think GGG should be the favourite, and I am a fan of the guy .... but it's possible that Brooke is being underestimated by everyone.

I think the key will be whether Brooke can keep Golovkin respectful of him. Kel will land on GGG, no question about it. If Golovkin finds he can walk through Brooke's offence then it's all over. Conversely, everyone thinks Brooke's only chance is to outbox Golovkin .... 350 amateur fights with great Khazak trainers (his style was that of a back foot counterpuncher at the time)world and Olympic medals etc ... I would love Brooke to really stun GGG and the fight to turn into a boxing match. Casual fans would moan, but I would love to see If GGG can also win with his skills.

[Gandalf]

I will be supporting Brook as I cannot resist an underdog, but my head says he gets flattened in 6 rounds. Brook might start quick, but once he feels the power, he will be questioning what he is doing and I can see it being downhill from there. Golovkin is an all round fighter and has taken punches and dished out a lot more at the weight. He seldom goes the distance. I don't see what Brook has to stop that run of destruction.

[Fenster]

The poll on Sky Sports has 50,000 votes - who wins? Golovkin (55%) Brook (45%). That sure is optimistic for Kell.

Turnout for the public workout was awesome

[Beanz]

Well, I am getting quite excited about this fight.

It's true that Brooke is not only taking the toughest assignment in boxing today, but also doing it never having fought at the weight before. I understand why GGG is the prohibitive favourite as he has now reached the stage in his career when he becomes a 'crossover' fighter and attains almost mythical status within the sport while still fighting. Floyd was the same, so was Tyson, Leonard, Chavez, Curry and others.

BUT .... I've always rated Brooke as a fighter. He has elements of that very confusing Wincobank style but can also really dig with his punches. Carson Jones apart, which I think was a training aberration, he has never been really pushed in the ring and I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. He has never been outboxed or physically bullied and doesn't know what it's like to lose. He has a proven chin, proven stamina and proven skills.

Undeniably the best welterweight in the world at the moment, I believe he has always been a middleweight starving down to welter. I wouldn't be surprised if he is heavier that GGG when the bell rings. He is more heavyset that Golovkin and (not that it matters) he is more muscle bound and looks like a boxer whereas GGG is gangly and - in today's terms - a small middleweight. People are also not mentioning that GGG is not a young man anymore.

Brooke will be the best opponent that Golovkin has ever fought, fighting at home and without much pressure on him to win.

I do think GGG should be the favourite, and I am a fan of the guy .... but it's possible that Brooke is being underestimated by everyone.

I think the key will be whether Brooke can keep Golovkin respectful of him. Kel will land on GGG, no question about it. If Golovkin finds he can walk through Brooke's offence then it's all over. Conversely, everyone thinks Brooke's only chance is to outbox Golovkin .... 350 amateur fights with great Khazak trainers (his style was that of a back foot counterpuncher at the time)world and Olympic medals etc ... I would love Brooke to really stun GGG and the fight to turn into a boxing match. Casual fans would moan, but I would love to see If GGG can also win with his skills.

Great post. I am gutted because I will be working and probably miss this whole card. Golovkin will engage and I think be quite surprised when Brook walks him on to a few. I don't think the GGG camp are bluffing when they say they say they are not underestimating Brook though and will have prepared the Khazak not to have things all his own way. With cute timing you can tag Golovkin but Brook has to be wary of hanging in that pocket throwing combinations that would slow down a lesser fighter, if he does that then he could be in for an early knee or worse. Can the Ingles pull the leash just enough to keep Brook keen but controlled? Despite all his seeming lack of obvious flaws GGG's weakness may well prove to be his desire for Drama and the big finish. Can Brook lure him onto something whilst he is going for that finish? I think Brook will hit and move, hit and move, rinse and repeat, Golovkin will not find it as easy to cut the ring off as against many of the other fighters he has faced.

[erics44]

in my experience these wrecking balls, indestructible, unbeatable knock pout artists don't exist


the whole aura around GGG is as much the hype train and his record

[Gandalf]

in my experience these wrecking balls, indestructible, unbeatable knock pout artists don't exist


the whole aura around GGG is as much the hype train and his record

And a blown up WW is going to shatter the myth? It just seems a tad unlikely to me. Fair enough if Brook was an undefeated MW, but he's a career WW. If Golovkin is busting people up who have been at the weight all their careers, then it's a tough ask of Brook who is awkward, but will taste that leather. Golovkin's KO record doesn't lie.

[erics44]

in my experience these wrecking balls, indestructible, unbeatable knock pout artists don't exist


the whole aura around GGG is as much the hype train and his record

And a blown up WW is going to shatter the myth? It just seems a tad unlikely to me. Fair enough if Brook was an undefeated MW, but he's a career WW. If Golovkin is busting people up who have been at the weight all their careers, then it's a tough ask of Brook who is awkward, but will taste that leather. Golovkin's KO record doesn't lie.

the smart money is on Golovkin


but all i'm saying is every time someone mentions the name golovkin the general responses just add to the hype


there have been plenty of fighters that have looked just as indestructible, smashing everyone, but its the levels they were winning at


I don't really see anyone on Golovkins record who is top of division


the wheels could fall off

[Dia bando]

in my experience these wrecking balls, indestructible, unbeatable knock pout artists don't exist


the whole aura around GGG is as much the hype train and his record

And a blown up WW is going to shatter the myth? It just seems a tad unlikely to me. Fair enough if Brook was an undefeated MW, but he's a career WW. If Golovkin is busting people up who have been at the weight all their careers, then it's a tough ask of Brook who is awkward, but will taste that leather. Golovkin's KO record doesn't lie.

the smart money is on Golovkin


but all i'm saying is every time someone mentions the name golovkin the general responses just add to the hype


there have been plenty of fighters that have looked just as indestructible, smashing everyone, but its the levels they were winning at


I don't really see anyone on Golovkins record who is top of division


the wheels could fall off

I see your point but he has seen off most of the contenders, what more can GGG do.?
Middle weight division is not the best but he is the man.
He is the best I have seen since Hagler in my opinion.

[erics44]

Golovkin thinks brook has got her good boxers

[Dia bando]

Master a man with short arms and deep pockets LOL.
To be honest it's no PPV the under card is pretty poor.
Shit Hearn has plenty of fighters on the books, the under card the Smiths treading water and Edwards.
One decent fight and a crap undercard hardly a spectacular is it.

[Rantcatrat]

GGG has fought who he can fight at 160. Jacobs, Eubank Jr., Quillin, N'Dam, Saunders, Sturm, Canelo, even Barker, have declined fights against him.

I think GGG has underrated boxing ability. I know it seems impossible to underrate a guy, who is overrated by the masses, but people seem to think of him as brute puncher, and he appears a lot more than that to me. I don't think you have 300 amateur fights and not know how to box. Remember he out-boxed Dirrell and knocked out Bute in the amateurs.

I hope this fight brings out some of that boxing ability, we don't always see. Adam Booth did a good job describing his style is that he's a pressure-fighting counter puncher, which Booth said is the most dangers type to fight because they pressure you into thinking you have to throw a punch and then counter it, and what makes GGG so dangerous is that he can punch like a mule.

I have felt for a while that Brook was the best welterweight in the world, post the Manny/Floyd era. I think the size is an issue in the sense that it would have been better if Brook had a fight or two at 160 before the GGG fight. But, Brook has fought above the welterweight limit 10 or so times, even if his most recent fight was at 147, and I think he had outgrown 147 - it was just a matter of time until he moved up. When I saw them side-by-side today in photos, they didn't appear that different in size. However, middleweight is clearly GGG's natural weight, and he has to be more comfortable there than Brook, who has never fought there.

At the end of the day, this is the best welter in the world, who had grown out of welterweight, against the best middle in the world. That's an exciting match-up to me.

I favor GGG to lose a round or two early and then figure Brook out and dominate the fight going forward. However, I wouldn't be too surprised with an upset in a bad decision or something if it goes the distance.

I wonder from our British posters - is GGG well known in the UK? Will he have fans at the stadium on Saturday? Or will it be a pro-Brook crowd?

[Andre]

GGG has fought who he can fight at 160. Jacobs, Eubank Jr., Quillin, N'Dam, Saunders, Sturm, Canelo, even Barker, have declined fights against him.

I think GGG has underrated boxing ability. I know it seems impossible to underrate a guy, who is overrated by the masses, but people seem to think of him as brute puncher, and he appears a lot more than that to me. I don't think you have 300 amateur fights and not know how to box. Remember he out-boxed Dirrell and knocked out Bute in the amateurs.

I hope this fight brings out some of that boxing ability, we don't always see. Adam Booth did a good job describing his style is that he's a pressure-fighting counter puncher, which Booth said is the most dangers type to fight because they pressure you into thinking you have to throw a punch and then counter it, and what makes GGG so dangerous is that he can punch like a mule.

I have felt for a while that Brook was the best welterweight in the world, post the Manny/Floyd era. I think the size is an issue in the sense that it would have been better if Brook had a fight or two at 160 before the GGG fight. But, Brook has fought above the welterweight limit 10 or so times, even if his most recent fight was at 147, and I think he had outgrown 147 - it was just a matter of time until he moved up. When I saw them side-by-side today in photos, they didn't appear that different in size. However, middleweight is clearly GGG's natural weight, and he has to be more comfortable there than Brook, who has never fought there.

At the end of the day, this is the best welter in the world, who had grown out of welterweight, against the best middle in the world. That's an exciting match-up to me.

I favor GGG to lose a round or two early and then figure Brook out and dominate the fight going forward. However, I wouldn't be too surprised with an upset in a bad decision or something if it goes the distance.

I wonder from our British posters - is GGG well known in the UK? Will he have fans at the stadium on Saturday? Or will it be a pro-Brook crowd?

I dont think it will go the distance unless GGG wants rounds under his belt and maybe also make himself look more normal and beatable to some so he gets future fights; cause all those guys you mentioned will be watching it thinking one way or the other and his immediate future relies on them.

[Fenster]

I thought he looked ill too, they cut his media commitments short. I also thought he looked a bit fed up all week

[powerpuncher]

This is just like the rest of the hyped fights that are mismatches.

When the fight is announced:

"This is a mismatch! This fight is a disgrace! Why is this fight happening?"

When the fight is close:

"This is actually a decent fight. The underdog has a decent shot at winning. Maybe it's not such a mismatch"

After the fight:

"I knew all along it was a mismatch! That fight meant nothing!"

I won't buy into the hype. I'll watch it knowing that GGG will easily win.

[Hulk]

This is just like the rest of the hyped fights that are mismatches.

When the fight is announced:

"This is a mismatch! This fight is a disgrace! Why is this fight happening?"

When the fight is close:

"This is actually a decent fight. The underdog has a decent shot at winning. Maybe it's not such a mismatch"

After the fight:

"I knew all along it was a mismatch! That fight meant nothing!"

I won't buy into the hype. I'll watch it knowing that GGG will easily win.

Words of wisdom. I agree.

Did you pick Khan against Canelo? Lol