Kell Brook really does come across as a very confident fighter entering his massive challenge of feared middleweight king Gennady Golovkin (the man and his power he is of course referring to in the above headline). Of course, any fighter who has called for a big fight and got it should be fully confident he is going to win, but there are sceptics out there who feel Brook – who is a huge underdog according to the latest betting odds available – has taken this fight for the huge payday and nothing more.
James Slater
Hail Cesar! Chavez, the greatest Mexican fighter ever born on this day in 1962
Who is the greatest ever Mexican fighter: Ruben Olivares? Salvador Sanchez? Carlos Zarate? Miguel Canto? Juan Manuel Marquez? Erik Morales? Marco Antonio Barrera? Ricardo Lopez?
No, top of the list, above all this incredible talent, is the man who was born today in 1962 and went on to record an astonishing 107-6-2(86) pro record – the mighty, the incomparable Julio Cesar Chavez. Simply unbeatable in his prime years – 1984 to 1993 – Chavez tore through the super-featherweight, lightweight and super-lightweight divisions, capturing world titles in each weight class and retaining them for a substantial amount of time. Among the fine fighters Chavez defeated: Mario Martinez, Ruben Castillo, Roger Mayweather, Rocky Lockridge, Edwin Rosario, Jose Luis Ramirez, Meldrick Taylor and Hector Camacho.
Andre Ward must get past his “tune-up” first, but looks the favourite to defeat Sergey Kovalev in November
In boxing, a so-called “tune-up” fight can have the exact opposite result than was planned or hoped for. Wanting to sharpen up tools and pick up added, reaffirming confidence before heading into a big match-up, a fighter can sometimes leave said “tune-up” feeling rustier, less sharp and less confident than he was before fighting it. Light-heavyweight ruler Sergey Kovalev might be feeling a little this way right now, after his frustrating, less than satisfying points win over Isaac Chilemba yesterday.
Sergey Kovalev wins 12-round UD over a game and tricky Isaac Chilemba
Tonight in Russia we came away with two overwhelming thoughts: no wonder Isaac Chilemba has never been stopped, and Andre Ward will be feeling quite happy right now.
IBF/WBA/WBO light-heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev retained both his belts and his unbeaten record against Isaac Chilemba, but, boy did he have a tough/awkward night’s work in doing so. The final scores of the three judges – 118-109, 116-111, 117-110, all for “Krusher” do not tell the full story. Kovalev, now 30-0-1(26) still moves ahead to his big November fight with Andre Ward, but Chilemba, now 24-4-2(10) sure gave Ward plenty of pointers.
Abel Sanchez on GGG-Brook: “We seem to forget that others have tried [moving up in weight] and succeeded”
![Abel Sanchez on GGG-Brook: “We seem to forget that others have tried [moving up in weight] and succeeded”](https://www.boxing247.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1-Golovkin_Wade_AY1J2028.jpg "Photo: Abel Sanchez on GGG-Brook: “We seem to forget that others have tried [moving up in weight] and succeeded”")
In the history of boxing only a few very special fighters have managed to move up from welterweight to middleweight and rule the world there too. We are, on September 10, when he challenges the feared Gennady Golovkin for middleweight gold, going to see if Kell Brook is destined to go down as one of these special fighters (or just go down, as the IBF welter champ’s critics suggest).
Kell Brook not the only British boxer up against it – Jazza Dickens challenges Guillermo Rigondeaux this Saturday
It’s not had anywhere near the hype, the attention or anything like the shock factor, but this Saturday’s fight that will see a challenge of the sublime Guillermo Rigondeaux by James Dickens, better known as Jazza, is just as lofty a task of a fight for a British boxer as the Kell Brook-Gennady Golovkin bout. In fact, if anything, Dickens, 22-1(7) will enter the ring in Cardiff, Wales as an even bigger underdog than Brook will against GGG in London in September.
Tony Bellew: “Kell Brook is taking on the most feared middleweight since Marvin Hagler”
British fighters, even rivals in the sport, often rally around one another when the need arises (see the selfless gestures a number of British fighters made in aid of the recently retired Nick Blackwell; David Haye especially). And this need, in the form of wishing to get behind Kell Brook as he enters his absolutely massive, potentially life and career-changing fight with the feared Gennady Golovkin, has arisen again.
Dillian Whyte-Dave Allen added to July 30 Leeds bill, WBC international heavyweight belt on the line
An interesting heavyweight match-up will take place on the July 30th Matchroom card in Leeds, as Dillian Whyte will face unbeaten Dave Allen for vacant WBC international belt. The 17-1(14) Whyte, who gave current IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua a great fight last December and is aiming to earn a second crack at A.J, will be having his second return bout since the 7th-round KO loss he suffered. Allen, 9-0-1(6) will be taking a step up in class against the man who is four years his senior at age 28, but “The White Rhino,” as Allen is called, has been asking for a fight with Whyte for some time.
Amir Khan: British fighters [are] running the sport of boxing right now
![Amir Khan: British fighters [are] running the sport of boxing right now](https://www.boxing247.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1-khan-canelo-8.jpg "Photo: Amir Khan: British fighters [are] running the sport of boxing right now")
The similarity between Amir Khan’s brave but ultimately unsuccessful step up to fight Saul Canelo Alvarez, and Kell Brook’s decision to do likewise against Gennady Golovkin has not been lost on fight fans. Some fans have applauded Brook, as they applauded Khan, but others have criticised Golovkin the way they criticised Alvarez, for picking on a naturally smaller man. But whether you liked Khan’s challenge of Canelo or not and whether you like Brook’s challenge of GGG or not, one thing is clear: both fights are recognised as huge fights for British boxing.
Bob Arum says Golovkin-Brook is “F-ckin crazy!” Says a big announcement will come soon regarding Jessie Vargas’ next fight
It takes a lot to shock Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, as one would expect with a man who is in his eighties and has been around boxing for decades. But the Top Rank boss could not hide his shock over yesterday’s big announcement regarding Gennady Golovkin’s upcoming fight with Kell Brook. Speaking with RingTV.com, Arum called the fight, “F-ckin crazy!”
“Golovkin is fighting who?” Arum said to Ring. “I don’t believe that. That’s crazy. I mean, Golovkin is fighting a welterweight? You hear something crazy every day. I’m not surprised, I’m a little shocked. Is that even a fight? That is absolutely f-ckin crazy.”