Kell Brook steps back into the ring this Saturday night (3rd) against Sergey Rabchenko for the first time since losing his welterweight world title against the unbeaten Errol Spence Jr.
Brooks is boxing in a new weight division as he plots to reclaim world glory – here’s Boxing Social’s rundown of all the ‘need to know’ information in the lead up to the Sheffield man’s comeback fight.
OPPONENT
Sergey Rabchenko is 32 years-old and a former super welterweight European champion. The man from Belarus won by TKO in his last bout against journeyman Siarhei Krapshyla – his only fight during an inactive 2017.
WEIGHT CLASS
Brook is jumping up one weight class and is campaigning at super welterweight (154lbs). The Sheffield man stepped up to middleweight (160lbs) to challenge Kazakhstani puncher Gennady Golovkin but got stopped after breaking his eye socket. He then boiled back down to lose his welterweight (147lbs) world title against American Errol Spence Jnr at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane – a weight division he’s struggled to make in recent years. In the twilight of his career, 154lbs appears to be Brook’s natural weight class, but he insisted he would “cut off one of my legs” to make the welterweight limit again to face Amir Khan.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Brook’s last media commitment before stepping into the ring is slated for Thursday 01 March at Sheffield’s Memorial City Hall. The press conference is open to the public, but if you’re unable to attend in person, tune into Boxing Social’s Facebook page for a live stream from 12:30.
WEIGH IN
The two fighters come together on Friday 02nd March at 1 pm for the last time before their super welterweight dustup. The weigh-in is also open to the public.
TV COVERAGE
Watch all the action live from 7 pm on Sky Sports in the UK. The fight is also available on Sky Go’s streaming facility.
UNDERCARD
Before the main event, the undercard features two title fights, including Dave “White Rhino” Allen’s second chance to claim the heavyweight commonwealth strap from Lenroy Thomas.
GAMAL YAFAI VS GAVIN MCDONNELL
12 x 3 mins WBC International Super-Bantamweight Title
LENROY THOMAS VS DAVE ALLEN
12 x 3 mins Commonwealth Heavyweight Title
KID GALAHAD VS IRVING BERRY
10 x 3 mins Featherweight Contest
ATIF SHAFIQ VS LEE APPLEYARD
10 x 3 Super-Lightweight Contest
ROCKY FIELDING
Super-Middleweight Contest
LEIGH WOOD VS RAFAEL CASTILLO
Featherweight Contest
MAIN EVENT
According to the event’s promoter Eddie Hearn, Brook’s ring walk is expected at approximately 10:15 pm.