Kell Brook caught up with The Guardian and discussed the fallout since suffering back to back losses against the current reigning world middleweight and welterweight champions, Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr respectively.
“Losing to Spence felt like my first loss because Golovkin was at middleweight. I lost my world title to Spence at home and it was hard. But against Golovkin I was feeling good letting my shots go.”
Kell Brook discussed what it is like to be opposite the feared and undefeated world middleweight kingpin, Gennady Golovkin. Furthermore, he touched on suffering his first fractured orbital bone.
Winning a GENUINE WORLD title takes not only talent but heart, determination, desire. You don’t question the heart of a TRUE champion!
The REAL champs recognise this is the true ‘WARRIORS CODE’ but it takes an ELITE fighter to know this..
Something @ChrisEubankJr can’t grasp!— Kell Brook (@SpecialKBrook) February 18, 2018
Golovkin’s a serious guy but every time I caught him I grew in confidence.
“Until the eye went it was looking great. But that was the hardest I’ve been hit – definitely.”
“He’s a very concussive puncher. The double vision started so quickly and it got worse.”
Brook then reflected on suffering the same injury on his opposite eye against the current IBF welterweight titleholder.
“It wasn’t as bad as Golovkin because that one went completely blurry. With Spence, it didn’t come on as quick but when I was getting hit more frequently the double vision started. It’s like putting thick lenses on.
“Your coordination is out and you feel cross-eyed. You can see three of him and people say: ‘Hit the middle one – like in Rocky.’ But it’s like nothing you’ve experienced before.”
“At first you can’t really feel the pain with the adrenaline. It’s more the noise your eye makes. It’s like a crab claw popping – you can really hear it.”
Chopping down 🌲 this evening #RiseAgainpic.twitter.com/DdtjDj7fMu
— Kell Brook (@SpecialKBrook) February 16, 2018
” I went like this with my glove [pawing his face] to try to put the eye back in place because it drops and puffs out. When I breathe, I can feel the air coming in and out of my eye.”
“My surgeon was ringside. In the corner, I was looking down at him.”
He was shaking his head, saying ‘No’. He kept shaking his head, round after round but I kept thinking I’m in Sheffield, Bramall Lane, and my world title is on the line.
“I had to carry on. But many things were rushing through my mind.”
Touching on if his two gruelling eye injuries will alter his mindset, Kell shared “You’re going to think about it,” he admits, before grinning.”
“But you’ve got to be not wired up right to be a fighter in the first place. Once the adrenaline kicks in I’m going to be in the moment and not thinking about it. I’ve sparred today and not thought about it.”
“He doesn’t tell me that. He says: ‘You’ve had two x-rays, the bones have healed and the plates are there so you’re good to go.”
Recently, Amir Khan made the very surprising move to sign a three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing brand. On that topic, Brook added “I thought: ‘Eddie, you’re supposed to be my boy. But I’m cool with it now.’
“It’s actually a great move because we’ve had no success getting the fight before.”
2️⃣ WEEKS TO GO!!@SpecialKBrook is BACK @SheffieldArena 👌#RiseAgain#BrookRabchenkopic.twitter.com/HuOVNgkbbA
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 17, 2018
“Now we’re in the same team. So Eddie’s going to be with him a lot, with me a lot.”
“It’s a big-money fight, we’re both the same age and it’s a no-brainer for the fans and ourselves. The fight’s got to happen.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to beat Khan. It will cleanse things. I’m feeling great but I’m not going to be fighting for many more years.”
“It’s the game you can legally get killed in but the best thing you can do is make sure you’re in a great place – like I am now.”
“Everything is running smooth. Family life is good. I’m feeling positive, got a spring in my step.”
“We live, we learn, and we rise again,” Brook concluded.
READ MORE:
Keith Thurman fires shots at Errol Spence Jr – “I will handle him. This is my division.”
George Groves gives shoulder injury update – “Hopefully, it isn’t going be a big problem”
Danny Garcia looking for Keith Thurman rematch – “I want Thurman. It’s on him. Whenever he’s ready”