Kell Brook will take on the current WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on September 10 at London’s O2 Arena, Matchroom Boxing has announced.
Brook, the current IBF welterweight champion, easily retained his belt in March of this year against Kevin Bizier, but will move up two weight divisions to face Golovkin.
The unbeaten Sheffield fighter had been expected to put his IBF welterweight title on the line against Jessie Vargas in a unification bout later this year, but will now take on Golovkin, ranked third in the world, pound-for-pound by Ring magazine.
The Kazakh champion has won all 35 of his professional fights – 32 by knockout. Brook’s record stands up in comparison – the Sheffield fighter is undefeated in 36 fights, having won 25 by knockout.
“This is the fight and the moment I have been waiting for some time,” said Brook on the Matchroom website. “We’ve tried and tried to lure the best to come and fight me and now we’ve got the best of the best – the number one pound for pound fighter in the world is coming to the UK.
“When this fight got offered to me I accepted within minutes and I can’t wait. Everyone knows I’m a huge welterweight and I know I will carry my speed and accuracy and even more power through the weights. This is the ultimate fight, one of the biggest international fights the country has seen in many years – you have seen some huge names run from [Golovkin] but I’m running to him. I’m a special fighter and I will show the world on September 10.”
“I’m very excited to be fighting in front of the great British boxing fans and promise another ‘big drama show’ against Kell Brook,” said Golovkin.
