BROOK-RABCHENKO PREVIEW
Kell Brook (36-2) v Sergey Rabchenko (29-2); WBC Silver Super Welterweight Title
Kell Brook returns to the Sheffield Arena this Saturday, facing Sergey Rabchenko in an attempt to claim the vacant WBC Silver Super Welterweight title. A win would propel Brook back up to the dizzying heights of boxing glory, but many predict it will be a hard fought contest in the Welterweight division
After a glittering 12 year career, and 36 unbeaten fight run, in May 2017 The Special One relinquished his IBF Welterweight crown in a hard-hitting bout with American, Spence Jr. A double TKO in the space of 8 months from both Golovkin and Spence Jr inflicted potentially identical career ending injuries to Brook’s right and left eye sockets.
The aftermath of a demoralising defeat was not without repercussion and in a candid interview with The Guardian ahead of the fight, Brook spoke to Donald McRae about the lows he suffered during his rehabilitation: ‘“Yeah,” he says quietly. “I was really that low. I didn’t want to go on. People don’t know that. I hit rock bottom around Christmas. I remember sitting on my own, thinking: ‘No one loves me. What have I done to myself? What have I done to the people that do love me?’ I was at home and my missus and kids were out. I thought, ‘I’ve let people down who really love me.’ It was very bad. I was thinking of retiring. Things weren’t great at home. I was a lost soul – the lowest I’ve ever been.”’
Brook faced identical near career ending injuries from Golovkin and Spence Jr (above)
Facing what many critics expect to be a huge mental hurdle, the Steel City hero is not letting the fear of failure get to him, speaking at the press conference on Thursday on reiterated that his passion for boxing has been reignited: ‘“I’m loving boxing again and things can change, and I still feel that I’ve got big fights left in me before I call it a day. I’d love to win a World title at Super-Welterweight.”’
Brook is fighting fit ahead ahead of Saturday's Welterweight clash
In a similar career path to Brook, 32-year-old Rabchenko has also faced 2 KOs over his 31 fights. An aggressive puncher with excellent counter-attacking skills, Rabchenko
Critics may argue that Rabchenko hasn’t reached his full potential, with a string of easy match-ups and only 2 KOs across his 31 fights – but Rabchenko is not to be dismissed, an aggressive puncher with excellent counter-attacking skills, Rabchenko told the BBC he is ready to go to war for the Welterweight title, “This is a high-profile fight in the division that has always been mine, and the winner will go on and challenge for the world titles. It’s a must-win fight for both of us”
The fight will be held at Sheffield Arena on Sat 03rd March, and is broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action from 19:00
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