By Edward Chaykovsky
Abel Sanchez, trainer of IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs), has denied rumors that his boxer is sick and/or physically drained.
In the last few days, whispers began that Golovkin was sick after looking a little sunk in with the weight at Thursday's final press conference event for Saturday showdown with IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25KOs).
Golovkin will defend three of his four titles against Brook at the O2 Arena in London. Brook, who fights at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds, is moving up by thirteen pounds to challenge Golovkin for his belts at the middleweight limit of 160.
According to former world champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson, he claims to have heard rumors that Golovkin started camp late and may not be in the best of shape. Nelson also felt Golovkin looked drawn, overly slim in face and body, and feels the middleweight king may have overlooked his underdog opponent.
"It shocked me when Golovkin was sat up there because his jaws and just below his eyes looked thin and drawn," Nelson told Sky Sports The Countdown.
"I was expecting to see that on the morning of the weigh-win without doubt, because he'd just be trimming down before getting on the scales but not 24 hours before. I am really surprised.
"I've heard a few whispers that he started training camp late for this one. Is that telling me he underestimates Kell, thinking he is just a welterweight?
"He makes out he has full respect for Kell and says he knows he's in for a tough fight, but all of a sudden, now having seen him, the jowls, his eyes and how slim he looks, I am wondering: 'Did you just measure this wrong?"
"He can't afford to do that because Kell has prepared so hard for this fight, Golovkin can't afford any slip ups here."
Sanchez rejected all of that talk when confronted with the rumors of Golovkin fighting off illness.
"There is absolutely no truth. He's just in fight mode. He's focused and ready to do what he's gotta do. He's in... I don't want to say a hostile environment, but he's the bad guy here because Kell's from here. He just wants to get to work. He looks forward to tomorrow and putting on a good show. He had 350 amateur fights. He's seen everything. He just knows that it's time to get to work," Sanchez told Sky Sports.
"It's just a matter of whether or not [Kell Brook] can handle the punching power of Golovkin. If he was fighting any other middleweight in the world, it would be a 50-50 fight. But against this young man it will be difficult for him. Once Golovkin touches him, it will be a change of plans in his corner. I hope the fight is going to be as good as I think it's going to be. Kell is a warrior. I've seen it with Carson Jones here, but Golovkin is just a step above."
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