Kazakh bruiser Gennady Golovkin regards Saturday’s world middleweight title defence in London against home favourite Kell Brook as the biggest fight of his career, he said on Thursday.

Golovkin is regarded as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters after knocking out his last 22 opponents and defends two of his three middleweight titles against Brook at the O2 Arena.

Brook, the undefeated IBF world welterweight champion, is stepping up two weight divisions to face Golovkin, who is a big betting favourite.

But California-based Golovkin, 34, who has been avoided by a lot of fighters, told a press conference: “For us it’s our biggest fight. There are a lot of people from different countries here for this fight and I love London, it feels like my second city. “He looks good and he says he’s ready. I’m ready for him. Kell is a champion and I respect him. “I’m not scared. This is boxing. I respect my opponent. He’s very strong and he’s a very good fighter.”

Golovkin, who has knocked out 32 of his 35 victims, will put his WBC, IBO and IBF belts on the line against Brook, who insists he will be better at middleweight than at welterweight.

Brook's trainer Dominic Ingle added: "It's the first time Golovkin will face an unbeaten champion with ambition, a younger guy. Kell's been in the position where people don't want to fight him and so has Triple G. Nobody gives Kell a chance but we're not here to pick up a pay cheque - we're here to make history.

"We all know what Prince Naseem Hamed did. He won all those titles, was a great name and a great fighter. This was always going to be the next kid coming through. He's beaten everyone put in front of him. On Saturday, the ambition and will he's going to bring into the fight will be nothing like what Golovkin has faced before.

"Don't blink, keep your eyes glued and don't write off Kell Brook. Keep your minds open because this guy is the underdog but is coming to win."