K2’s Tom Loeffler Happily Surprised by Kell Brook vs. Triple G

Tell the truth. Are you the real challenger to WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin?

Three men stood in front of Golovkin and when it came time to tell the truth all three stood up.

First it was Canelo. Scratch.

Then it was BJ Saunders. Scratch.

Finally it looked like Chris Eubank Jr. Scratch.

But a last-minute bolt of lightning from behind the curtain produced the real opponent for middleweight champion “Triple G” and his name is Kell Brook. They will meet on September 10, at the O2 Arena in London, England. Sky Sports and HBO will televise.

“Kell Brook had called out Gennady before and it took us only two days to finalize,” said K2’s Tom Loeffler, their director of Promotions. “It goes to show when two fighters really want to fight each other it’s not so complicated.”

Brook, the current undefeated (36-0) IBF welterweight titlist, was set to face Jesse Vargas. Eubank, a true middleweight was all primed to face Golovkin after weeks of promising the world he would derail the most feared prizefighter in the world.

“We thought it would be Eubank but we had some major problems,” said Loeffler of the middleweight slugger from Brighton, England. “I was surprised when they couldn’t close the deal. He was always so positive.”

Instead, the feared Golovkin, who has knocked out 22 consecutive opponents, faces Brook, a fighter of nearly the same size but a smaller frame body-wise.

Fans are surprised that Brook is so willing to face the dreaded “Mexican style” Golovkin, especially moving up two weight divisions. But it’s much like when Amir Khan moved up to face Saul Alvarez. The British fighter Brook has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Nobody expects him to win, so if he loses, his stature and value will not diminish. If he had lost to Vargas then most definitely his value would have decreased.

Loeffler likens this match up to one in the past circa 1987.

“This compares to when Ray Leonard moved up. He was a former welter and fought Marvin Hagler and beat Marvin Hagler,” said K2’s Tom Loeffler, recounting one of the great showdowns of the 1980s. “If Kell Brook can beat Gennady he makes boxing history and the biggest story in boxing history.”

The Los Angeles-based promoter also said that Golovkin’s willingness to fight in any country regardless of the crowd proves his confidence and intent.

“Gennady sold out Madison Square Garden, sold out the Forum and we’re expecting to sell out in London,” said Loeffler. “Some fighters don’t want to fight out of their home city or home state. He’s always willing to travel. UK is opening up a new market.”

Brook was ecstatic about the challenge.

“This is the fight and the moment I have been waiting for some time,” said Brook. “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.”

Golovkin was equally content that a fight was finally made.

“I’m very excited to be fighting in front of the great British boxing fans and promise another ‘Big Drama Show’ against undefeated Kell Brook,” said Golovkin. “I give him much respect for taking this fight.”

It was boxing as usual with the unexpected happening again.

“This turns out to be a much bigger event (than Golovkin vs. Eubank Jr.),” said Loeffler.

K2’s Tom Loeffler