Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on DAZN.com.

***

Kell Brook is no stranger to facing extremely difficult opponents, and that will certainly be the case when he attempts to dethrone welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford on Nov. 14.

Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) became a 147-pound beltholder in a close contest against Shawn Porter in 2014, before suffering the only two defeats on his record against elite fighters Gennadiy Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.

Many believe defeat number three is inevitable against Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but ‘Special K’ is used to being overlooked.

“That’s the kind of thing I love because the haters are motivators and it’s what people perceive,” Brook told Boxing Scene. “But the people who’ve been around me know how I’ve been, they know how determined I am and how motivated I am for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned.

“Crawford is very good. That’s why he’s arguably Top 3 pound-for-pound. So he’s obviously good, isn’t he?” Some people have him at No. 1. But look what [Teofimo] Lopez, who’s 23, did to [Vasilliy] Lomachenko at the weekend. This is boxing we’re involved in.”

Brook went on to explain that his particular pugilistic upbringing is perfect to handle Crawford’s elite switch-hitting.

“From the old man, Brendan Ingle, the school of boxing, that style has been there from the Naz (Naseem Hamed) days, [which] is switch-hitting, and I’ve seen every style there is to see. So I’m not going to be bamboozled by him.

“I’m happy. At the end of the day, he’s not boxed anyone the size of me. This is a real fight, it’s a real, top, elite welterweight he’s fighting. … A lot of people are talking about age but he’s only a year younger than me.

“I’m naturally the bigger guy. I’m healthy and a big thing is there’s no [next-day] weight limit. With the IBF, I had to make weight, then I had to make weight the next day. But what I’ll be is what I’ll be the next day, so the pressure’s on him.

“I take my hat off to Terence Crawford taking this fight against me. He knows it’s a dangerous fight. He knows. When I went and saw him, he knew I wasn’t a walkover.”

Brook hasn’t made 147 since his last defeat, which came in 2017 to Spence. Will that prove an additional obstacle for the Brit?

He doesn’t believe so.

“That is a good question, but the fact is I’m at a nice weight, I’ve been in training camp for four months,” Brook said. “I knew this fight was coming, and I’ve learned over the years not to balloon up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be difficult to make it, but this will be the best I’ve made it, even better than before.

“He (Crawford) said, ‘You just make weight.’ I’ve never gone to the scales and not made weight. I’ve always made weight the first time. I’ve never been to a weigh-in and used that hour to make weight. I’ve always made it.”

[lawrence-related id=14812]

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on DAZN.com.

***

Kell Brook is no stranger to facing extremely difficult opponents, and that will certainly be the case when he attempts to dethrone welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford on Nov. 14.

Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) became a 147-pound beltholder in a close contest against Shawn Porter in 2014, before suffering the only two defeats on his record against elite fighters Gennadiy Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr.

Many believe defeat number three is inevitable against Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but ‘Special K’ is used to being overlooked.

“That’s the kind of thing I love because the haters are motivators and it’s what people perceive,” Brook told Boxing Scene. “But the people who’ve been around me know how I’ve been, they know how determined I am and how motivated I am for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned.

“Crawford is very good. That’s why he’s arguably Top 3 pound-for-pound. So he’s obviously good, isn’t he?” Some people have him at No. 1. But look what [Teofimo] Lopez, who’s 23, did to [Vasilliy] Lomachenko at the weekend. This is boxing we’re involved in.”

Brook went on to explain that his particular pugilistic upbringing is perfect to handle Crawford’s elite switch-hitting.

“From the old man, Brendan Ingle, the school of boxing, that style has been there from the Naz (Naseem Hamed) days, [which] is switch-hitting, and I’ve seen every style there is to see. So I’m not going to be bamboozled by him.

“I’m happy. At the end of the day, he’s not boxed anyone the size of me. This is a real fight, it’s a real, top, elite welterweight he’s fighting. … A lot of people are talking about age but he’s only a year younger than me.

“I’m naturally the bigger guy. I’m healthy and a big thing is there’s no [next-day] weight limit. With the IBF, I had to make weight, then I had to make weight the next day. But what I’ll be is what I’ll be the next day, so the pressure’s on him.

“I take my hat off to Terence Crawford taking this fight against me. He knows it’s a dangerous fight. He knows. When I went and saw him, he knew I wasn’t a walkover.”

Brook hasn’t made 147 since his last defeat, which came in 2017 to Spence. Will that prove an additional obstacle for the Brit?

He doesn’t believe so.

“That is a good question, but the fact is I’m at a nice weight, I’ve been in training camp for four months,” Brook said. “I knew this fight was coming, and I’ve learned over the years not to balloon up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be difficult to make it, but this will be the best I’ve made it, even better than before.

“He (Crawford) said, ‘You just make weight.’ I’ve never gone to the scales and not made weight. I’ve always made weight the first time. I’ve never been to a weigh-in and used that hour to make weight. I’ve always made it.”

[lawrence-related id=14812]

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Terence Crawford looks set to defend his welterweight title against Kell Brook before 2020 is out, with Top Rank president Todd duBoef saying the match-up “makes sense.”

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) had been linked with several top welterweights for his return to the ring.

“We’re having advanced conversations with Brook,” duBoef told Sky Sports. “It makes sense for both fighters. We’re eyeing a November date if it can get done. November 14 is earmarked as the date. The location, as of now, is Las Vegas in a studio-type environment.

“There was talk of going to Omaha, where Crawford is from, in an intimate setting with some fans. We’re weighing it up. First we’ve got to see if we can put the match together. Then the venue.”

Said Eddie Hearn, Brook’s promoter: “I’ve been talking to [Top Rank CEO] Bob Arum about various things [including] Crawford against Brook, which looks close to happening as well.”

Brook held a welterweight belt from August 2014, when he took the title from Shawn Porter in Los Angeles, until May 2017, when he lost it to Errol Spence Jr. in England.

If “Special K” can upset Crawford, who stopped Brook’s domestic rival Amir Khan in six rounds, he’d need to do exactly what he pulled off in a closely-contested battle with Porter.

“Talks are progressing and we feel like we are edging closer,” Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) previously told Sky Sports about facing Crawford. “My team has been in regular dialogue with [promoter] Bob Arum. He assures us that both him and Crawford are bang up for it, so hopefully we can get it over the line and give the fight fans something to get excited about and to close 2020 in style.

“Crawford is the champ so rightfully they want the fight stateside. Vegas has been discussed. It suits me, though. I have always wanted to fight in Las Vegas — the bright lights of ‘Sin City’. I’ve dethroned a welterweight American world champion in his own back yard before. I look forward to doing it again.”

[lawrence-related id=13535,13249,12803,6292]

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Terence Crawford looks set to defend his welterweight title against Kell Brook before 2020 is out, with Top Rank president Todd duBoef saying the match-up “makes sense.”

Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) had been linked with several top welterweights for his return to the ring.

“We’re having advanced conversations with Brook,” duBoef told Sky Sports. “It makes sense for both fighters. We’re eyeing a November date if it can get done. November 14 is earmarked as the date. The location, as of now, is Las Vegas in a studio-type environment.

“There was talk of going to Omaha, where Crawford is from, in an intimate setting with some fans. We’re weighing it up. First we’ve got to see if we can put the match together. Then the venue.”

Said Eddie Hearn, Brook’s promoter: “I’ve been talking to [Top Rank CEO] Bob Arum about various things [including] Crawford against Brook, which looks close to happening as well.”

Brook held a welterweight belt from August 2014, when he took the title from Shawn Porter in Los Angeles, until May 2017, when he lost it to Errol Spence Jr. in England.

If “Special K” can upset Crawford, who stopped Brook’s domestic rival Amir Khan in six rounds, he’d need to do exactly what he pulled off in a closely-contested battle with Porter.

“Talks are progressing and we feel like we are edging closer,” Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) previously told Sky Sports about facing Crawford. “My team has been in regular dialogue with [promoter] Bob Arum. He assures us that both him and Crawford are bang up for it, so hopefully we can get it over the line and give the fight fans something to get excited about and to close 2020 in style.

“Crawford is the champ so rightfully they want the fight stateside. Vegas has been discussed. It suits me, though. I have always wanted to fight in Las Vegas — the bright lights of ‘Sin City’. I’ve dethroned a welterweight American world champion in his own back yard before. I look forward to doing it again.”

[lawrence-related id=13535,13249,12803,6292]