in Boxing

Inside Kell Brook’s incredible body transformation through tough career ahead of make-or-break Amir Khan fight

99 Views


KELL BROOK has had some of the most brutal but best nights in recent British boxing history.

Brook will this Saturday finally get his legacy-defining fight with Amir Khan, which most feared would never come.

Kell Brook before his last fight with Terence CrawfordCredit: @specialkellbrook

But in between the years of chasing and challenging rival Khan, the Sheffield switch-hitter has made a name for himself in both the UK and US.

Here, SunSport details the highs and lows of Brook’s tough career and the transformation his body has been through.

Welterweight

Brook debuted in the 147lb welterweight division (10st 7lb) and tirelessly grafted his way through the rankings.

He eventually got himself into an IBF mandatory position and in 2014 stunned Shawn Porter in California to win the belt.

Brook made three defences of his title, before moving up to middleweight, only to come back down, losing the belt to Errol Spence Jr.

The Brit returned to welterweight in 2020 but was beaten by Terence Crawford, his last fight.

Kell Brook made his debut at welterweightCredit: Action Images

@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}

.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}

.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}

.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}

.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}

Most read in Boxing

.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}

.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}

.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

Light-middleweight

After conceding his welterweight title to Spence in 2017, Brook moved up to 154lb (11st) to make a run at becoming a two-weight champion.

He then beat the likes of Sergey Rabchenko, Michael Zerafa and Mark DeLuca in his new division.

Brook appeared to be on the way to a title shot and looking healthier up in weight.

But after accepting a deal to move back down to Crawford, it ended his success at light-middle.

Kell Brook weighing in for a super-middleweight fightCredit: REUTERS

Middleweight

Brook shocked the boxing public in 2016 when he jumped two divisions from welterweight to middleweight at 160lb (11st 6lb)

Talks for Chris Eubank Jr to fight Kazakh danger-man Gennady Golovkin broke down, giving Brook the surprise opporunirty.

And he began the fight well, winning the early rounds but GGG’s size and power proved too decisive, stopping it in round five.

Brook moved right back down to welterweight a year later to fight Spence, and looked gaunt on the scales.

Kell Brook weighing in before his middleweight fight with Gennady GolovkinCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Amir Khan catchweight

With the rivals entering the twilight of their careers, they finally agreed terms to fight.

But it came at a cost for Brook, who has always struggled to make the welterweight limit.

Khan suggested a catchweight of 149lb (10st 6lb) which is only 2lb above the welterweight mark.

And for every lb either fighter potentially misses weight by, a contracted penalty of £100,000 will be in place.

Kell Brook ahead of his catchweight grudge match with Amir KhanCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk

Tagcloud: BoxingSport

Ferrari investigating after pictures of car for 2022 F1 season ‘LEAKED’ online – a day before official unveiling

Lewis Hamilton’s F1 return finally CONFIRMED by Mercedes with ‘Year 16’ post as Brit plans for another world title fight