Kell Brook will take inspiration from Muhammad Ali?s defeat of Sonny Liston when he begins boxing?s most intimidating challenge.
The 30-year-old will on Saturday step up to the middleweight division for the first time and attempt to overcome the undefeated IBF, WBC and WBA champion Gennady Golovkin, the world?s most feared fighter.
Brook remains the significant underdog for the fight at London?s O2 Arena, but will evoke the spirit of Ali to prepare him for the devastating puncher from Kazakhstan.
Brook fondly spoke of Ali?s 1964 fight with the then-mighty world heavyweight champion Liston, whose menace Ali – then known as Cassius Clay – used to his advantage.
The challenger demonstrated no fear when they finally fought, despite his opponent?s fearsome reputation and so few giving him a chance. One of the finest victories of his career followed, and Brook has similarly developed a siege mentality that has left him feeling ?on edge? but that he believes will inspire him.
?When my back?s against the wall, I always perform,? said Brook, the reigning IBF welterweight champion. ?I?m meant to perform at the highest level.
?The best comes out of me when my back?s against the wall; when I?m under that pressure. When I watched Ali when he boxed Sonny Liston: he pulled a gun out on him to scare him.
?(He?d lose in) one or two rounds, people were saying. He went out there and he shocked the world, and said that it was a blessing; he was so thankful Sonny Liston did that because he?d never been as frightened and scared in his life.
