Brook Competes Well Vs GGG, But Corner Yanks The Brit in 5th

UPDATE: Props to Dom Ingle for reading signals. The Sheffield sensei sensed the right eye of Kell Brook was compromised and he was right. Brook promoter Eddie Hearn Tweeted out info that his kid broke an eye bone during his nasty Saturday night interface with Gennady Golovkin. Brook made new fans, made his point and made money. No sense in possibly prolonging the punishment and suffering more extensive damage. The trainer pulled the plug and rightly so.

Kell Brook sought to make a massive leap in class and cement his legacy as a supreme athlete on Saturday night in London, England, by jumping from 147 to 160 pounds, and clashing with middleweight top dog Gennady Golovkin.

He was on his way to at least massively upping the respect level in the eyes of the masses and then, when GGG in round five was pouring it on, Brook's trainer Dom Ingle threw in the towel. The crowd was stunned and I don't recall a more off putting corner stoppage, in real time.

To be sure, GGG has looked far better and seemed vulnerable-ish, making Ingles' call more bizarre in the moment.

After, Brook said he “absolutely” wanted to continue but said his eye was hurt in round two. His trainer, he said, probably loves him too much, as he's known him for 20 years.

Also, GGG after said he was not sick this week, as was rumored. No, he just wasn't ON, and was in street fight mode. He gave himself a 3 or 4 out of ten.

Some wondered in the moment if Ingle had a devious intent, but we will have to assume Brook's reasoning is most sound. Also, we recognize this is a different age, more informed, and athletes are less willing to “go out on their shields.”

The 02 had not a single spare seat, with 95 percent at least there to will Brook, aka “The Special One,” to the win.

K2, the Golovkin crew, headed by Tom Loeffler aided Matchroom and Eddie Hearn in putting the show together.

HBO aired it live in the States.

The 36-0 Brook, out of Sheffield, in the first felt the power. He landed a right and an uppercut but GGG buzzed him. He didn't fight scared, landed and showed his chin is solid. A left hook to the body and head by GGG were sinister. GGG had a knick on his face.

The 35-0 Golovkin, the fighting pride of Kazahkstan, in round two fought center ring. He ate a few jabs, stalked and the Brit surprised some by standing tall and not folding. Brook landed an uppercut and the decibel level was sky high. Blood ran a bit from the GGG nose.

In the third, GGG came out furious. A hard right landed near clean. Brook came back and was winning midway through. Trainer Abel Sanchez told GGG to get close and work. GGG threw more wildly than we've seen.

In the fourth, we saw the right eye bothering Brook, as in the third. GGG stalked but that didn't spook Brook. His right counters were solid.

To the fifth..Brook showed a superb chin on the ropes. Brook's legs were slowing and then a shocker when the trainer threw in the towel. But replays showed Brook rubbing the right eye in that fifth, a round he actually didn't perform poorly in.

Brook slipped many shots but Ingle believed a brutal ending was near. He didn't let that occur.

All in all, a quite interesting and entertaining clash.