Kell Brook has promised there will be no slip-ups in his clash with dangerous Mexican puncher Alvaro Robles as they meet at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
The unbeaten Welterweight sensation has his sights set on a World title clash with IBF champion Shawn Porter in the summer, but says he is taking no chances against the 34 year old on Saturday who travels to the UK with 15 of his 17 wins coming by KO – and knows one mistake could ruin his World title dreams.
“Anybody Mexican who has earned the nickname Tyson can definitely have a fight,” said Brook. “This is his World title fight so he is going to be game, he will be very, very tough, and he will want to take my head off. I am looking forward to the opportunity to get in there and show what I do, and that is knock people out.
“It is a very important fight. It is a banana-skin fight, and it is important because if I don’t win this there is no big one to follow.
“At the beginning of my training for this fight I thought it might be hard to get motivated but that hasn’t been the case. I have been very motivated for the fight and I think it is your instinct as an athlete, as a fighter, to beat your gym-mates in the gym and on runs, and get your personal best out of everything. I have found the willpower and determination and I will put on a great display on Saturday night.”
The visiting fighter claims to know little about ‘The Special One’, but said he has seen chinks in Brook’s armour that he believes he can exploit.
“I don’t know much about Brook, I’ve just been looking at some videos, but I understand he’s quite a famous guy in England,” said Robles.
“I’ve seen a few little things. He can be hit as he doesn’t get out of the way of all the shots. We can work on the basis that he’s going to be coming forward, as will I and neither will run, that’ll make it easier to catch him with something in the exchanges. That’s the type of fight I prefer as I don’t have the biggest reach, so if my opponent comes to me I prefer that.
“I was in training since the beginning of February, but obviously when they called me for the fight I stepped things up and I’ve had some good sparring partners which has given me confidence for this fight. The good thing is this fight was sprung upon me when I was already in good shape.”
Brook’s clash with Robles is part of an exciting night of action in Liverpool, as Tony Bellew steps up to Cruiserweight for the first time against former World title challenger Valery Brudov.
Rocky Fielding defends his Commonwealth Super Middleweight title against former Commonwealth champion Charles Adamu. Fielding is on a collision course with British champion Paul Smith who faces Tobias Webb for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title.
London Lightweight Kevin Mitchell will also be in action on Merseyside as he builds towards a big fight in the summer, exciting youngster Robbie Davies Jnr faces his fifth pro fight and Liverpool’s Neil Perkins continues his hunt for a first title shot against Londoner Erick Ochieng.
Tickets are on sale priced £30, £40, £60 and ringside seats at £100 available from the Echo Arena on 0844 8000 400 and at www.echoarena.com