Kell Brook says injuries and weight concerns are behind him

As Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) gets ready to make his junior middleweight debut this weekend against Sergey Rabchenko (29-2, 22 KOs), he tells ESPN that he’s relieved that he no longer has to dread making that 147lb limit.

“I know I’m going to make weight now where as before there was no knowing whether I was going to, then you are worried about that ten pound limit -- it takes it out of you.

“It’s been nice to have been able to eat more this time and worry less. I’m light and lean.”

Brook also mentions that he was initially concerned that he had each of his eye sockets broken in consecutive fights against Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr., but he’s since been assured by his doctor that the injuries have fully healed and that he hasn’t been experiencing and issues with them during training camp.

“I’ve had titanium plates in both eyes so it’s mended and I’ve been sparring with heavier guys and not had any problems. It’s only a problem when I go through airports at security.”

Brook finally mentions that he could’ve opted for an easier comeback opponent than Rabchenko if he had wanted, but that he actually wanted a serious test and his past sparring experience with Rabchenko assured him that he’d get exactly that.

It seems as though Brook views this fight as something of a litmus test to ensure that he’s still got plenty left to offer in boxing, and that he’s really the damaged goods some think him to be. We’ll get a glimpse of that this Saturday.