LONDON — World middleweight champion Gennady Goloꦜvkin fought off the ambitious challenge to his suprema🐭cy from Kell Brook with a fifth-round stoppage on Saturday.
Brook’s corner threw in the towel after the welterweight champion, who stepped up two weight classes to face Golovkin, faded against the formidable Kazakh, who improved his record to 36-0.
But if the powerful, big-punching Golovkin was expecting Brook to capitulate easily at London’s 02 Arena, it didn’t go to plan. It was a more open, thrilling contest than anticipated, with Brook posing a sporadic threat.
Brook succumbed to the fir🌟st defeat of his professional career in his 37th f🥂ight as Golovkin retained his WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight belts.