Kell Brook says there is no rehydration clause in the contract for his challenge of WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford, meaning his natural size could prove a big advantage against the unbeaten American.
Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) challenges Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas. It will be the Brit's return to 147 lb, a division he hasn't fought in since losing his IBF welter strap to Errol Spence Jr. on May 27, 2017, at Bramall Lane, the home soccer stadium of his local side Sheffield United.
Each of his five fights involving that particular championship, which he won from Shawn Porter in 2014, prevented 'Special K' from going up past 157 lb in weight, 10 lb above the divisional limit when the second-day weigh-ins are conducted on the morning of the fight itself.
Unlike the IBF, the WBO will not be enforcing such a rule. This means the slightly taller Brook is confident of feeling fresher and being much less drawn when the bell sounds against heavy favorite Crawford.
“He’s come [up] from lightweight,” Brook told Boxing Scene. “I’m a natural welterweight.
"I’ve fought Golovkin at middleweight. I’ve boxed at light-middleweight. I’m a big, strong welterweight, and I’ve had plenty of preparation to make sure that I’m coming in this fight healthy at welterweight.
“And there’s no 10-pound rehydration clause, like before with the IBF. So, basically, I weigh in and then I become a beast.
"I’m not saying that I’m gonna go up 30 pounds or whatever. But it’s just gonna be something in my mind I don’t need to worry about. I just need to worry about Terence. I need to worry about this fight.”
Brook, 34, says his last welter battle against Spence was a struggle to make weight, with the second-day weigh-ins hindering his performances.
Nonetheless, he was competitive before being dropped in the 10th and 11th rounds,. Gennadiy Golovkin is the only other professional boxer to defeat Brook.
Brook continued: “The things I’ve had to go through in previous fights, you know, getting ill and not being great with the weight and not being as fit as I should be, and I still go out and beat these guys, and [fought] the Golovkins and Errol Spences of the world.
"So, imagine what happens what I’m like now mentally. This is a mental game, as well as physically being fit and everything.
"This is the best position I’ve ever been in for a fight weight-wise, fitness-wise, and I’m just drawing confidence from that.”