Golovkin's WBA title not at stake against Brook

WBA/WBC/IBF/IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs) will defend three of his four world titles against IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (36-0, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.

The WBA middleweight belt will not be at stake.

WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza said, "The Championships Committee and the Presidency have not agreed to sanction this bout as a title fight because Brook has never fought as a middleweight.

"If Golovkin were to lose to Kell Brook, the title would become vacant and would not end up in the hands of the British pugilist."

Golovkin won the WBA title in 2010 and has successfully defended it 16 times, all by KO. If Golovkin beats Brook and 'regular' champion Daniel Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) retains his belt in a rematch against former world champion Sergio Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs) on Friday, Mendoza said the WBA will order a mandatory bout between Golovkin and Jacobs next.