Kell Brook takes on dangerously unfancied Sergey Rabchenko knowing that time is now against him

There comes a moment in the career of most boxers when the abilities that got them to a certain level suddenly disappear. These could be physical characteristics or mental strengths, but whatever the positive, the decline can come steeply. Many fighters don’t realise their new weaknesses until it’s too late, but for some, the wane can materialise right in front of their eyes.

Kell Brook steps into the ring tonight against Sergey Rabchenko fully aware that his prime has passed as a boxer. The former IBF welterweight champion has won one fight in two years, and is coming off two brutal defeats to Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr. Losing to fighters of that magnitude is no disgrace at all, they’re two of the best in the world after all, but the physical and mental anguish that came from both fighters has troubled Brook ever since.

Against Golovkin, Brook had jumped up two weight classes against perhaps the hardest puncher in boxing, and did not disgrace himself at all. The smaller man by some margin, he went toe-to-toe with the mythical Golovkin, gave out some hard shots of his own and withstood a number of brutal hits from his decorated opponent, despite suffering such a nasty injury early on. Brook lost the fight and his carefully constructed undefeated record, but earned not only respect, but proof that he can hang with the very best.

After he was pulled out by his corner in the fifth round when he suffered a fractured eye socket, all thoughts turned towards his next fight, back at his natural weight class and at the stadium of his beloved Sheffield United. But when Errol Spence Jr rolled into the steel city, the homecoming became a home invasion, as the devastating American unraveled Brook, fractured his other eye socket, and stopped him in the eleventh round.

Ten months on, and with his 32nd birthday just eight weeks away, Brook is looking ahead to that tantalising final payday against Amir Khan later this year, but to get there, he needs to win tonight. However, despite the slight stagnation of Brook, his opponent this evening could be the perfect vessel for rejuvenation.

Due to his alliance with Ricky Hatton, Sergey Rabchenko has fought many times in Britain before, but the Belarusian has never achieved significant success. His 29-2 record is pretty, but unlike Brook, his two defeats came against somewhat more limited opposition. Australian veteran Anthony Mundine outpointed Rabchenko in a close bout in November 2014, before American Tony Harrison stopped the 32-year-old in summer 2016.

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Those were by far the biggest fights of Rabchenko’s career, and he failed to establish any dominance in either fight. A feast of journeymen defined his early career, yet when it came time to bite down on the gumshield and show his worth on the big occasion, he couldn’t perform to an acceptable standard. Make no illusions, Brook’s comeback opponent has been chosen for this specific reason, but are the odds too wide?

Brook is a vast 1/9 favourite to win the fight, with Rabchenko an enormous 12/1 underdog. While Brook has all the advantages both physically and stylistically, the question has to be asked just how strong are his eyes right now? One broken eye socket is a disaster, but to suffer consecutive breaks in fights is extremely troubling. Rabchenko is 16/1 to stop Brook tonight, a method which would include Brook being pulled out due to injury. Some aspiring money-makers may be tempted by such odds.

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In truth, this is a fight which only tells us a small part of a wider story, though a vital one nonetheless. For many years, Kell Brook was the great hope of British boxing, but now he is one punch away from becoming the forgotten man. Win, and the potential riches take one step closer to his retirement bank account. Lose, and the reality of the rest of his life becomes clearer, for good or bad.

A good undercard supports Brook vs Rabchenko, led by Gamal Yafai meeting Gavin McDonnell in a domestic super bantamweight showdown. Elsewhere, Dave Allen gets another chance to win the Commonwealth heavyweight title against Lenroy Thomas, while Kid Galahad and Rocky Fielding are also in action.

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Up in Scotland, Josh Taylor fights tonight against late replacement Winston Campos, in a fight which should create plenty of excitement. Taylor is one of the best prospects in Britain right now, and has showed excellent versatility against a variety of opponents. Keep an eye out for Jason Easton vs Glenn Foot on the undercard, and also Chantelle Cameron who continues her professional profession on the show.

Two big American shows make tonight one of the biggest nights of boxing in 2018 so far. In Brooklyn, 39-0 WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder puts his belt on the line against undefeated Cuban Luis Ortiz. With eyes on a summer showdown with Anthony Joshua, Wilder will be looking to perform impressively against the veteran Ortiz, whose age has been questioned more times than a fading Hollywood star this week.

Wilder will never be an accomplished boxer, but as a fighter he’s as dangerous as anyone in this sport, and providing he can shake off the skills of Ortiz, his unbeaten record should extend to 40-0 by the time the fight has finished.

Another heavy hitter features tonight in New York, as Sergey Kovalev headlines the Madison Square Garden Theatre against fellow Russian Igor Mikhalkin.