Kell Brook has inspired Josh Warrington and other Yorkshire fighters, says Johnny Nelson

By Johnny Nelson, Boxing Expert & Columnist

Josh Warrington said the fans are in for a treat when he takes on Patrick Hyland - and Johnny Nelson agrees

Kell Brook's bold move to take on Gennady Golovkin has proved an inspiration to Yorkshire fighters says Sheffield's former world champion Johnny Nelson, who expects the locals to raise the roof in Leeds on Saturday...

This is a really good card and there is a buzz around Yorkshire about this because almost every fight is a 'pick-em'.

Everyone is talking about it, wondering 'what happens if he wins'? 'Where does he go if he loses'? There are so many of Saturday's fights that stand out for those precise reasons and that is what makes it that little bit different - and better.

Usually the main bill and the chief support grab the headlines but this card is one where you can only see this being busy from the very start. All of those guys want to win and take the summer off knowing they can crack on when they return.

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Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook were in Times Square, New York to promote their huge Sky Sports Box Office fight

It's a different matter for Kell Brook of course but his decision to fight Gennady Golovkin has inspired them all. There is a lot of pride in Yorkshire and we have turned out so many world and domestic champions down the years, they all want to achieve that and keep it going.

Most of us Yorkshire fighters know each other, see each other all the time - even if we're not in the same gym - and success breeds success, so seeing Kell getting such a massive, massive fight, is driving them all.

Let's be honest, it is going to be a tough, tough fight for him and even if it's at The O2 down in London, everyone up here will be hoping he can do it. It wouldn't surprise me if not even the die-hard Yorkshire fighters can't see Kell doing it, but the one thing he has already done is inspire them.

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Most of us Yorkshire fighters know each other, see each other all the time - even if we're not in the same gym - and success breeds success, so seeing Kell getting such a massive, massive fight, is driving them all.
Johnny Nelson

Josh Warrington is the one that could well be the next. Yes, he gets that fantastic support in Leeds - and trust me, that is something you've never experienced before - but the one thing I like about the kid, is they way he is improving.

We know he can't bang but the higher up he goes, the better he performs and we are starting to realise he is better than we probably give him credit for. And there is no way Josh has reached his level, so expect him to show us something different again this weekend.

As for Tyrone Nurse and Tommy Coyle? Wow! That is one we all want to see. Nurse says Coyle got a dodgy decision over him in the amateurs, and when he asked for a tape of the fight, he was only sent footage of one round! So he thinks he has something to prove.

Luke Campbell said he is looking to stop Argenis Mendez this Saturday night

Maybe, like Warrington, Tyrone is not a puncher but he is an excellent boxer, so we're expecting Tommy to draw him into a brawl, because I just can't see him out-boxing him. This is one of those 50-50's that we love and if one of them makes a mistake, it could be their downfall.

I am expecting Luke Campbell to make a massive step us as well. The Rio Olympics aren't far away, and fellow London 2012 gold medallist Anthony Joshua has achieved what he has, but I bet Luke thinks he should be in exactly the same position. 

But Luke isn't, and I can see why he's changed trainers and is now with Jorge Rubio. He wanted one-on-one treatment and that makes sense. And you know the best thing that happened to Luke? Losing to Yvan Mendy. He made changes and above all, it's made him hungrier than ever.

David Allen is confident he will stop Dillian Whyte in the later rounds this Saturday
David Allen is confident he will stop Dillian Whyte in the later rounds this Saturday

And of course, when two heavyweights collide, all of us want to see that one. I like Dillian Whyte but the one thing I will say is don't think for a minute David Allen is a pushover.

I've been hearing good things about the 'White Rhino'. We know he's tough but he's been down to the Institute of Sport in Sheffield, sparring with the top heavyweights he can, to gain technique to go with the strength he has. This could well be a banana skin for Whyte.

But that's what all these fights have in common; it could all go horribly wrong if they make a mistake. Hopefully their Yorkshire pride should stop them doing just that.

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