21.05.07 – Frank Warren says the winner of this Saturday’s big heavyweight clash in the East End will definitely fight for a world title. Matt Skelton defends his Commonwealth heavyweight title against Michael Sprott, a rematch of their 2004 clash in Reading which ended with a win for Skelton. Now the pair meet again at Dockland’s ExCeL Arena – and Warren is adamant he will match whoever emerges victorious with one of the four heavyweight world champions.
“I will guarantee one of these guys will fight for a world title,” said Warren.
“I don’t want to say we are going for a particular world champion, but I believe we are in a strong position because we bring British TV into the equation. We also bring good fighters and big gates.
“We can achieve a world title fight. I am not going to elaborate on who it will be at this moment in time because we are working on all the champions.”
As for the fight itself, Warren says that despite Skelton’s previous win, it will be close.
“They have a lot to go for,” said Warren. “It’s an intriguing fight. Michael Sprott produced an absolutely stunning result last time out when he pole-axed Audley Harrison, while Matt is probably number one in the country right now.
“I think their styles will produce a good fight.”
During a telephone conference call last week, Sprott blamed his 2004 defeat at the hands of Skelton on undisclosed “personal problems” he was suffering at the time.
“I lost the fight,” he said, when asked how much they affected his preparation. “But it is history and I don’t want to go into it.”
Now he not only has the chance of revenge, but the opportunity to perhaps land a rematch with the only man to have comprehensively beaten him since that Skelton defeat, current WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev.
“As soon as I lost to Chagaev (TKO8) I asked him for a rematch,” said Sprott. “He’s surprisingly easy to hit for a southpaw, so I’d fancy my chances against him.
“My confidence is so high after the Harrison win, but this fight against Skelton is the biggest of my career. There is so much on the line for me.”
For his part, Skelton said he was keen to nail down his long-talked about world title chance – but insisted he wasn’t looking beyond Sprott.
“Frank is one of the biggest promoters in the world and I believe he can get me that shot,” said Skelton. “I’m confident it can be done.
“But I can’t take Michael lightly. He showed how dangerous he can be when he knocked Audley Harrison and he is a very live opponent right now.”