Red hot prospect Kell Brook will headline London’s York Hall on Friday 30th January with the second defence of his British Welterweight title. The undefeated Sheffield star will take on Telford’s Mark Lloyd and a win will put him within one fight of owning the most prized belt in boxing outright. Brook stunned the domestic scene in his last fight with an amazing first round stoppage of previous champion Kevin McIntyre in Glasgow last month..
That win made the public and media sit up and take notice of the talented 22-year-old who has returned to the Brendan Ingle academy in Sheffield that has produced Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Herol Graham.
“My win over Kevin McIntyre was fantastic and I’ve had such a great response from everyone who watched it that it has really given my career a lift,”
“I know I can produce performances like that and I wish all my fights were as easy but I know that it’s going to get harder as I move up the ladder,”
“I just want to fight regularly, improve with each fight and win titles,”
“The first one I want is the Lonsdale belt and I’m getting close to achieving that.”
Lloyd, the Central Area Champion, has lost only two of his 14 fights and has never been stopped. This has given Brook the incentive to be the first.
“He looks like a tough lad but with the way I punching at the moment I can’t see him lasting too long in there,”
“It’s great to be back in the gym with Dominic, John and Brendan and we are really getting down to some hard work and they are getting the best out of me,”
“I’ll be in the gym all through the Christmas holidays and it will be tough missing out on that nice dinner but defending my title successfully will be worth it.”
Promoter Frank Warren, who has given the show the title Special K, enthused, “Kell is a special talent; no doubt about it,”
“Next year I really think will be his breakthrough year when he can become a big star of British boxing if he continues with performances like he did against McIntyre,”
Tickets for ‘Special K’, priced at £40 and £60, are available from the Frank Warren Box Office on 01992 550 888.
Further details on the undercard will be announced shortly.
DADDY GAVIN VOWS TO WIN WORLD TITLE
New dad Frankie Gavin has vowed to become a professional world champion – to give the best start possible in life to his little boy.
Gavin became a father on Wednesday for the first time after his partner gave birth to an eight pound three ounce baby, named Frankie Jnr.
And Gavin, who will make his professional debut early in 2009 after signing professional terms with Frank Warren last week, says having a family will give him added incentive to make it to the top.
“I’m so proud,” said Gavin. “Winning a gold medal at the world championship’s last year was a fantastic feeling, but this just blows it out of the water. Even becoming undisputed world champion couldn’t beat it – well, maybe close!”
“Of course I feel more pressure to succeed now because there is more responsibility on my shoulders, but it will just motivate me on to become a world champion.
“Every time I go out for a run or work on the pads, I’ll be thinking of my little lad and going that extra yard to make sure I acheive all the goals I have set for myself.
“Having an extra mouth to feed puts everything into persepective, and I can’t wait for my career to begin so I can start winning the titles that I want to.”
Gavin, 23, has been training with Anthony Farnell in Manchester, and will spend week days in the north west and weekends at his Birmingham home.
He will make his professional debut alongside fellow Olympians James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders in 2009, probably at the end of February.
More details on the show will be announced soon.
McGuire believes the time is right for him.
Stevie McGuire believes Brian Magee is ready for the taking in Saturday’s Vacant British Super-Middleweight Title showdown at the Brentwood Centre.
McGuire (Glenrothes, Scotland) might be the underdog for the fight against Magee (Belfast, Northern Ireland) but he is not lacking confidence after a two-week training camp in Cyprus to get ready for the biggest fight of his life.
Magee will be trying to become British champion at the third attempt after being stopped for the same belt by new WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch in 2006 and then held to a controversial draw with Tony Oakey for the British light-heavyweight belt last year.
But McGuire is confident of improving his 15-fight unbeaten record on the Hennessy Sports show that will be shown live on ITV4 from 8.40pm.
“I’ve never trained like that in my life,” said McGuire. “I was pushed more than I thought I was capable of and it’s the best I’ve ever felt.
“When you are in big fights like this and with this being such a massive fight, I couldn’t cut any corners so I’ve had a nutritionist and a coach for southpaws.
“I have beaten everybody that has been put in front of me, so I think I can do the same on Magee. He was world class but I think I have got him at the right time.”
Also on the same bill, Darren Barker (Barnet, England) defends his Commonwealth Middleweight Title against Jason McKay (Banbridge, Northern Ireland).
Unbeaten Lee Purdy (Colchester), Steve O’Meara (Wembley), Gareth Couch (High Wycombe) and Dwayne Lewis (Canning Town) are also in action.
Purdy faces Peter McDonagh (Bermondsey) while O’Meara takes on Matt Scriven (Nottingham) and Lewis hopes to continue his run of stoppages against Ryan Walls (Slough).
Couch won his last fight a month ago by first round KO and will next face Steve Gethin (Walsall) while Matthew Thirlwall (Bermondsey) makes his comeback versus Manocha Salari (Worksop) after a year out. Tom Glover (Maldon) takes on Leonard Lothian (Northampton) in what promises to be an exciting show.
Tickets are available from the Brentwood Centre on 01277 262616 or via the web www.brentwood-centre.co.uk