British welterweight champion Kell Brook will attempt to win a Lonsdale belt outright inside 12 months on May 22 at Bethnal Green’s York Hall. Brook returns to the home of boxing to tackle former title-holder Young Mutley in front of the Sky television cameras. The Sheffield sensation, who is being tipped as a future world champion, has completed just seven full rounds in winning three British title fights by stoppage..
But Mutley is likely to prove his stiffest test yet, with the 32-year-old aiming to recapture the title he once held following victory over Michael Jennings in 2006.
The West Bromwich man has also challenged for the European and Commonwealth welterweight titles, and has a 26-3 (13) record.
“Mutley is definitely a hard fight for me,” said Brook, who will go down as one of the youngest and quickest “outright” winners of a Lonsdale belt in history if he wins on May 22.
“It’s a step in the right direction, especially as I want to be fighting for bigger belts by the end of the year.
“I know I’ve got the potential to become a world champion, but at the moment all I’m concentrating on is my next fight against Mutley.
“When I turned professional, my first ambition was to win a British title, then when I did that I said to myself I wanted a Lonsdale belt outright.
“Next on my agenda will be cleaning up domestically, getting the Commonwealth and European titles, and then moving on to the world scene.”
The 22-year-old has already beaten Barrie Jones (TKO7), Kenny Anderson (TKO1) and Elwell (TKO2) in British title defences.
Overall, he has a 19-0 (12) record and is one of the country’s hottest prospects.
“I’m not surprised that Kell is fighting for a Lonsdale belt outright so soon,” said promoter Frank Warren.
“He is an exceptional talent and one of the best young boxers in the country.
“At the moment, he’s knocking over who ever we put in front of him.”
An action-packed undercard includes the return of British super-featherweight champion Kevin Mitchell, who features in an eight rounder, as well as heavyweight prospect Derek Chisora, Vinny Mitchell and the Walsh Brothers
Tickets, priced at £30 and £50, are available from the Frank Warren Box Office on 01992 550 888 and Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2500.
Solid Undercard Supports Booth vs. Moran April 17
An intriguing mix of undercard bouts supports Frank Maloney Promotion’s main event of Jason Booth vs. Mark Moran for the British super bantamweight title this Friday, April 17 at the Indoor Sports Centre in Leigh, England.
Carl “Dynamite” Dilks, 10-1 (4), is coming off a strong showing during the light heavyweight Prizefighter tournament in February and the Liverpool man is looking to get back on the winning track against crosstown rival Joe Ainscough, 6-2-1 (0), over six scheduled rounds.
Martin Murray, 13-0 (4), of St. Helens, who won the Prizefighter middleweight tournament last November, and Leicester’s Kevin Concepcion, 14-1 (3), swap punches in what could turn out to be the most contentious bout on the bill.
Towering 19 year old light middleweight Jack Arnfield, 9-0 (3), has yet to lose a round in his young pro career but the Blackpool teenager could lose that distinction when he meets cagey Portsmouth southpaw Paul Morby, 5-2 (0), who is coming off a razor-thin points loss to Chas Symonds last June.
Another rangy 19 year old, light welter Tyrone Nurse, 6-0 (0), is on the bill as the Huddersfield boxer is set for a four rounder against durable London southpaw Johnny Greaves, 1-30 (1).
Former British bantamweight champion Martin Power, 19-4 (8), has faced the most difficult schedule of any bantam in the UK over the last three years and the Camden Town based stylist hopes to reverse a four bout losing streak on Friday, when he meets an opponent yet to be determined.
Red-hot flyweight Usman Ahmed, 4-1-1 (0), of Derby puts his four bout win streak on the line when he clashes with Middlesbrough scrapper Francis Croes, 0-2 (0), set for six rounds while lanky Manchester light welter Karl Place, 4-0 (1), steps up against flashy Nottingham man Jamie Spence, 5-2 (2).
Popular Liverpool flyweight Paul Edwards, 3-0 (0), squares off with Bulgarian import Itsko Veselinov, 1-2 (1), while light middle Nick Quigley, 1-0 (0), faces pro debutante William Warburton over four frames.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents the Super Bantamweight Championship of Britain between Mark Moran and Jason Booth along with full undercard support at the Indoor Sports Centre in Leigh, England on Friday, April 17, 2009.
Tickets, priced at £70 for Ringside and £35 General Admission, are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 at 10PM.