Welterweight ace Kell Brook plans on taking a step closer to a world title shot on Friday – and then watching the man he wants to beat 24 hours later. Brook boxes Poland’s Krzysztof Bienias in an eliminator for the WBO World title on Friday night in Liverpool. And the next night holder Manny Pacquiao defends against Joshua Clottey in the States. “After I’ve knocked out Bienias I’ll sit down in front of the television and watch the Pacquiao fight,” said Brook. “If I hadn’t been fighting on Friday I might have gone to the States to be ringside.
“Manny is the man to beat at the moment, and it’s either him or Mayweather who is the pound-for-pound number one..
“Pacquiao’s not unbeatable, he’s has been beaten before, it will take a special fighter to beat him right now.
“Obviously I need more fights before I face him, but if the fight did happen, I’d be excited at the opportunity rather than worried about the result.”
Brook, 23, revealed that he’s got his sights set on another fighter familiar to Pacquiao – Miguel Cotto.
The Puerto Rican, who last year beat Michael Jennings, lost his WBO crown to Pacquiao.
But he remains high in the ratings at number three, three places ahead of Brook.
“Cotto would be a great fight for me,” said Brook. “I’d be out for a bit of revenge for the UK after he beat Jennings last year.
“He’s a great fighter and definitely world class, but he might have had his time.
“I can see a scenario where Pacquiao gives up the title, and may be me and Cotto get it on for the vacant belt. If that’s the case then bring it on.
“I grew up in an era where Ricky Hatton was constantly chasing a big fight against Kotsya Tyszu.
“Watching him made me realise that you have got to be patient and make sure you pick your moment, but I’m growing in confidence with every fight.”
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‘The Pride of Merseyside’ is headlined by Paul Smith’s first defence of his British Super-Middleweight title against former champion Tony Dodson. Chief support is Kell Brook’s challenge for the WBO Intercontinental title and Eliminator for the WBO World Welterweight title against Krzystof Bienias, and Tony Bellew’s challenge for the Vacant Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title against unbeaten Atoli Moore. An action packed undercard includes former WBO World Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Maccarinelli, plus the best in young British talent: Stephen and Liam Smith, Ronnie Heffron, Thomas Costello, Tobias Webb, Joe Selkirk and the pro-debut of John Thain.
Tickets for ‘The Pride of Merseyside’ are priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £200 and are available from:
Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office
0844 8000 400
www.echoarena.com
See Tickets
0871 2200 260
www.seetickets.com
LINDSAY hopes to emerge as Ireland’s top fighter after the shock retirement ofDunne
MARTIN LINDSAY hopes to emerge as Ireland’s top fighter after the shock retirement of Bernard Dunne. The undefeated Belfast boxer aims to show he can become a star in a British featherweight title defence against Jamie Arthur at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre on Friday 19th March. Lindsay, 27, has boxed clever after graduating from University of Ulster with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance and Investments. He is unbeaten in 15 fights and when he tackles Welsh rival Arthur (16-2) he’ll be making the first defence of the title he took from Paul Appleby 11 months ago.
Frank Maloney who promotes the Arthur fight said: “Irish boxing fans make sure their best boxers become A-listers.
“I have family over there and they tell me that a lot of people believe Martin will become the main man, although I know Jamie says he’ll prove them wrong.”
Lindsay has also been compared with Barry McGuigan, a link he plays down.
He explained: “It’s obviously a huge privilege, but I don’t read too much into it.
“I have watched Barry’s videos, but he was before my time. Growing up my boxing hero was Rocky Balboa.
“You can’t get carried away. You have to take one step at a time because in boxing you never know. I am just hoping to mix in top company and win major titles.”
Other stars on the bill include Olympic bronze medallist David Price, British flyweight champion Shinny Bayaar, Paul Edwards, Mark Moran, Karl Place, Rick Goddins and Kieran Farrell.
Tickets for are available for £35and £80 ringside from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com
NEW OPPONENT FOR KENNY ANDERSON
Kenny Anderson’s big fight jinx has struck again after opponent Paul David broke his nose in training.
The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist was due to face David in a British super-middleweight title eliminator at the St Andrew’s Sporting Club in Glasgow’s SAS Radisson hotel next Monday (March 15).
However, that fight is now off after David – who pulled out of a previous scheduled meeting with Anderson at 48 hours’ notice in January – suffered a broken nose sparring with British welterweight champion Kell Brook at their Sheffield gym.
Anderson will still top the bill at the historic 300th St Andrew’s show against London-based Gambian Patrick Mendy. And promoter Tommy Gilmour believes the African is more than capable of pulling off an upset.
Gilmour said: “It’s desperately disappointing for Kenny that David has had to pull out for a second time. It just looks as if that fight will never happen.
“But at least this time I’ve had plenty of notice to arrange another fight for Kenny and I actually think this one could be even more difficult for him.
“Mendy is only 19 years-old, but his manager Jim Evans reckons he has a real star of the future. Jim has been around for a long time and has handled a lot of great fighters, but he says Mendy is the best he has seen at that age since Errol Christie.
“Christie was a big star during the 1980s, winning multiple ABA titles and then becoming a world-class pro, so that’s praise indeed.
“It will undoubtedly be difficult for Kenny, but that’s the way it should be. At this stage in his career there’s no point in putting him into easy fights – if he wants to match his amateur success as a pro then he needs to be challenged and prove he has what it takes to dig deep for victory.”
Former Scottish amateur champion and Commonwealth Games representative Mitch Prince will square up to Glenrothes’ Stuart Green for the vacant Scottish light-welterweight title on the undercard.
South-African born Prince – who changed his name by deed poll last year to Prince of Passion – will be looking to add to the British Masters title he won last year, whilst Green will be aiming to become Scottish champ at the third attempt.
Tickets are going fast for the 300th show, which will feature numerous past champions and guests of honour on the top table and within the audience.