Kell Brook’s World title eliminator with Rafal Jackiewicz at the Ponds Forge International Arena in Sheffield on Saturday night is a complete sell-out.
The unbeaten Welterweight star has now sold out back-to-back hometown shows as he continues his march to a World title shot, but fight fans without a ticket can catch the action live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 from 8.30pm.
Brook recently signed a sponsorship deal with adidas and as his stock continues to rise around the World, so does the pressure on him to perform against the rugged Pole, ranked number five with the IBF and seven with The Ring magazine. Former undefeated European champ Jackiewicz, 34, fought Jan Zaveck for the IBF World title last September and has never been stopped in 48 fights – so the pressure is on for the 25 year-old to perform and he says he’ll thrive on that on Saturday.
“I’m getting a lot of attention and I love it – I know now that I have to win and I have to look good and I think Jackiewicz is perfect for me,” said Brook. “The World champions at my weight are making excuses or asking for too much money. After I do a job on this guy I will get my chance and the World title fight I deserve. I want to fight for the World title after this fight and I’m happy to fight any of the World titles away from home if I have to.
“Fighting in Sheffield again in front of another sell-out is fantastic and we’re moving up levels all the time – better fights in bigger venues,” said Brook. “Lovemore N’dou was the toughest opponent of my career – I’m so glad it went 12 rounds and I’m pleased to have put what I thought was a good performance in for the crowd and Sky – that’s what it’s all about.
“The N’dou fight was unbelievable. I hadn’t boxed in Sheffield since I was 18 and the atmosphere was so special. To come out and face a great name like N’dou was a great experience and now we’re going even bigger in Ponds Forge against Jackiewicz, it’s going to be even more intense and I’m looking to make a statement and be the first to stop him.”
NONITO DONAIRE COMES OUT SWINGING FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA (October 4, 2011) World Bantamweight Champion and unanimous Top 5 Pound For Pound entrant, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has partnered with The Keep A Breast Foundation to raise breast cancer awareness as part of his October 22nd boxing showdown with Omar “El Huracan” Narvaez at Madison Square Garden, in New York City.
Donaire will adorn his typically stylish trunks and warm-up with pink highlights to heighten awareness of The Keep A Breast Foundation’s year round work and help call attention to breast cancer awareness during October, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“It means a great deal to me to assist in this most worthy cause and to help raise awareness for young women about the importance of this issue. My wife Rachel and I discussed this and my upcoming fight is the perfect time to help The Keep A Breast Foundation,” said Donaire from his training camp in San Carlos, California.
‘With the fight being on HBO this allows a larger scope of viewers to be aware of this most important cause. Going forward I want to assist different foundations across the country and continue to give back through my boxing career. It feels great to help out and give back through my participation.”
Said Kimmy McAtee, spokesperson for The Keep A Breast Foundation; “We are so excited to partner with Nonito for his fight. When Nonito comes out sporting a pink themed outfit it will make people think about not just the fight, but also the fight to eradicate breast cancer! It’s so important to educate everyone about breast cancer. Men get breast cancer too, not to mention many find lumps in their partners breasts!”
“We are looking to educate everyone that they can make decisions in life that can effect themselves, their families, and the population as a whole. With only 5-10% of breast cancer having a hereditary link KAB feels there is a growing need for breast cancer awareness programs to educate all people on the scientific evidence between breast cancer and environmental exposures. We’re so thrilled for this opportunity to show a new audience this important information.”
More information about The Keep A Breast Foundation can be viewed on their website www.keep-a-breast.org.
For more information on Nonito Donaire follow him on Twitter @filipinoflash, on Facebook at “Nonito Donaire Jr.” or visit his website at www.FilipinoFlash.com.
Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., is a consensus top-five pound for pound fighter. He enters this fight riding a nine-year, 25-bout winning streak, which includes an IBF/IBO flyweight title knockout victory of defending champion Vic Darchinyan, and a fourth-round blasting of former WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko last December.
However, Donaire’s most impressive victory occurred in his last fight, on February 19, when he knocked out defending WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel in the second round, ending Montiel’s 25-bout winning streak while also claiming his third world title in as many weight divisions. Ten of Donaire’s last 11 victories have come by way of knockout.
Narvaez (35-0-2, 23 KOs), of Cordoba, Argentina, a two-time Olympian; will be making his U.S. debut. The undefeated southpaw captured his first world title – the WBO flyweight championship – in his 12th professional fight, knocking down interim champion Adonis Rivas in the seventh round en route to a dominant unanimous decision in 2002. Narvaez successfully defended his title 16 times during his seven-year reign before vacating it in early 2010 to campaign at a heavier weight class.
He won the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title in May 2010, pitching a near shutout to win a unanimous decision over Everth Briceno. Narvaez, one of South America’s most popular fighters, has successfully defended his new title three times, all by unanimous decision, against opponents who had a combined record of 54-2 when he fought them.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Madison Square Garden, the Donaire-Narvaez world title tilt will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)
Remaining tickets to Donaire vs. Narvaez, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, including applicable service charges, can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office, online at www.thegarden.com, and all Ticketmaster outlets (additional fee for Ticketmaster orders.)
Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with the first bell at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Top coach Clough joins Indian boxing team Mumbai Fighters
Lausanne, Switzerland, 5 October 2011 – After coaching various world champions and producing Olympic winners, reputed boxing coach Joe Clough has now taken up the new challenge of helping Indian boxers through Indian boxing team Mumbai Fighters. The 69-year old American has the distinction of coaching world champs like Sugar Ray, Evander Holyfield, Johnny Bumphus, Rocky Lockridge and Leo Randolph among others in his coaching career spanning over 35 years.
He also was the head coach of Muhammad Ali Boxing Club in Santa Monica during his time in the US. For close to 20 years now, Clough has been coaching Asian teams which includes stint with national teams of Thailand, Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia, Malaysia to name a few.
As the Technical Director of Pro boxing, Indian boxing team Mumbai Fighters, Clough will be overlooking the coaching methods imparted to the boxers. For his age and experience, Clough intends to leave behind some seeds for future Olympic champions to grow in India.
Clough is looking forward to his first-ever assignment in India. “Mumbai Fighters will be a team and not a collection of individual boxers from India and abroad. All the pugilists who are a part of this squad will definitely take back something better, become better boxers and also better human beings,” Clough explained. Describing his role, Clough said: For flowers to blossom, you need to put the right amount of water, and that’s what I will be doing with the boxers in my team.”
Team principal Udit Sheth was excited to have Clough on board. He said, “Joe’s tremendous global experience will be extremely beneficial for us as he has had the distinction of working with the likes of Ali and Holyfield to name a few. Joe is not only a coach, but also a teacher and will be bringing some new ideas and knowledge to complement our existing techniques. We are confident that our coaching staff will bring the desired results for the Mumbai Fighters – India Boxing at the WSB championships. Go Fighters!”