This Saturday sees the Matchroom Sport ‘Rule Britannia’ show from London’s O2, which will be co-headlined by IBF 147lb champion Kell Brook, defending his title against countryman Frankie Gavin.
Ahead of the bout, the former world amateur champion spoke to fighthype.com to say he plans on grabbing his opportunity with both hands, insisting he will get to Brook, who – just a couple of days ago – tweeted he would end Gavin inside 3 rounds.
In the latest of his frequent trips to the Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, CA, ES News reporter Elie Seckbach has done a fan Q & A via twitter with head coach Robert Garcia to address various issues – one of which being the possibility of his fighter Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24ko) facing IBF 147 champion Kell Brook.
Brook fights against countryman Frankie Gavin on May 30th in a voluntary defence of his title following his crushing of mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in February. It is a match that has been questioned by some quarters for it’s validity, although it’s worth remembering that the Dan fight in February was Brooks first since being viciously slashed to the leg with a machete last year on holiday following his title win over Shawn Porter last August and promotional mechanics have certainly had a part to play.
Whether or not he chooses to use his former “funtime” moniker on May 30th, IBF world welterweight challenger Frankie Gavin has insisted he will be all business when he steps between the ropes to face Kell Brook at London’s O2 on Matchroom Sports bumper triple-header-world title card.
It’s no secret Gavin is going to be up against it fighting the slick Wincobank world champion who was excellent last time out returning from a nasty stab wound to the leg to destroy limited mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan.
The former world amateur champion, who has long been criticised for not fulfilling his obvious potential in the paid ranks, has spoken to Sky Sports about the fight – promising he will be the man to upset Brook on the night.
Britain’s biggest promoter Eddie Hearn, who looks after IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, has poured scorn on suggestions that Floyd Mayweather will face his fighter for the final fight of his Showtime contract in September.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Hearn said of the suggestion;
“Kell Brook is not a big enough fight for Floyd Mayweather. Floyd doesn’t want to fight young lions and that includes Brook and Amir Khan.”
IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook has spoken out ahead of the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight to throw his hat in the ring as the “name” the winner should rightly face next.
Brooks assertions to BBC Sport are likely to anger bitter rival Amir Khan, who instead of facing Brook on May 30th, fights light-punching American Chris Algieri on May 29th in a contest that has widely been panned by fans as meaningless.
Instead of Khan, who Brook and promoter Eddie Hearn have been trying to coax into a Stadium fight in the UK, the Sheffield fighter will face former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin, on a PPV card from Wembley. It is a fight that has also attracted it’s fair share of criticism in terms of quality, as despite his amateur credentials, Gavin is a fighter who has never really fulfilled his potential as a pro.
Amir Khan (30-3, 19ko) is once again the focus in sections of the British media this morning, namely The Guardian, although the attention of that focus is once more on the circus surrounding his fight on May 30th, for which, no OFFICIAL opponent has yet been announced.
After the video on his wife’s YouTube channel suggesting it would be American Chris Algieri (20-1, 8ko), who was decked seven times by Manny Paqcuiao the last time he boxed, the ridicule and condemnation from British fans in particular was as such that Khan went into back track mode whilst he waits for the furor to die down.
So the big news that landed in Britain today, to a decidedly mixed reception its worth noting, is the announcement of Kell Brook fighting Frankie Gavin on May 30th at London’s O2 on a card that is to be PPV in the UK on Sky Box Office.
Rumours have abounded for the last couple of days that Birmingham’s Gavin would be the man to face Kell Brook, after he was first linked to an eliminator fight with Timothy Bradley, and that speculation became a reality earlier today.
After impressively defeating Jo Jo Dan in Sheffield in March Kell Brook makes a quick return to the ring on Saturday 30 May to defend his IBF Welterweight title against Frankie Gavin at The O2 in London, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Brook v Gavin headlines a huge night of boxing that includes three world title fights – WBC Lightweight Champion Jorge Linares defends his title against popular Londoner Kevin Mitchell and Welsh stylist Lee Selby challenges Evgeny Gradovich for his IBF Featherweight title. Rising Heavyweight star Anthony Joshua MBE has his toughest encounter yet facing former World Heavyweight title challenger Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson.
Following a week of great significance in the UK welterweight ranks, there appears, as ever, more questions than answers . After a tumultuous period since his high profile win over ‘future superstar’ Shawn Porter last August, Kell Brook returned from his career threatening leg stabbing injury against IBF mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan. Whilst the Canadian based Romanian brought heart and desire to the ring, it was evident early on there was an ocean of class between the pair. Eventually seeing off his challenger in the fourth round following an equal number of knockdowns, Brook didn’t even need to be at his best on this occasion, and seemed to show no signs of any lingering problems with the leg. The post-fight interviews included the inevitable calling out of Amir Khan, a natural fight in everybody’s eyes, unless your named Amir Khan or Al Haymon!
Brook sent out a chilling message to the rest of the welterweight division by flooring Dan four times in front of a rapturous home support to finally consummate the championship he won superbly 7 months ago.
From the moment ‘All of the Lights’ erupted throughout the arena and the beloved champion rose from the bowels of his fortress, he looked up to the sky and you felt the weight of a tumultuous 6 months lift from his shoulders.
This was the Kell Brook from Carson City in August and Jo Jo Dan had absolutely no answer to him.