British Boxing News
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.
For anybody still doubting the method in the supposed “madness” of Carl Frampton turning down a very public £1.5 million to fight Scott Quigg in Manchester later this year, the Tiger Bay fighters exclusive column for “The Belfast Newsletter” should go some way to making things clearer.
Calling the antics by Quigg and Matchroom on Tuesday “The biggest stunt I’ve seen since Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson at the Superbowl” Frampton went on to detail his dissatisfaction at not just the very public manner in which his rivals conducted their business, but the actual offer itself.
If the 6-year Mayweather v Pacquiao saga/fiasco taught us anything, it’s that it requires co-operative and realistic negotiation to ensure the biggest fights out there are made.
So when pictures emerged of WBA super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg brandishing a £1.5m cheque composed by promoter Eddie Hearn the eyebrow has to be raised.
James DeGale, who for this writer is Britain’s best and most exciting 168lb fighter, has today been talking to Sky Sports in the UK ahead of his attempt at shattering Andre Dirrell’s “American dream” when the two men meet for the vacant IBF world title on May 23rd in Boston, Mass.
DeGale will travel Stateside after purse bids for the fight were won by Warriors Boxing in an extraordinary $3 million show of financial strength by the outfit who are closely affiliated with influential manager Al Haymon.
The promotional war that has broken out with regards to putting arguably the biggest British fight outside of Kell Brook and Amir Khan together shows no sign of abating.
Yesterday saw Matchroom sport boss Eddie Hearn present a 1.5 million pound cheque and public offer, ostensibly for Carl Frampton, to sign on the dotted line as it were and face Scott Quigg, thus ramping up the intense debate that is stirring on social media regarding the fight and exactly what is hindering it actually happening.
It appears that British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte (14-0,11 Ko’s) has experienced yet more heartache in his quest to get relevant fights, announcing that his proposed appearance on 24th April in Corby, Northants, UK is in jeopardy after experienced Russian contender Dennis Bakhtov (39-10,26ko) pulled out of fighting him.
Whyte announced on his twitter, above a picture of Bakhtov: “I was meant to fight this guy on the 24th in Corby. He said yes to the fight, then bottled it! #jokers..”
The Bury star joined promoter Eddie Hearn in Matchroom Sport’s offices in Brentwood to confirm the offer live on Sky Sports News, which was sent to Frampton’s team earlier in the day.
Unbeaten World champions Quigg (WBA) and Frampton (IBF) have long been on a collision course, and after issuing the offer to the Belfast man, Quigg is hoping that they can clash in a summer blockbuster.
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!
Joshua was back in action after five months out of the ring with a stress fracture of the back, and opposing him was the ebullient Gavern, fighting for the 50th time in the paid ranks.
Gavern started well as Joshua eased his way back into the swing of things, but the American was floored twice in the second round as Joshua found his groove – but Gavern raised his hand in defiance as he heard the bell and headed back to his corner.