27.04.07 – Big punching Gavin Rees says he’ll follow in the footsteps of stablemate Joe Calzaghe – and a string of other Welsh legends – and bring a world title home next month. The undefeated one-man war machine has been handed a crack at WBA World Light-Welterweight champion Souleymane M’Baye at the ExCeL London on May 26.
And he’ll be getting plenty of advice from the record-breaking WBO World Super-Middleweight champion, plus dynamite punching WBO Cruiserweight king Enzo Maccarinelli, with whom he shares a stable with in Newbridge, South Wales.
They are just two on an illustrious list of Welsh world champions, and Rees is hoping to join them and the likes of greats Freddie Welsh, Howard Winstone and Jimmy Wilde by scalping his classy French opponent.
“There’s a proud tradition of world champions coming from Wales and I plan to join the greats,” said 26-year-old Rees, whose record reads 26-0 with 13 knockouts.
“When you are growing up in and around boxing down here, you hear all the stories of the old fighters, and they have been an inspiration to me as I’ve made my way as a professional,”
“I’ve also had the privilege of training with Joe Calzaghe ever since I’ve been a pro, as well as Big Macc in the last few months, and they’ve taught me loads,”
“I’ve been waiting for this chance for a few years now, and I’m going to take it. M’Baye is an excellent champion but he’ll have his hands full with me,”
“I’m going to take the fight to him and follow Joe and Enzo into the record books. The title is coming to Wales and there’s nothing M’Baye can do about it.”
Trainer Enzo Calzaghe added: “Gav is a quality fighter and there might be a surprise in store for M’Baye next month,”
“He’s in great shape because he fought in Cardiff earlier this month, and he’s got so much talent.”
Matt Skelton’s Commonwealth heavyweight title defence against Michael Sprott tops the bill in London, while Kevin Mitchell puts his Commonwealth super-featherweight crown on the line.
Tickets for Revenge, priced at £40 £50 £75 £100 £150 & £200, are available from:
SEE TICKETS: 0870 060 3794 www.seetickets.com
TICKETMASTER: 0870 602 1122 www.ticketmaster.co.uk
ExCeL LONDON: www.excel-london.co.uk