Rees-Murray on 6/4; Whitley homecoming, more!

Gavin Rees says his dream of becoming a two-weight World champion will begin with victory against Irishman Andy Murray in their June 4 fight for the vacant European Lightweight title in Cardiff.

The 31 year-old claimed the WBA light-welterweight crown in 2007 and returns to fight in the Welsh capital for the first time in over three years against the unbeaten Belfast prospect in the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.

The Newbridge fighter takes on Cavan’s Murray live on Sky Sports on a great night for British boxing, as Carl “The Cobra” Froch puts his WBA super middleweight title on the line against Glen Johnson in Atlantic City, also live on Sky in the early hours of Sunday June 5.

Rees has been out of action for seven months after winning the British title against John Watson in Newport in November, but after a successful operation on the nose problem that forced him out of his rematch with Watson, Rees is raring to put on a great show in his backyard.

“A big Welsh crowd behind me in Cardiff is going to be a boost, no doubt about it,” said Rees. “It’s always great to box in front of your home fans and although it’s just going to be me and Andy in the ring when the bell goes and I’m 100 per cent confident that my boxing ability will see me through.

“Andy hasn’t really been televised live in Britain because he’s mainly boxed in Ireland so I’ve only really seen him on YouTube. He’s a bit like Watson – a tall, upright boxer who will look to out-jab me but I showed what a great jab I’ve got in that fight and I’ll prove it again with Andy.”

Gavin’s last fight in Cardiff ended in defeat against Andriy Kotelnik in the same venue in his first defence of the WBA title in March 2008 – the only defeat on his record. ‘The Rock’ returned to action with a great win in Prizefighter in west London in December 2009 and further victories against Abdoulaye Soukouna and Sam Amoako preceded is British title win. The break from the ring has given Rees the hunger to go back for main titles – and having to relinquish the British strap could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

“The next step is World level for me, the Commonwealth is there too but I want to fight for a World title and become a two-weight World champion,” said Rees. “I want to win this European title, get World ranked with the bodies and get a shot. The winner of Kevin Mitchell and John Murray’s fight will get a World title fight so maybe I could fight the winner of that.

“Murray has chosen to box Mitchell which is fair enough, but I need to concentrate on Andy who is a talented kid and I’m not looking past that, but the two-weight World champion goal is something I really want.

“It was disappointing having to vacate as after that I really wanted to push on and win it outright. But giving it up has actually worked out well because I’ve now got the European shot and I want to get back to World level as I’m 31 now and I would’ve had to hang around British level for a year. Now I plan on winning this European title and hopefully moving to a World title shot by the end of the year.”

Rees is urging Welsh fight fans to snap up tickets for the Cardiff show, with Cefn Forest’s Robbie Turley challenging Carl Frampton for the Belfast man’s Celtic super bantamweight title and fellow Welsh fighters Jason Cook, Frankie Borg, Jamie Ambler, Chris Ware and Joe Jones also taste action. The main attraction on the night is excited about the future of boxing in Wales and also reacted to the news that Juergen Braehmer had denied Rees’ former gym pal Nathan Cleverley a World title shot.

“Welsh boxing is buzzing at the moment,” said Rees. “I’m fighting for a European title, Bradley Pryce is going for the Inter-Continental strap, Enzo Maccarinelli is coming back into the scene so hopefully we can all get pushing for World titles soon which would be great for Welsh boxing, to go back to the days when Joe (Calzaghe), Enzo and I were all World champions.

“Nathan has been more or less given the belt and he wanted to win it in the ring, but who cares? He’s champion of the World and he won the interim belt so he’s there on merit and Braehmer is making excuses like he has before so you cannot do anything about it. I know that Nathan will go out and prove that he’s a worthy World champion in his next fights – be it on Saturday or somewhere down the line.”

Tickets for the Gavin Rees v Andy Murray European title clash and full undercard are now on sale priced £30 unreserved and £50 ringside from the Motorpoint Arena Box-Office on 02920 224488. For VIP packages contact Sport and Stage on 02920 234 567 www.sportandstage.com

Still Standing – Second Fight In A Month For New Boy Sam

Less than a month after winning his debut professional fight Plumstead’s Sam Standing is primed and ready for more action at Olivia Goodwin Main Events promoted ‘Search & Destroy’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 4th June 2011.

For his debut former Army boxer Sam got to face the highly experienced battler Kristian Laight. Sam received a real baptism of fire, as Kristian took the fight to him big time. Sam, who was forced to fight on the back foot throughout the bout, kept a cool head and picked off the ever advancing Kristian with stiff jabs and double handed counter attacks. Whilst it was without doubt Kristian putting in the majority of the work, it was Sam that enjoyed the bulk of success with quality punches landed and rightly earned his first win, albeit by a very close 39-38 margin.

Following a sparring session, at the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, Sam took a little time to talk about the win and his upcoming bout, “I think it was a very good learning experience, definitely showed me the pro game the hard way I think, rather than having an easy fight in my first contest, Kristian definitely come to win. Yeah so it wa sa really good test.

After watching the DVD I wasn’t entirely happy with myself, I know I can box better than that. I feel I could have let off more shots, he generally held and used his head a lot.

I have no idea who I’ve got on June 4th. Hopefully another hard test, I’m not in it for easy fights, so yeah hopefully another test.

It’s great, straight out of one fight and in the gym training and getting ready for the next one.

No rest for the wicked.”

Sam Standing, against a yet to be named opponent, will feature on the undercard of Olivia Goodwin’s Main Events promoted ‘Search & Destroy’, double title headlined event will take place at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 4th June 2011.

Co-headlining the show are International Masters Lightweight Champion Ryan ‘Mr Attitude’ Barrett, who will be defending his crown for the first time against former Kenyan Super Featherweight Champion Geoffrey ‘The Tiger’ Munika, and former Super Middleweight supremo Toks Owoh, who was originally due to face Tony Conquest for the British Masters Cruiserweight title until Tony damaged his hand in training.

The massive 16 bout card also features Connor’s TKO team mates Beckton based Dutch Cruiserweight sensation Mitchell Balker, who gets a stern test against Welsh hardman Hari Miles, Carshalton Welterweight Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor, who faces former WBF Intercontinental title challenger James Todd, as well as Chelsea based Iraqi Heavyweight Ali Adams, Thamesmead Light Middleweight Nathan Weise and Islington Welterweight Brett O’Callaghan, all against yet to be named opponents.

Amongst the established stars taking part on 4th June are Luton’s Michael ‘The Real Chunky’ Devine, who takes on Trowbridge’s ‘Dirty’ Dan Carr in a four round Lightweight contest, the sensational Woolwich based Albanian Super Middleweight Eder Kurti, Brentwood Middleweight Kris Agyei-Dua and Minster Kent’s popular Light Heavyweight Dan ‘Woody’ Woodgate.

Making their professional debuts at the ‘Search & Destroy’ event are Lightweight Billy Lavelle, who is sure to be tested hard by the experienced Sid Razak, former unbeaten unlicensed fighter Mark ‘PeeWee’ Adams, who will face Louis Byrne. As well as Finchley based Polish Lightweight Marcin Marczak, Middleweights William Cayzer and Diego Burton, who all face yet to be named opponents.

Tickets, priced £35 (Standard seated) and £50 (Ringside) for the Search and Destroy event are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com, in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or from any boxer appearing on the show. For further information call: 07960 850645

Real ‘Homecoming’ for Whitley

HOLYOKE, Mass. (May 19, 2011) – Battle-tested boxer Derrick “Double Impact” Whitley (24-25-3, 11 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time in nearly four years to headline a pro boxing show in his hometown of Holyoke, “Homecoming,” June 25 at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke.

The crafty southpaw takes on former Interim World Boxing Association (“WBA”) light heavyweight champion Richard “The Destroyer” Hall in the eight-round main event at a 190-pound catch-weight on the American Fighting Organization (“AFO”)-promoted “Homecoming” card.

Boxing dates back to 1896 in Holyoke; Rocky Marciano made his pro debut there in 1947, and other Hall of Famers such as Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler, Beau Jack, Sixto Escobar and Fritzie Zivic, along with world champions Tony DeMarco, Paddy DeMarco, Lou Ambers and Lou Salica, fought in the western Massachusetts city where volleyball was invented in 1895. “Iron” Mike Tyson won a Golden Gloves title there in 1984

However, pro boxing hasn’t been held in Holyoke since 2000 – the only time in the past half-century — and 15-year veteran Whitley has never had an opportunity to fight in his hometown until now. “When I was asked if I wanted to fight on this show I thought that they were kidding,” Whitley explained. “I had the itch, though, from training (heavyweight) Tony Grano in the gym. I was able to move around pretty good in the ring and felt that I still had it. I can slip and roll with the punches. I knew that ‘Chip’ Perez and a few other fighters from Holyoke and (nearby) Springfield were going to fight on the June 25th card. I got excited and said, yes. Maybe this will be a one-time fight. I’ll see how I feel afterwards and make a decision then.”

Whitley and his brothers – twin Darren, Brent and Mark – own Whitley Fitness gym in Holyoke. They also train a number of amateur boxers, which is another reason Derrick is making this comeback. “I’ve always been the type that likes proving people wrong who say I can’t do something,” Whitley remarked. “Hey, I’m 43, but I’m in good shape and this will be a good experience. I’ll be able to show my amateur boxers what I’ve been telling them. There’s only so much you can learn in this game and the rest comes down to heart and desire. That’s what I’ve always had.”

The Whitley-Hall match-up features a contrast in styles. Both are lefthanders but Whitley has never been floored, never mind stopped in 52 pro fights and 308 rounds, while Hall has knocked out 27 of his 29 victims.

“I guess I can take a good punch,” the unassuming Whitley commented about never being out or even down. “People have always said the Whitleys are tough. I guess it comes from our mixed martial arts program in which defense is a good offense. I don’t stand and trade, I keep moving. Hall is tall with good speed. He’s fought Roy Jones and some other good fighters. I know he’s been in some good fights but I never hand-picked opponents and always fought anybody in there with me. I’m not going to change now and take an easy opponent like a lot of fighters do today. I’m training hard and it could be anybody’s night.”

In only his 10th pro fight, Whitley fought future world champion Manny Siaca, and then Derrick moved on to eventually tangle with world title challengers Kabary Salem (twice), Randy Griffin and Rico Hoye. Hall, who defeated Anthony Bigeni by second-round knockout in their 1999 Interim WBA light heavyweight world title fight, defeated former world champion Byron Mitchell 3 ½ years ago, in addition to testing world champions Jones, Dariusz Michalczewski (twice) and Glen Johnson.

Super featherweight and fan favorite Joseph “Chip” Perez (5-1, 2 KOs) returns home to fight in the six-round, co-feature against an opponent to be determined. Pro debuting junior welterweight Jair “Da-Bully” Ramos, of Waterbury (CT), and Joel Alarcon (0-2), of New Bedford (MA), meet in a four-round bout.

Also fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts is Holyoke light heavyweight Pedro “Tyson” Gonzales in his pro debut vs. George Perez (0-1-1), Springfield light heavyweight Reinaldo Graceski (1-0) vs. TBA, Springfield welterweights Jose Angel “KO” Ortiz (4-6-1, 1 KO) and Noel Garcia (2-9-1, 1 KO) throw-down, and Springfield cruiserweight Jose Torres and Kovon Graham will also be making their pro debuts. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $40.00, $50.00 and $100.00 and are available at or by calling (413.534.7366) the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke (70 Nick Cosmos Way), as well as going on line at www.afomma.com. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.