Kell Brook says he is in perfect shape ahead of his Sheffield homecoming on June 25 live on Sky Sports against Lovemore N’dou – and a sell-out crowd will see him in action.
Only a limited number of unreserved tickets priced £30 are available for the Hillsborough Leisure Centre show, with ringside and inner-ringside completely sold-out.
The scrap for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) International Welterweight title will be Brook’s first outing in Sheffield since May 2005. The 25 year-old lives just a stone’s throw from the venue that he says will see him become the first man to stop N’dou – the tough Australian-based South African veteran of 62 fights.
“I’m so excited that the Sheffield fans have snapped up tickets to the fight,” said Brook. “I can promise them they won’t be disappointed – it’s a massive night for me and I plan to put on a dazzling show for those lucky enough to be there to watch it.
“I know N’dou will be a real test but that’s what I want – an opponent who is going to take me to places I haven’t been so far. I’m training to go 12 rounds with him but I know that stopping him will send out a real message that I am ready to mix it with the very best and fight for a World title.”
It’s Brook’s first fight since he took just two rounds to dismantle Philip Kotey in Liverpool in December for his 23rd win as a pro. Stopping N’dou would take ‘Special K’ to 17 KO’s in 24 fights, and the Sheffield stylist is ready to follow in the footsteps of Sheffield greats from the Ingle’s Wincobank stable like Johnny Nelson, Prince Naseem Hamed and Junior Witter on the road to World title glory.
“Sheffield’s tradition for great fighters is well known,” said Brook. “The Ingles gym is a special place – not many gyms have produced such a high number of World champions and top boxers and I am determined to join that list.
“There are big, big fights out there for me – but first things first, I need to see of N’dou and do it in style live on Sky Sports. If I do that, then we’ll be looking at something big down the line and I can’t wait.”
The remaining unreserved tickets priced £30 are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.
Pabon vs. Castro on June 24
TUTO ZABALA JR’S ALL STAR BOXING AND RAMIRO ORTIZ’ PUGILISTIC PROMOTIONS WILL BE CO-PROMOTING A DOUBLE MAIN EVENT PRO BOXING SHOW –TELEVISED BY TELEMUNDO- ON FRIDAY, JUNE 24 AT 8PM AT THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY AUDITORIUM, FLAGLER AND SW 29TH AVENUE.
“We are featuring top talent,” said promoter Zabala, “And to introduce boxing in this new venue all tickets will be priced at $25. Since the seats are all numbered it is very important to call as soon as possible for reserve seating. The earlier one reserves a ticket, the better the seat, although every seat at the Miami Dade County Auditorium is a good seat.”
Tickets can be obtained through Ticket Master (1-800-745-3000) or the Auditorium (305-547-5414).
“The show,” stated promoter Ramiro Ortiz, “Is scheduled to have six Cuban fighters as well as top boxers and prospects from Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico.”
MAIN EVENT: 10 ROUNDS: WBO LATINO JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE: JESUS PABON VS JAVIER CASTRO: Pabon (17-1 with 11 KO) is a boxer-puncher from Carolina, Puerto Rico who has won seven in a row, defeating solid fighters, including Bulmaro Solis. Javier Castro (24-4 with 19 KO) is a Mexican slugger from Juarez who has fought in the US, Europe, Mexico and Panama. One of his best wins is a KO victory over well known Efren Hinojosa.
CO-FEATURE MAIN EVENT: CRUISERWEIGHTS 10 ROUNDS: SULLIVAN BARRERA VS FRANK PAINES: Barrera (7-0 with 5 KO) is a top cruiserweight prospects who was an amateur star in his native Cuba. His rival Frank Paines (11-1 with 10 KO) is a hard hitting Colombian whose only loss was on points to former Olympian Yordanis Despaigne. BESIDES THESE TWO MAIN EVENTS, THERE WILL BE AN EXCITING UNDERCARD FEATURING UNDEFEATED CUBAN HAIRON SOCARRAS.
SIX ROUND MIDDLEWEIGHT WAR: CARLOS LINARES VS CHRISTOPHER DE LA PAZ. One of the hottest prelim fights of the year promises to be the clash between Venezuelan slugger Carlos Linares (8-1 with 7 KO) as he faces Cuban De la Paz (4-1 with 2 KO).
Other fighters to be featured: former Florida Golden Gloves champion Hairon Socarras (2-0 with 2 KO) already hailed as a sensational prospect, clever Puerto Rican boxer Xavier Burgos (7-2 with 2 KO), former Cuban amateur stars Yoandris Salinas, Umberto Savigne and Inocente Fizz and undefeated Puerto Rican banger Felix Mercedes (11-0 with 9 KO).
GB Youth Amateur Boxing Championships provide a glimpse of the future
The UK’s top Youth boxing talent from Scotland, England and Wales descended on Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell on Friday and Saturday for the GB Youth Championships 2011. The young boxers who took to the ring at Ravenscraig, will likely be competing for places in their respective Commonwealth Games squads for Glasgow 2014. Much was expected of the young athletes … and they did not disappoint. The Championships produced two days of top class boxing and a host of new GB Champions.
Over 50 youth boxers aged 17 and 18 years competed over the two days, with Friday featuring the semi finals followed by the finals on Saturday. All three countries were well represented with a host of national champions on display, all hoping to go one better and take the GB Crown in their weight category.
England led the way on Friday with 10 of their 12 boxers represented in the semi finals progressing; an impressive display. England are arguably a few years ahead in terms of development, however it is clear both Scotland and Wales are making great strides, with the Scots taking 7 boxers through to Saturday’s finals and Wales a further 4 over the two age categories.
And so to the Championship finals. After a fantastic day’s boxing on Friday, anticipation was building ahead of the contests. England again dominated the card with 14 boxers, followed closely by 11 from Scotland and 7 from Wales. England and Wales locked horns in the first 1994 age category bout of the day, with Jack Bateson of England taking on Wales’ Ieaun Regan. Young Bateson signalled England’s statement of intent with a comprehensive 5-0 points victory over the Welshman. The English challenge gained further momentum in the shape of fly-weight Jack Daniel who again put Wales to the sword, overcoming Joshua John.
Scotland joined proceedings in the third bout of the day with Robbie McKechnie up against England’s Tom Ward. With the first home nation boxer entering the ring, the atmosphere stepped up a gear as the largely Scottish crowd looked to give the young Scot their backing. The contest which was to follow produced one of the most entertaining and explosive bouts of the day with England’s Ward narrowly taking the Gold medal by a single point 11-10. A great contest which young McKechnie, one of Scotland’s brightest young talents; will take a lot of positives from.
England were looking strong and threatening to dominate the finals completely after racking up a fourth straight Gold with Jack Slater soundly beating Scotland’s Ahsan Afzal 12-3. The trend was halted in the next bout however as Scotland’s Mark Parvin squared up to England’s Macaulay McGowan at 64kg. After a good technical and closely fought contest, Parvin scored a 3-1 victory to claim Scotland’s first Gold of the day.
England bounced back in the next bout as they overcame the Welsh once again. George Crotty this time taking the title against Jamie Lee in the 1994 69kg category. This gave the English squad an impressive 5 Golds from the opening 6 contests and it was clear that Scotland and Wales would have to up their game to halt them.
Scotland did exactly that in the next contest as Grant Quigley took on England’s Patrick Miller. In another explosive contest, young powerhouse Quigley put on a superb display to claim Scotland’s second Gold medal 12-3.
It was now Wales’ turn to up the ante and get their hands on a Gold. They were given the chance with Alex Hughes battling it out for the Light Heavy-Weight 1994 title against English Champion Luke Crowcroft. In a tight contest, the Welsh finally claimed a place at the top of the winner’s podium with Hughes taking the title 3-2.
With one contest remaining in the 1994 age group England had the chance to extract some revenge for Hughes’ victory, as Heavy-Weight Charlie Eastwood took on his Welsh title rival Kody Davies. In what was a gripping contest with both boxers landing some impressive shots, it was Eastwood who prevailed, winning the contest 8-5 and rounding off a great start to the finals for the English team, taking 6 gold medals from this age a category, Scotland picking up 2 and Wales also collecting a Gold.
Next up was the turn of the 1993 age group boxers, with Scotland’s Daniel McLaughlin taking on England’s Samson Sykes. Despite McLaughlin’s best efforts to stay with the young Englishman, experience told, as the referee was forced to stop the contest in the first round. Young English Champion Sykes proving too much for the Scot.
England were looking to continue in the 1993 category as they had ended the 1994, and were looking good value for money after Sykes win. The trend continued with the stylish Qais Ashfaq showing why he is currently part of the GB Development squad, as he landed a string of blows to over-come Scotland’s Ryan Collins 16-5.
It was from here however that the tables turned slightly, with both Scotland and Wales finishing the day stronger.
In an all Scottish final, Charles Flynn of Newarthill ABC took on Doon Valley ABC’s Martin McCord. A typically all action bout followed, as was to be expected from two local rivals, with Flynn landing more of the telling punches and collecting Scotland’s third Gold of the day 14-7.
England came back briefly in the next contest, which could have went either way. In a titanic battle with both boxers giving their all, England’s Darren Tetley was given the decision 17-9 against Scotland’s Rhys Pagan, despite the referee giving Tetley a standing count in the third round.
Although Pagan lost, his performance had a positive impact on his compatriots with Scotland going on to collect Gold in the next two bouts. First up, Kieran Smith was involved in a close contest with Wale’s Pierre Lima. Smith and Lima had met previously with the Scot winning the contest. This time round he made it difficult for himself however as he struggled to keep his opponent at distance, the judges taking the decision that Smith did enough to merit victory by a single point. Although the score card showed 5-2 this was the result of a warning for Lima which saw him lose 2 points.
Smith’s win was followed by Scotland’s last Gold of the day after Mark Docherty pulled off a great victory in another close bout against England’s Archie Hutchins – a win all the more impressive when you consider the fact that Docherty actually moved up a weight from 69kg to 75kg prior to the event. With a haul of 5 Gold medals, this was Scotland’s best performance at a GB Youth Championship since the formation of Amateur Boxing Scotland in 2000.
The final bout of the Championships saw Wales collect a second Gold medal as Calum Evans proved too strong for his English opponent Joshua Buatsi. A result which added some balance to the final medal tally.
Head Coaches from Scotland, England and Wales Mike Keane, Mick Gannon and Colin Jones all agreed that the standard of boxing from all nations was very high. Mike Keane added “All the teams conducted themselves in a professional manner and were a credit to their country. The talent on show this weekend bodes well for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games”.
Overall the GB Youth Championships provided some excellent entertainment and impressive displays with everyone present gaining a glimpse into the future of UK Amateur boxing. England are clearly ahead of associations in Scotland and Wales, however given that both ABS (Amateur Boxing Scotland) and WABA (Welsh Amateur Boxing Scotland) are both working tirelessly to development of the sport, come Glasgow 2014, England may not get it all their own way.
GB Youth Championships 2011
Medal Table
Nation
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
England
9
5
2
16
Scotland
5
6
13
24
Wales
2
5
6
13