Kell Brook is closing in on a World title shot after becoming the first man to stop tough Pole Rafal Jackiewicz in the sixth round of their World title eliminator clash on Saturday night at the Ponds Forge International Arena in Sheffield.
The unbeaten Welterweight star promised an X-Factor performance and delivered exactly that – a punch-perfect display that sent a message out that the 25 year-old is ready to announce himself on the big stage.
Brook seized the initiative from the opening bell and what followed was a display of the Sheffield star’s full repertoire, landing his jab at will from the off then targeting the Pole’s body as he looked to cover up against the speedy barrage.
The writing was on the wall in the fifth round as Brook stepped on the gas as Jackiewicz struggled with Brook’s pace, accuracy and consistency. The halfway point in the fight proved to be the end of the road for Jackiewicz in front of the sold-out Ponds Forge International Arena when referee Howard Foster called an end to the action after Brook rained down the punches on the 34 year-old with nothing coming back.
“I’m the first to stop him so it shows you what level I am at,” said Brook, who also defended his WBA Inter-Continental title for the first time on the night. “His face started to mark-up with the jab early and I was just enjoying myself out there really, soaking it all up.
“I need to keep taking steps forward one at a time. When I get in there I make good fighters look ordinary. Jackiewicz has beaten Jan Zaveck, he’s held the European title and mixed with big names and on Saturday he didn’t hit me, I didn’t move out of second gear and could’ve finish it whenever I wanted to.
“I’m in that elite league now – I’m headlining sold-out hometown shows and I’ve got the sponsorship deals rolling in, only good things can happen from now on.
“I want Amir Khan but he doesn’t want me, it’s just a matter of time though. I keep beating whoever Eddie Hearn puts in front of me and the public want it, they’ll demand it. When I get that World title belt it’ll be a massive fight.”
Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn said that the next move for Brook could be an outing on the undercard of stablemate Carl Froch’s Super-Middleweight unification fight and Super Six final against Andre Ward on December 17 in Atlantic City.
“The people that matter in America are very impressed with Kell,” said Hearn. “Kell is so special that whilst he doesn’t want to take his time, while you’ve got something this good you don’t mess it up. You make sure you do the right things, at the right time and you make the correct decision for Kell. After that performance on Saturday, I don’t think there are many Welterweights out there that Kell can’t live with right now.
“He was a little bit of a rabbit in the headlights in the sell-out hometown show against tough World class opponent Lovemore N’dou live on Sky, it was a big step for him but since then he’s grown into a superstar and he’s definitely come of age now.
“If we can get a fight in Atlantic City on December 17 it would just be a “welcome to America” fight for Kell, but for the next big step early in 2012, which I’d like to be in the Sheffield Arena, it needs to be a big fight, and by that I mean a World title fight or a Paul Malignaggi, a Mike Jones or a Devon Alexander.”
Chief support was provided by Alfreton’s Dale Miles who continues to grow his career, reaching 12 wins from 12 fights with his ninth stoppage win over stubborn Romanian Mihaita Mutu. Miles inflicted only the second loss inside the distance for Mutu, with his busy work in the opening rounds rewarded in the sixth, upping the tempo further after getting cut in the fifth round and a cracking left finished the job.
Kenny Anderson had Paul Morby on the canvas in the second round of their clash and the heavy-handed Scotsman sent out a statement of intent by stopping the Portsmouth man who has recently caused problems for Tony Jeffries and Rocky Fielding in the third.
Brook’s gym pals Kid Galahad and Adnan Amar both enjoyed victories over James Ancliff and Kevin McCauley, Tyrone Nurse claimed a fifth round stoppage over Istvan Kiss, while one of Matchroom Sport’s latest signings Tommy Ghent made it two wins in two as Nicky Coret failed to come out for the third round having been dropped by the Dudley prospect in the second round.
IT’S CHOI STORY 2 FOR PRIZEFIGHTER FEATHERWEIGHTS!
Mongolian Warrior gets second crack at tournament on October 29
The Mongolian Warrior Choi Tseveenpurev hopes it will be second time lucky when he takes part in Prizefighter for the second time as the Featherweights hit York Hall, Bethnal Green on October 29, live on Sky Sports.
The 40 year-old lost a thrilling semi-final to Derry Mathews in the Super-Featherweights night at York Hall last November, and he will be in great shape for the 22nd edition of the tournament after recording his 32nd career victory – and 22nd by knockout – against Janis Puksins on Friday (October 7) in the second round at the east London home of boxing.
“I’m the Mongolian Warrior Choi,” said the fans’ favourite. “Matchroom and Spencer Fearon my manger know I’m a throwback fighter not from the days of Rocky Marciano or Sugar Ray Robinson but from the days of Genghis Khan when men were men I’m here to knock them all out. Hard Knocks for life.”
Choi is joined in the line-up by Irish Super-Featherweight champion Mickey Coveney, unbeaten pair Lee Glover (6-0 from Tipton) and Troy James (9-0-1 from Coventry), 20 year-old Londoner George Jupp and Liverpool’s Lee Jennings.
The final two places in the line-up will be announced soon and the evening will commence with the third Prizefighter Prospect fight featuring north Londoner Andreas Evangelou in his third professional fight, with two wins under his belt to date.
The 21st edition of Prizefighter takes place on Wednesday as the Super-Flyweights take over the Liverpool Olympia live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 and also in 3D, with British champion Lee Haskins, Merseysider and English champion Craig Lyon, former Commonwealth champ Don Broadhurst, unbeaten Leeds prospect Terry Broadbent, Liverpool pair Mike Robinson and Ryan Farrag, Northampton’s Nathan Reeve and internet sensation Usman Ahmed. Liverpool’s Zak Smith kicks off the night as the second ever Prizefighter Prospect.
Tickets for Prizefighter Featherweights at York Hall, Bethnal Green in east London on October 29 are available from Matchroom Sport priced £35 unreserved, £60 ringside and £100 VIP – to buy call Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.
Johnny Eames: Williams-Norton, The Right Fight At The Right Time
It’s been a cracking year for British boxing fans – there have been so many sensational domestic battles, Mitchell-Murray, Fury-Chisora, McDonnell-Hall and Walsh-Appleby being amongst the very best to date – and it’s just about to get even better, as on the 21st of this month Streatham’s hugely popular, all action, Cruiserweight prospect Leon ‘Solid’ Williams challenges savvy former WBU World and current British and Commonwealth Champ Rob Norton for his British crown at York Hall in Bethnal Green.
It’s the contrast in styles – Norton, often described as a cagey counter-punching fox, is an awkward southpaw, whilst Williams is a fast moving, forward coming, power puncher, right out of the the ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson mould – that makes this fight such a mouth watering, and potential ‘Fight of the Year’, prospect.
Williams, the current Southern Area Cruiserweight Champ, is renowned for his raw talent and a fully loaded arsenal of bone breaking punches. However, whilst clearly always a talented and tough fighter, it wasn’t until he linked up with TRAD TKO supremo Johnny Eames that this rough diamond was polished into a fully rounded boxer with a newly acquired knock out reputation – just two stoppages in eight bouts previously but two sensational knockout finishes out of three starts since.
On paper Williams may seem to be the underdog – having won just eight of his eleven outings, during which he only defended his Southern Area title just the once. Whilst Norton, whose record stands at 32 (19 KO)-4-2, has contested nine championship title fights including two at World level – but It’s this brutal power, plus the much improved ring craft the venerable Mr. Eames has worked so hard on, that will test Norton to the hilt.
Having guided various of his charges to British, Commonwealth and World titles over the years, Johnny Eames knows what it takes to achieve Championship success. As such it comes as no surprise that when he recently spoke of the upcoming British title clash he appears confident that Williams will bring the Lonsdale belt home to South London. “First I want to thank Francis and George Warren, as well as Frank Warren and Dean Powell, for making this fight possible.
At first I was in the belief that a British title fight might be a little too soon for us, but now I think this is a very good fight for us to take.
The improvement in Leon is immense since he’s been with us, so this could well be the right fight at the right time, and is an opportunity we couldn’t turn away.
Also being on the new BoxNation TV channel, live, at this stage is a good opportunity for Leon and I’m sure that he will grab it with both hands.”
Leon ‘Solid’ Williams versus Rob Norton for the British Cruiserweight Championship headlines the Francis and George Warren’s Queensberry Promotions event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456), on Friday the 21st October 2011.
Heading up the support card for this battle of the big boys will pitch Cromer, Norfolk’s Ryan Walsh against Melsham, Wiltshire’s Liam Richards for the vacant English Super Bantamweight title.
The stacked undercard also features the UK debut of unbeaten Irishman Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne, Penge’s unbeaten Welterweight Bradley Skeet, Stanford-le-Hope’s hugely popular Stetson wearing John Wayne Hibbert, Croydon Light Welter Danny Davis and the debut of Peckham Welterweight John Garton, all against yet to be named opponents.
Tickets, priced £40 (standard seated) and £60 (ringside) for Williams vs. Norton are available now, either direct from Leon Williams – tickets are also be available at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA and on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com
Alexander Petkovic vs. Cisse Salif for the WBA international heavyweight championship this Friday (Oct. 14th) live on Eurosport
Local hero Alexander Petkovic (40-4-4) will take on Cisse Salif (24-17-2) for the vacant WBA international heavyweight championship this Friday (Oct. 14th) in Obertraubling / Regensburg, Germany. Eurosport will broadcast the show promoted by ARENA Sports-Promotion in association with Petkos Boxpromotion live starting at 21:00h / 9pm CET.
Petkovic, a former cruiserweight contender who lost a mid-decision to world champion Johnny Nelson back in November 2003, is unbeaten as a heavyweight since moving up in 2007. In October 2010 he got a controversial draw against „German Oak“ Timo Hoffmann in a fight fort he WBO European heavyweight championship. Many fans and experts thought Petkovic did enough to win that fight. Originally Petkovic was scheduled to face unbeaten John Napari from Ghana for the WBF intercontinental and PABA championship. But Napari didn’t get his visa in time forcing Petkovic to take the fight against Salif.
„It’s not easy to adjust to a new opponent on short notice but I am well prepared for the fight“, states Petkovic. „Of course, I know Cisse. He’s a strong fighter with a lot of experience. But so am I. I’m expecting a good and intense fight and, of course, I’m expecting to win.“
40-year-old veteran Salif who has been in the ring with the likes of David Tua, former world champion Henry Akinwande and former world title challenger Odlanier Solis is coming off a surprising win over Friday Ahunanya in May in California.
„Nobody expected me to win against Ahunanya and nobody expects me to win in Germany now“, says Salif. „I like being the underdog. The pressure is on Petkovic. He’s a decent fighter but I will go home with the belt.“
In the co-feature of the night German heavyweight contenders Konstantin Airich and Varol Vekiloglu fight for the vacant IBF intercontinental championship.