Unbeaten British Welterweight star Kell Brook will make his debut on American soil on December 17 as part of the undercard of Carl Froch’s Super Six final against Andre Ward at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Brook took his unbeaten record to 25 fights two weeks ago with a punch-perfect sixth round stoppage of tough Pole Rafal Jackiewicz in front of a sold-out hometown crowd at the Ponds Forge International Arena in Sheffield.
Now the 25 year-old will take his considerable talent to the East Coast of America to showcase his talents ahead of what promises to be a year of stellar fights for ‘The Special One’ in 2012.
“It’s the best Christmas present I could have,” said Brook. “I’ve been dreaming of fighting on a massive show in America and I plan to put on a great performance. The pressure will be on to dazzle the American fans and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
“This is a big night in the career of Kell Brook,” said Hearn. “He has taken steps into the World Class level recently and on December 17 it will be another important milestone as we unleash him on the American public. Television executives in the States are delighted that they will get to see Kell in the flesh and he knows he needs to deliver something special to announce himself on the biggest stage.
“This will be the final test for Kell before a major marquee fight in the spring,” added Hearn, who said that the opponent for Brook’s US bow will be named soon.
Ticket details: Official Ticket, hotel and flight packages for Froch vs. Ward plus Brook’s American debut are available through Winged Boots by calling 0808 1684599.
Fans looking for tickets only should contact Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900, with tickets priced between $50-$300.
Three-time World Champion Mary Spencer defeats Team USA’s Franchon Crews at the 2011 Pan American Games
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Middleweight Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) fell to three-time World Champion Mary Spencer of Canada on Sunday night at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. The two faced off in the second to last bout of the evening at the Guadalajara Expo Arena in middleweight quarterfinal competition.
Spencer, known for her strong technique and clean punches, grabbed the early lead and didn’t let it go in their four-round contest. The opening two rounds were scored identically with Spencer holding a 4-2 lead after the first and an 8-4 edge halfway through the contest. Crews stayed aggressive through the final two rounds in the hopes of denting Spencer’s lead but she couldn’t accomplish her goal. Spencer enjoyed a 10-5 advantage with one round remaining and went on to win a 17-7 final decision to eliminate Crews, the sole remaining U.S. female boxer, from the 2011 Pan American Games.
“I didn’t do what I wanted to do, but I did my best. I didn’t put it all together like I trained to do,” Crews said. “I wanted to use my jab and set everything up, but I got caught up in her fight. Once I found out I was down, I was just going to go for it, just give all I had. She basically moved around and I had to hunt her, but I tried.”
Despite the loss, the always entertaining Crews has enjoyed her first Pan American Games and appreciates her place in the history of women’s boxing. “I’m just going to learn from this experience. Mexico is awesome, the people are awesome and I made history. I’m going to do my best to go to London and open doors for other little girls that want to do the same thing I’m doing,” she said. “When I first started boxing, I never thought I would be here making history. I’m really happy to have had this opportunity. I’m overwhelmed with emotion.”
Four American boxers will take the ring for the first time on Monday with flyweight John Franklin (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and super heavyweight Danny Kelly (Washington DC) opening the day’s action for Team USA in the afternoon session. Franklin will face Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez while Kelly battles Colombia’s Isaias Mena.
Lightweight Toka Kahn Clary (Providence, R.I.) and light heavyweight Jeffery Spencer (Fountain Colo.) will both compete in the evening session as Kahn Clary challenges Brazil’s Robson Conceicao and Spencer battles newly crowned World Champion Julio la Cruz of Cuba.
Terra is showing a live stream of the full duration of the Pan American Games and fans can watch live action at http://deportesus.terra.com/road-to-2012/2011-pan-american-guadalajara/live/.
For a full schedule and live results from the boxing competition at the 2011 Pan American Games, go to: http://info.guadalajara2011.org.mx/ENG/ZZ/ZZS103A_BX@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ENG.htm.
U.S. Results
165 lbs/female: Mary Spencer, CAN, dec. Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md./USA, 17-7
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
BUNCEY’S BOXING HOUR TONIGHT! SKY CH. 456 AT 8PM
On Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour LIVE tonight on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456) from 8pm, Mr. Boxing has lined up another quality packed show with guests:
– British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Champion George Groves, winner of this year’s Boxing Writers’ Boxer of the Year award, who defends his title against Paul Smith on Saturday 5th November at Wembley Arena.
– Liverpool’s Paul Smith, the former British Champion will join in by phone to discuss his forthcoming fight with Groves.
– 2008 Olympian and unbeaten professional Billy Joe Saunders who challenges Southern Area Middleweight Champion Gary Bouldon for his title on the big Wembley Arena show.
– Britain’s first ever female gold medallist, flyweight Nicola Adams, who conquered at the European Women’s Championships in Rotterdam.
– Crawley lightweight ‘Rocking’ Robin Deakin gives his incredible story about battling through painful childhood operations on his legs to make it into the boxing ring.
Remember, if you have any questions for Buncey, send emails to: buncey@boxnation.tv