In what is becoming a familiar and welcoming theme, yet another blockbuster event will come out of England in late May. Promoter Eddie Hearn continues to add to his May 30 show at O2 Arena in London, which is now topped by Kell Brook in a welterweight title defense versus countryman Frankie Gavin.
The bout was formally announced Friday afternoon, complete with a press conference held in London. The card will air live on Sky Sports PPV in the U.K.
“The main event is one that came out of nowhere, ” Hearn said of the fight during Friday's press conference . “ The Gavin fight is one I thought'd be in 9 to 12 months but has come out of the blue. ”
Brook (34-0, 23KOs) will make the second defense of his alphabet strap, after having just knocked out mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in four rounds last month in Sheffield.
“I never expected to be out again so quickly but I can’t wait,” admitted Brook, whose win over Dan came after a seven-month ring absence, most of which was spent recovering from leg wounds suffered in a machete attack while on vacation in Tenerife last September. “I respect Frankie for stepping up, he has called for this fight for a long time and after he was given a final eliminator against Tim Bradley it made sense for him to take the challenge.
“I feel like I’m unbeatable right now and Gavin isn’t going to be able to cope with my speed and power on fight night. The O2 is one of the best arenas in the world and it’s an honour to headline a card like this.”
Gavin (22-1, 13KOs) comes in having won three straight while fighting for his first major title.
“These are the fights you want to be part of and are where I belong, acknowledges Gavin.” I’ve dreamt of a world title and I will be 100 percent ready physically and mentally for Kell Brook.
“Of course it’s going to be tough but I believe Kell is beatable and I’ve always felt that I have got the skills and the team to cause an upset.”
The bout tops an already loaded bill featuring: a lightweight title clash between Jorge Linares and Essex hopeful Kevin Mitchell; unbeaten Evgeny Gradovich in a featherweight title defense Welsh contender Lee Selby; and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist and unbeaten heavyweight prospect Anthony Joshua in a step up in competition versus American trial horse Kevin Johnson.
Hearn's Matchroom Boxing has put on major shows in late May in each of the past four years. The previous three editions featured Carl Froch, all in winning performances. The super middleweight rebounded from his Super Six finals loss to Andre Ward with a rousing 5th round knockout of then-unbeaten titlist Lucian Bute in 2012.
One year later, Froch avenged one of his two career losses, outpointing Mikkel Kessler in their May '13 thriller, coming more than three years following their first fight.
Last year's edition, however, was one of the biggest box office successes in the history of UK boxing. Six months after scoring a controversial 9th round stoppage of George Groves, Froch repeated the feat. This time the win came in emphatic fashion, registering a highlight reel 8th round knockout in their rematch last May, which played to 80,000 paying patrons at Wembley Stadium in London, as well as delivering huge numbers on Sky Sports PPV.
Hearn flirted with the idea of bringing Brook to Wembley for a major event in June. However, such an occasion called for the right dance partner, and their efforts to lure countryman and former 140 lb. titlist Amir Khan proved unsuccessful.
Instead, Matchroom moves forward with the stuffed-to-the-gills May 30 bill. As a standalone event, it's worth the price of admission for a ticket (although grumblings have begun as to whether it's worthy of a PPV price tag). Already, a big prize potentially awaits the winner.
“I n the next week or so you'll see the winner of this fight will be announced to face [Amercian welterweight contender Brandon] Rios in August, ” Hearn teased.
http://www.boxingscene.com/brook-gavin-officially-set-tops-loaded-5-30-london-bill--89568
The bout was formally announced Friday afternoon, complete with a press conference held in London. The card will air live on Sky Sports PPV in the U.K.
“The main event is one that came out of nowhere, ” Hearn said of the fight during Friday's press conference . “ The Gavin fight is one I thought'd be in 9 to 12 months but has come out of the blue. ”
Brook (34-0, 23KOs) will make the second defense of his alphabet strap, after having just knocked out mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in four rounds last month in Sheffield.
“I never expected to be out again so quickly but I can’t wait,” admitted Brook, whose win over Dan came after a seven-month ring absence, most of which was spent recovering from leg wounds suffered in a machete attack while on vacation in Tenerife last September. “I respect Frankie for stepping up, he has called for this fight for a long time and after he was given a final eliminator against Tim Bradley it made sense for him to take the challenge.
“I feel like I’m unbeatable right now and Gavin isn’t going to be able to cope with my speed and power on fight night. The O2 is one of the best arenas in the world and it’s an honour to headline a card like this.”
Gavin (22-1, 13KOs) comes in having won three straight while fighting for his first major title.
“These are the fights you want to be part of and are where I belong, acknowledges Gavin.” I’ve dreamt of a world title and I will be 100 percent ready physically and mentally for Kell Brook.
“Of course it’s going to be tough but I believe Kell is beatable and I’ve always felt that I have got the skills and the team to cause an upset.”
The bout tops an already loaded bill featuring: a lightweight title clash between Jorge Linares and Essex hopeful Kevin Mitchell; unbeaten Evgeny Gradovich in a featherweight title defense Welsh contender Lee Selby; and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist and unbeaten heavyweight prospect Anthony Joshua in a step up in competition versus American trial horse Kevin Johnson.
Hearn's Matchroom Boxing has put on major shows in late May in each of the past four years. The previous three editions featured Carl Froch, all in winning performances. The super middleweight rebounded from his Super Six finals loss to Andre Ward with a rousing 5th round knockout of then-unbeaten titlist Lucian Bute in 2012.
One year later, Froch avenged one of his two career losses, outpointing Mikkel Kessler in their May '13 thriller, coming more than three years following their first fight.
Last year's edition, however, was one of the biggest box office successes in the history of UK boxing. Six months after scoring a controversial 9th round stoppage of George Groves, Froch repeated the feat. This time the win came in emphatic fashion, registering a highlight reel 8th round knockout in their rematch last May, which played to 80,000 paying patrons at Wembley Stadium in London, as well as delivering huge numbers on Sky Sports PPV.
Hearn flirted with the idea of bringing Brook to Wembley for a major event in June. However, such an occasion called for the right dance partner, and their efforts to lure countryman and former 140 lb. titlist Amir Khan proved unsuccessful.
Instead, Matchroom moves forward with the stuffed-to-the-gills May 30 bill. As a standalone event, it's worth the price of admission for a ticket (although grumblings have begun as to whether it's worthy of a PPV price tag). Already, a big prize potentially awaits the winner.
“I n the next week or so you'll see the winner of this fight will be announced to face [Amercian welterweight contender Brandon] Rios in August, ” Hearn teased.
http://www.boxingscene.com/brook-gavin-officially-set-tops-loaded-5-30-london-bill--89568
...if that was the case he would have been winning on at least one judges card
