Matchroom Boxing: Ex-World Champ Gavin Rees Focused On Prizefighter Victory
© Lawrence Lustig
Gavin Rees believes he is training harder for Friday’s Prizefighter Light-Welterweights event than when he was defending his World Championship.
Rees, 29, clinched the WBA title in July 2007 but admits he was not totally dedicated and lost his first defence against Ukraine’s Andriy Kotelnik.
“When I had the world title I was taking things for granted and didn’t think I could lose,” admitted Welshman Rees, who has only been beaten once in a 29-fight professional career.
“Losing a world title is gutting for anyone but I wasn’t training or eating properly.
“I’m more hungry to win this than when I was defending a world title and I have a lot to prove to a lot of people.
“I’ve had a long time out of the ring and I’ve come back hungrier than I’ve ever been.
“The training is going great, I’ve been doing it for eight weeks and am very dedicated, as I should’ve been a few years ago.
“Since I’ve had a year out of the ring after losing the title, I now want to box 100 per cent.
“A lot of people see me as the favourite to win Prizefighter but we will see what happens.”
The eight-man, one-night Prizefighter Light-Welterweights tournament features a strong line-up with three former European Champions alongside Rees vying for the £32,000 top prize.
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr performed the draw and gave Rees a tough task as he meets ex-European title holder Ted Bami in the quarter-finals.
However, Rees fully expects to win Prizefighter and has set his sights on fighting either undefeated British Lightweight Champion John Murray or Amir Khan, who currently holds the WBA Light-Welterweight title that Rees used to possess.
“I prefer to fight at lightweight but if there are big fights at light-welterweight then I will go for them,” added Rees.
“If a chance came to fight Amir Khan then I would love to. There was talk of me boxing him a few years ago but it never happened.
“Everyone knows as soon as he gets caught he will be knocked out and that’s why against Kotelnik, he ran around the ring.
“I’m fully confident of beating Khan as I would walk through has punches and catch him with some big shots.
“I fully expect to win Prizefighter. Bami has had better days years ago and he will be hoping he catches me with a lucky punch.
“After a year out my career seemed to be going dead but winning Prizefighter will revive my career. I want to be a winner again.”
Prizefighter Light-Welterweights takes place at London’s Olympia on Friday, December 4 and tickets are still available. They cost £40 (unreserved) and £80 (reserved) and are available from See Tickets on 0870 903 9033, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. All the action will also be screened live on Sky Sports.
The full list of competitors is: Ted Bami (Brixton, London), David Barnes (Manchester), Jason Cook (Maesteg, Wales), Michael Grant (Tottenham, London), Barry Jones (Ferndale, Wales), Colin Lynes (Hornchurch, Essex), Young Mutley (West Bromwich, West Midlands), Gavin Rees (Newbridge, Wales).
Prizefighter Light-Welterweights
Friday, December 4
National Hall, Olympia, London
Quarter-final draw
1. Michael Grant v Jason Cook
2. Ted Bami v Gavin Rees
3. Colin Lynes v David Barnes
4. Young Muttley v Barrie Jones
Semi-final draw
1. Michael Grant or Jason Cook v Ted Bami or Gavin Rees
2. Colin Lynes or David Barnes v Young Muttley or Barrie Jones