Two European Title Fights Added To Kell Brook Card

ByBoxing Press

Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews meet again for the European lightweight belt on the undercard of Kell Brook’s July 7 show at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, which features another European title rematch in Kerry Hope vs. Greg Proksa, live on Sky Sports.

Rees and Mathews fought for the Welshman’s European lightweight title in Newport in October but the bout was cut short when the Liverpool challenger broke his nose in the fourth round after an accidental head clash.

Since then, both men have recorded impressive wins, with Rees travelling to Paris in March to defend his title in style with a seventh round stoppage of Anthony Mezaache, while Mathews upset the odds in Oldham last month with a sixth round stoppage of Anthony Crolla to win the British title.

That was the venue where Hope stunned Proksa in a brutal and bloody battle for the Surrey-based Pole’s European middleweight title, with Merthyr Tydfil’s Hope putting in the best performance of his career to inflict the first defeat of the hotly-fancied 27 year old.

Sheffield’s unbeaten welterweight star Brook will announce his opponent for July 7 live on Sky Sports boxing magazine show Ringside on Thursday at 6pm, and show promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted be putting on these two mouth-watering rematches.

“These are two fantastic rematches that will provide huge entertainment on July 7,” said show promoter Eddie Hearn. “The Rees vs. Mathews fight in Wales was warming up nicely when Derry got injured, and I’m glad they are getting the chance to get it on again.

“Gavin was fantastic in France when he beat Mezaache and Derry’s performance against Crolla was very impressive and he certainly deserves a second crack at the title.

“Kerry Hope’s win over Greg Proksa was a real shock to everyone – apart from Kerry and his team. They were convinced he had the goods to beat Greg and so it proved, he was terrific and it was a gruelling and gripping contest.

“Greg will have revenge on his mind while Kerry won’t want to let that title out of his hands, so I expect the rematch to top the ferocious intensity of the first fight.”