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American literary great Mark Twain once said “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog”. Well, that sentence perfectly sums up the performance Newbridge’s Gavin “The Rock” Rees gave when he ripped the WBA light-welterweight title from tough Frenchman Souleymane M’Baye last summer.
Despite conceding 6.5 inches in height, “Little” Gavin put on a boxing masterclass at the Cardiff International Arena last July, as he dazed and confused the French champion with in and out movement and lots of aggressive flurries to the head and body. So in control was the Newbridge native that he often dropped his hands and did Joe Calzagheesque showboats.
For Gavin, the victory was extra sweet as it didn’t just make him the first Welshman to ever hold a WBA strap, it also proved the doubters, that had written him off only a couple of years earlier, wrong.
Back in late 2004, the pint-sized puncher’s career appeared to be in tatters as he was given 100 hours community service and banned from boxing for one year, due to his involvement in a punch up at a funeral. Things could have been worse as there was talk that the British Boxing Board of Control were going to hand him a lifetime ban, thankfully the board didn’t see their threats through.
Even when the rejuvenated and refocused Rees returned to the ring in early 2006, it seemed highly unlikely that he would ever reach the lofty heights of the world title class. But, after some solid six round performances at lightweight against seasoned journeymen, his promoter Frank Warren handed him an unexpected chance and he seized it with both hands.
This Saturday evening the undefeated 27 year old returns to the scene of his greatest boxing moment when he makes the first defence of his crown against the tough, Hamburg based Ukranian Andreas Kotelnik.
Rees, 27 – 0 (13), realises he is in for a tough fight and that he will have to give his all to retain his title.
“Kotelnik is a good fighter and I know I have my work cut out to beat him,” Rees is quoted as saying earlier this week. “But I’m in the best shape of my life and am ready to go 12 hard rounds. I don’t believe Kotelnik can beat me.”
30 year old Andreas Kotelnik, who won a Olympic silver medal in Sydney eight years ago, is making his third trip to these shores in less than three years and this time he believes he is coming to collect a title that should be rightfully his.
Before Rees got the opportunity to take on M’Baye, the Frenchman defended his 140 pounds bauble against Kotelnik at the historic Olympia in Liverpool and the bout ended with a controversial draw. M’Baye, then based in Bolton, started the match up well but faded badly, allowing the Ukranian to land the better blows and control the action.
The three British judges all saw things differently, Paul Thomas scored it 115 – 113 in the Frenchman’s favour while Terry O’Connor had it even at 114 – 114 and Mickey Vann (seemingly the only judge that actually saw the fight) had Kotelnik winning by five rounds with a more realistic score of 117 – 112.
“In that fight it appeared not only to boxing experts and the fans that I won and would be the new world champion,” said Kotelnik.
He has been in action once since that disappointing night on Merseyside, beating Amir Khan victim Laszlo Komjathi over eight rounds last June in Hungary.
Kotelnik’s previously British jaunt was back in 2005 when he challenged Junior Witter for the European crown. It was a close fight and, at the final bell, the Bradford switch-hitter was clearly worried that Kotelnik was going to walk away with his title. As it turned out Kotelnik, despite landing some sweet hooks and stalking the Englishman around the ring for much of the fight, had not done quite enough to get the nod from the judges.
Both Rees and Kotelnik have reportedly had good training camps for this battle, Kotelnik’s in Austria with trainer Michael Timm and Rees’ at the Team Calzaghe camp in South Wales, where he has been sparring his best friend and current Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce.
Obviously, this fight is of massive importance to both men, but it could be argued that “The Rock” has more to lose as a defeat wouldn’t only cost him the title he holds so dearly, it would also blow any chances of lucrative all British clashes with Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan.
Verdict: It should be an engaging affair, if a little scrappy at times. Kotelnik is likely to draw on his extensive amateur experience and work off his forceful job, but I see Rees working his way inside and being too busy for the challenger. I plump for “little” Gavin by the slimmest of points margins.
