Saturday November 6th at the Newport Leisure Cenre Wales, for the vacant British Lightweight title. Live on Sky Sports 2/HD2 from 9pm Betting Odds Rees 4/7 Watson 13/10 Gavin "The Rock" Rees Newport, Wales 30 years old 5,7ft 30-1 (15KO's) Former WBA Light Welterweight Champion Prizefighter Light Welterweight Champion WBC No.14 (At Light Welterweight) ESB No.5 in Britain This content is protected Notable Fights TKO12 Loss Andreas Kotelnik UD12 Win Souleymane M'Baye [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPoIykmtJkw[/ame] Amateur Career 2x Welsh Jnr ABA Champion Wales International What he said “I was lackadaisical and probably shouldn’t have fought Kotelnik, but I was world champion and had to defend my belt, I took it for granted and didn’t train like I have for this fight." “I’m feeling better than ever. I’ve got a sports nutritionist on board and I’m a lot more dedicated now I’m like a machine. I’m 30 and it’s probably my last chance, but I’m not even thinking of losing. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in and it’s probably the lightest I’ve been in eight years.” "Road Warrior" Glen Johnson Liverpool, England 27 years old 5,10ft 13-9 (5KO's) ESB No.6 in Britain This content is protected Noteable Fights TKO5 Win Ben Lawler UD10 Win Martin Gethin [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXy9HI3lE8s[/ame] Amateur Career 2x ABA Snr Champion What he said "We have been really, really repetitive with the game plan and have gone over and over it that many times it is first nature to me. I finished my sparring with 12 rounds down in London last Friday against Choi Tseveenpurev. He was a handful and throws big punches but I coped with him well and Choi commented on that after we'd finished. He was really impressed and I have taken a lot of confidence from that. I've also been sparring a few of the lads Dave has in his gym and we also brought in a Welsh lad who fights at welterweight because he has a similar style to Rees. But I've been operating a policy of one in, one out keeping the sparring partners fresh. We've built it up over eight, 10 and then 12 rounds.” The Fight This is what I would call a classic under the radar fight. With all the big event happening in November this one has gone un noticed by the masses. But its a great clash of styles and a very good domestic fight for the title vacated by European champion John Murray. Rees is the ex world champion. Was he ever world class, nobody really thinks so, will he ever be a world champion again, nobody really thinks so, but is he allot better than we give him credit for, 100% yes. He has an agressive fan freindly style, always coming forward. He is a small man that uses it to his advantage, getting on the inside throwing short flurrys. Formerly trained by Enzo Calzaghe, but no with former stable mate Gary Lockett, he is the typical Newbridge fighter that throws 100's of punches a round. His win agaisnt M'Baye may have been a bit of a fluke. He deserved the decision, but you have to think M'Baye took him lightly, put on his worst ever performance and Rees just had his most special night. But in Prizefighter he showed us he may not have been just a one night wonder. On the way to the £32k prize he beat former domestic champions Ted Bami, Colin Lynees and Jason Cook. It was the toughest road to a Prizefighter victory ever. Other than that, Rees really hasn't done much. But we know he has it in him, which is where the question marks lie in his opponent John Watson. The scouser was a steller amateur but has stumbled through his 4 years as a pro. Undefeated in 13 fights agaisnt ok modest opponents, most notably a British title eliminator win over Martin Gethin when he was with the agressive match makers Hayemaker, saturday night is his big chance. A win over a former world champion will get people talking about him. Watson is quick and slick, and despite his low KO percentage, he has some pop behind his punches. It's not quite the matador vs the bull, as Watson likes to come forward and trade to, but his best tactics may be to keep it that way. Rees starts as a favourite and rightfully so, we don't know much about Watson and the welshman has some pedigree. He seems to be rejuvinated since leaving the Calzaghe camp and is at his lowest weight for some time. Many have questioned his dedication but getting down to 135lbs shows some commitment, something than cannot be asked off Watson who always comes ready and in shape. With top trainer Dave Coldwell by his side he will have a plan to beat the welshman. Expect a solid 12 round of entertainment, and with a European title shot going to the winner, both men will be giving there all. Undercard Jason Cook vs Barrie Jones (Welsh Light Welterweight title) Bradley Pryce vs Michael Lomax (8x3 Welterweight) Patrick Mendy, Davey Savage Jnr, Karl Place, Gregorz Proska, Jeff Evans also in action.
