Brook: I'll prove I'm the best

29 May 2015 09:31

Kell Brook is hoping to send shockwaves through the welterweight division when he defends his IBF world title against Frankie Gavin at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.

Brook had sought a lucrative clash with Amir Khan, only for his bitter rival to decline a Wembley Stadium showdown this summer in favour of facing Chris Algieri in New York.

Instead, Brook will face another British fighter in Gavin and the 29-year-old from Sheffield intends to put on a spectacle for the 18,000 crowd while extending his unbeaten record to 35 wins.

"I'm expecting Frankie Gavin to come and fight. We will give the fans what they want and that's action," Brook said.

"I'm looking to seek and destroy and prove I'm the number one in the world in the division. I want to make the statement that I'm the man in this division.

"I know Frankie will be up for it because if you're not up for a world title fight, you won't be up for any fight, so I know what he will bring.

"No corners have been cut in the gym and we're ready. Frankie is a class act and can cause anyone problems at world level.

"I love boxing and I'm very competitive. Even at a game of snooker I'm a bad loser, so I make sure I put the work in."

Gavin's professional career has so far failed to deliver on the promise shown as an amateur when he became the first Briton to win a world championships gold medal, sweeping all before him in Chicago in 2007.

Failure to make the weight resulted in his return home from the Olympics the following year, but watching his Beijing team-mate James DeGale being crowned world champion with a points victory over Andre Dirrell last Saturday has provided extra motivation.

"James DeGale did it last weekend and he was in the same squad as me. That's given me the belief I can do it again," Gavin said.

"I can't wait. Everything has gone to plan. Last year fighting for the world title looked like a long shot, but it's come now.

"Kell has given me the opportunity to fight for his title and I won't let the fans down.

"I've trained hard and have pushed myself to places I've never been before. I'm ready to win the world title.

"Kell is a great fighter and he doesn't have many weaknesses. But on my day I'm up with the best in the world and if I get everything right, I'll be world champion.

"It's the biggest thing in boxing winning a world belt. Kell's done it and I respect him for it."

There are two further world title fights on a packed undercard with Kevin Mitchell challenging for Jorge Linares' WBC lightweight belt and Lee Selby looking to seize Evgeny Gradovich's IBF featherweight title.

The chief support to the second defence of Brook's IBF strap sees Anthony Joshua take a step up in class against the wily Kevin Johnson having flattened all 12 previous opponents inside three rounds.

Source: PA