Josh Warrington says he’ll add a win against Joel Brunker to wins for the Leeds Rhinos and Leeds United at the First Direct Arena on Saturday night.
Warrington defends his WBC International and Commonwealth Featherweight titles against the Australian – but with Brunker last in the UK against Lee Selby, this fight is seen as a yardstick for Warrington’s preparedness for the World scene.
The Rhinos thumped Hull KR 50-0 in the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday while United claimed their first win in the Championship this season by beating Derby County 2-1, and Warrington believes those successes will galvanise his already fanatical support to create a feverish atmosphere on Saturday.
“The city is on a high right now and I want to capitalise on that on Saturday,” said Warrington. “It’s a special feeling standing on that ramp getting ready to walk to the ring. Even in the weeks beforehand there’s a massive buzz around the city with everyone getting excited about the fight and getting ready for the atmosphere – that’s got its own reputation now with people coming from all over to sample it, and it’s just getting bigger and bigger now.
“With that type of support behind me I can go on and win a World title, I know that. I want to deliver for them.
“I’ve had a busy year already and I think the rest has done me the world of good. I wanted to return with a big test and that’s what I have got. I got some stick for not getting Dennis Tubieron out of there but i was in a catch-22 situation. If I had blasted him away people would have said that I was just fighting a Bantamweight or Flyweight or whatever people would’ve said I was facing. That’s just the way it is now, I’m rising up the rankings and people are going to try to shoot you down. I just keep getting in there and doing my best.”
Warrington’s clash with Brunker is part of a huge night of action in Yorkshire as Martin Murray faces Jose Miguel Torres for the WBA Inter Continental Super Middleweight title.
ADRIAN GONZALEZ: ‘JON KAYS IS A BIG DRINKER AND YOU CAN’T ABUSE YOUR BODY IN THIS SPORT’
Little invokes interest in an undercard scrap more than a bit of local needle and a feud is starting to boil up between Manchester lightweights Adrian Gonzalez and Jon Kays.
The former, the cocksure 24 year old adopted son of globally regarded coach Lee Beard, has caught the eye amassing an 11-1 (3) slate. The latter, a 32 year old plumber from Ashton-Under-Lyne, is a battle hardened ex British and Commonwealth super-feather challenger.
The pair is primed to exchange leather at the Manchester Arena on October 10th and it seems they’re not overly fussed on one another.
‘He’s been saying stuff but it’ll be me who dictates,’ insists the California-born Gonzalez who sizzled whilst dispatching Hungary’s Gyula Tallosi inside a round in his last gig in July.
‘Though we never sparred, we both trained out of Bobby Rimmer’s gym for a while. Some of dad’s lads have sparred him and we’ve tapped into their knowledge.
‘Jon’s got an aggressive style; gets himself fit and will have a proper scrap. No doubt he’ll try and make it ugly. But I’ll be prepared for whatever he brings.
‘Sure, he’ll come flying out but he’ll slow down. He’s a big drinker and you can’t abuse your body in this sport. He’s not the biggest puncher, doesn’t have much of a chin and you can’t miss him, his defence is so poor.’
It’s bold talk from a tyro who is yet to venture past session six and whose entire pro career comprises just 46 rounds.
Conversely, his grizzled opponent , known as ‘Two Smokes’ is a veteran of 26 paid battles – five at title level – and the one-time English champion has already seen round ten on a fistful of occasions.
But 5ft 11in globe-trotter Gonzalez – a former California Golden Gloves finalist – claims that thus far the public have witnessed just a small fraction of his attributes.
‘I often got bored fighting journeymen, early in my career,’ says the man who has sparred world champions like Joan Guzman, Argenis Mendis, Stevie Forbes and Omar Figueroa in US gyms.
‘I’ve always, always maintained that longer fights will suit me more. I’m very relaxed, very confident in my defence. I’ll determine the pace, not Kays.
‘I’ve always needed a camp like this. I’m flying in the gym and, six weeks out, I’m already sparring 10 rounds. But we’ll not overcook it. I’ve been around gyms since I was eight and I’ve witnessed guys do too much and ‘kill’ their bodies. You’re better to be less fit than over trained. We’ll get it right.
‘People won’t value how good my defence is until they see me operate in good class against opponents who punch back. I’ve always said no amount of money is enough to get punched in the face so you minimise the possibilities.
‘Hopefully, I’ll also get a chance to show how good my boxing brain is, how I can pace a fight. And I want people to see my power. I want to hurt him. I’ll win however I need to but I’d be very disappointed if I don’t take Kay out. I’m better in all areas; defence, strength, power, chin …. The fight will go how I want it to go.’
He is unfazed that what is unquestionably the stiffest test of his seven year pro innings might get lost deep down a mega bill that includes three world title fights.
He concludes: ‘It’s going to be a top night. Last fight I sold over ten grand of tickets and I’ll better that easily this time. Tickets are flying out.
‘Hopefully, I can be on early, win in style, then just chill out and enjoy a fabulous night’s boxing.’
PETTITT TARGETS COMMONWEALTH BELT AND THEN THE SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT BIG GUNS NEXT
At the age of 25, and with six title fights on his ledger, Erith super-bantam Lewis Pettitt insists he’s finally ready to be unleashed against the division’s big guns.
‘I want big domestic fights. I want to end this season as British and European champion. I understand that British Champion Jazza Dickens is defending against Martin Ward in mid November so hopefully the winner will defend against me early in the New Year.’ Said Pettitt.
Already ranked number four in the world by the WBA, this month the likeable 5ft 4½in crowd favourite from Kent gets an opportunity to add the vacant Commonwealth title to a trophy cabinet that already contains the Southern Area, WBA Inter-Continental and WBO European belts.
He confronts 23 year old Lincoln battler Bobby Jenkinson, the Midland Area featherweight boss, in a supporting contest on the fabulous ‘Man vs Machine’ show at the SSE Arena, Wembley on September 26th.
‘I’ve done a fair bit of sparring with (current WBA champ) Scott Quigg and Quigg’s trainer assures me I fare better than most so I’m not far off. Other than him, the smallest I spar is super-featherweight Mitchell Smith.
‘If a Quigg fight was offered to me I’d jump at it. Compared with Frampton and Rigondeaux, he’s possibly the easiest of the three world champions. If Scott moves up to featherweight as is rumoured and number two is injured, it could be number three (unbeaten Las Vegas southpaw Jessie Magdaleno) and me boxing for the vacant title sooner than you think.
‘But ideally I’d prefer a couple of really hard domestic level fights first to fully prepare me.’
Jenkinson represents his first home-based opponent for over two years and having thwarted a Slovakian, a Brazilian, an Argentinean, a Georgian and a Croat in the interim, it’s a challenge that Pettitt covets.
‘This match is ideal,’ he insists.
‘My fans love the domestics cos the opponent will also have fans and there’s usually loads of singing and banter. There’s a much better buzz. Ultimately, the belt will give me a chance to fight decent Australians, Canadians and South Africans. Fights with Vusi Malinga or Tshifhiwa Munyai would be wicked.’
Though ‘Bobby Dazzler’ resides closer to home than his recent rivals, it’s been no easier to engage in reconnaissance.
‘So far we’ve not been able to find any video footage of Bobby,’ revealed Lewis.
‘There’s nothing on You Tube. I’m not really concerned but Al always likes a little look.
‘From what contacts have told us he’s definitely not to be underestimated. He’s beaten a few undefeated boys fighting out of the away corner. I’ve heard he’s a decent pressure fighter who throws a lot of shots and never stops coming forward.
‘But I’ll beat him cos I’m more experienced and because I’m ready to step up and finally get my name into the mix.”
Super-middleweight Luke Blackledge gets Lee Markham test in first defense of Commonwealth title
Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Luke Blackledge (19-2-2) gets a tough test in the first defense of his title against Lee Markham (14-2-1) in Manchester Arena on October 10th live on BoxNation.
The 25-year-old will defend his belt on the bumper World War III show promoted by Frank Warren in association with Adam Booth and Top Rank, featuring three World Title fights in one unforgettable night with the history-making contest between the two travellers, WBO World middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-2-1) and challenger Billy Joe Saunders (22-0) as the highly-anticipated main event.
“He’s a good fighter,” said Blackledge, who watched Markham’s split decision draw with Frank Buglioni for WBO European honours at Wembley Arena in May. “It should be an interesting fight. I thought that he beat Buglioni, to be honest.
“Every fight is going to be tough now because all my opponents will be at a similar level. I’m going to treat this like a world title fight because I’m defending my belt. He’s not taking my title off me. I’ll be at 110 per cent for this one.
“He’s a come-forward fighter and very aggressive, a bit like me really. My team has devised a really good game plan for this fight and we won’t be showing Markham the respect that Buglioni did.
“I’m the champion and we’ll fight my fight, not his. He proved how good he is in his last fight so if I beat him then doors will open. I’ll be switched on and if I win then maybe a European shot will be just around the corner for me.”
The 168-pounder ranked at number six in the British super-middleweight division attained his Commonwealth title with a career-best performance against the highly-rated Liam Cameron on April 4th in Blackburn.
Blackledge, who will be under the examination of promoter Frank Warren on the night, added, “I’m defending my Commonwealth belt on the undercard of a couple of world title fights. It’s great to be involved in something like that. I need another good performance but I’m confident – otherwise I wouldn’t put my title on the line.”
Known as ‘Robbo’ due to his birth name of Robinson, Blackledge has won his last five fights picking up two vacant titles in the Commonwealth strap and the WBC International Silver belt, too.
The Essex challenger branded as ‘Banjo’ has only enjoyed three victories from his last four endeavours losing out Jahmaine Smyle (11-4-2) in March this year with the vacant English super-middleweight Championship on the line, followed by his stalemate with bitter rival Frank Buglioni (17-1-1) two months later for the WBO European super-middleweight strap.
The match-up will likely be a tasty affair between two aggressive and game, top ten ranked contenders and the victor will possibly get a shot at the hard-hitting Londoner ‘The Wiseguy’ Frank Buglioni following his WBA World super-middleweight challenge against champion Fedor Chudinov (13-0) on September 26th in Wembley Arena.
Topping the bill at Manchester Arena on Saturday 10th October is WBO Middleweight Champion ‘Irish’ Andy Lee as he looks to make the first defence of his title against undefeated challenger Billy Joe Saunders.
