Welshman dominates Frenchman in his hometown
Gavin Rees produced a fantastic performance in Anthony Mezaache’s backyard in France, forcing a seventh round stoppage to retain his European lightweight title in style.
The Welshman travelled over to Paris for his second defence in the venue that former champion Mezaache’s last three fights had been in and was the aggressor from the opening bell.
The 31 year old produced a classy, powerful and controlled display to dismiss the Frenchman’s challenge and move a step closer to his dream of becoming a two-weight World champion.
“I keep telling people I can punch at lightweight and giving the chance I think I can win another World title,” said Rees.
“I had a great training camp, it was boiling in here tonight but I still felt fresh. I worked well on the jab and I was catching him with the right often and I think I did a great job tonight.”
Rees connected early with his right hand and mixed his work up well, controlling things with his jab. A clash of heads in the second round caused a nasty gash to the Frenchman’s forehead and threatened to bring the fight to a premature end, but thankfully Mezaache’s corner stemmed the flow of blood and the fight continued, and Rees moved through the gears seamlessly.
The champion really put his foot down in the sixth round, rocking the hometown favourite at will and relentlessly pouring the pressure on with unerring accuracy.
Some great work to the body led to another big right hand in the opening half of the seventh round that floored the Frenchman and with so much time left in the round, Rees saw his chance to end things and pounced brilliantly. Again, the jackhammer right landed to rock Mezaache and he pinned him on the ropes with some stinging blows, and a combination of Mezaache’s corner and the referee ended the contest with 45 seconds of the seventh round left.
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paris. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2012
HEARN: FRENCH TEST IS A KEY NIGHT FOR REES
Welshman’s promoter says Gavin needs to impress in Paris
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Gavin Rees must shine in Paris tonight live on Sky Sports 4 and HD4 from 9pm in his European lightweight title defence against Anthony Mezaache – with a big performance putting him back in World title contention.
Former WBA light welterweight king Rees faces the Frenchman in the Gymnase Georges-Racine in Clichy la Garenne, just outside the capital and a venue that the former champion Mezaache has won his last three fights in.
Hearn says that this is exactly the type of assignment that Rees needs to tackle and pass with flying colours if he’s going to go on to fulfil his dream of becoming a two-weight World Champion, and added that big matches with British rivals Ricky Burns, John Murray, Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Crolla could also be on the cards for The Rock.
“This is an important fight for Gavin as there's a lot happening in the division domestically,” said Hearn. “An away trip is always interesting and I think it adds a bit of excitement.
“Gavin's at the stage now where he needs to be taking the big fights, we looked at the offer to travel to Paris and it was a lucrative one and a challenge Gavin was happy to take. It's always difficult fighting away from home but we've had fights in the venue before and it's not a hostile environment and Gavin's got a good few fans travelling over too and they'll make themselves heard.”
Rees’ trainer Gary Lockett has been delighted with the 31 year olds preparation for the fight, and is pleased that the former WBA light welterweight champion has thrown himself into the new training regime that he brought in along with nutritionist Renzo Algieri.
“Training has gone really well, we've done a lot more sparring than what we usually do, over 140 rounds in total, so he's ready,” said Lockett.
“Gavin is coming up to 32 so he's picking up little niggles a little easier than he used to. But apart from that he's in fantastic shape.
“Anthony has a good record but we see weaknesses in his make-up. I don't think he's a particularly hard puncher, he's tough and he's a bit of a spoiler, but we've covered all bases in training.
“The changes and improvements in Gavin's diet and shape is 99 per cent down to him. I bought Renzo as his nutritionist and I know a lot about that but if Gavin wasn't totally committed to it, then we wouldn't see this huge improvement.”
For Rees, the target is simple – defend his European title then hunt down a World title shot later this year, taking out some big Brits on the way.
“I don't mind who I have to fight to win a World title,” said Rees. “But I'd love a fight with Kevin Mitchell too. It's a fight that I think I'd win but it'd be a cracker and one that fight fans and Sky Sports would love to see.”
Rees weighed in at 9st 8lb yesterday, with challenger Mezaache scaling 9st 8lb 8oz.
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Gavin Rees must shine in Paris tonight live on Sky Sports 4 and HD4 from 9pm in his European lightweight title defence against Anthony Mezaache – with a big performance putting him back in World title contention.
Former WBA light welterweight king Rees faces the Frenchman in the Gymnase Georges-Racine in Clichy la Garenne, just outside the capital and a venue that the former champion Mezaache has won his last three fights in.
Hearn says that this is exactly the type of assignment that Rees needs to tackle and pass with flying colours if he’s going to go on to fulfil his dream of becoming a two-weight World Champion, and added that big matches with British rivals Ricky Burns, John Murray, Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Crolla could also be on the cards for The Rock.
“This is an important fight for Gavin as there's a lot happening in the division domestically,” said Hearn. “An away trip is always interesting and I think it adds a bit of excitement.
“Gavin's at the stage now where he needs to be taking the big fights, we looked at the offer to travel to Paris and it was a lucrative one and a challenge Gavin was happy to take. It's always difficult fighting away from home but we've had fights in the venue before and it's not a hostile environment and Gavin's got a good few fans travelling over too and they'll make themselves heard.”
Rees’ trainer Gary Lockett has been delighted with the 31 year olds preparation for the fight, and is pleased that the former WBA light welterweight champion has thrown himself into the new training regime that he brought in along with nutritionist Renzo Algieri.
“Training has gone really well, we've done a lot more sparring than what we usually do, over 140 rounds in total, so he's ready,” said Lockett.
“Gavin is coming up to 32 so he's picking up little niggles a little easier than he used to. But apart from that he's in fantastic shape.
“Anthony has a good record but we see weaknesses in his make-up. I don't think he's a particularly hard puncher, he's tough and he's a bit of a spoiler, but we've covered all bases in training.
“The changes and improvements in Gavin's diet and shape is 99 per cent down to him. I bought Renzo as his nutritionist and I know a lot about that but if Gavin wasn't totally committed to it, then we wouldn't see this huge improvement.”
For Rees, the target is simple – defend his European title then hunt down a World title shot later this year, taking out some big Brits on the way.
“I don't mind who I have to fight to win a World title,” said Rees. “But I'd love a fight with Kevin Mitchell too. It's a fight that I think I'd win but it'd be a cracker and one that fight fans and Sky Sports would love to see.”
Rees weighed in at 9st 8lb yesterday, with challenger Mezaache scaling 9st 8lb 8oz.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
FRENCH ASSIGNMENT HOLDS NO FEAR FOR REES
Welshman out to prove he will fight anyone, anywhere
Gavin Rees is relishing defending his European lightweight title against Anthony Mezaache in Paris on Friday night live on Sky Sports 4 and HD4 from 9pm – and says victory will prove he is willing to fight anyone, anywhere.
The Welshman defends the belt for the second time against Mezaache, the Parisian fighter who won the belt on foreign soil himself in February 2009 when he beat Jon Thaxton in Norwich.
Rees enters Mezaache’s backyard aiming to kick his 2012 off with an impressive defence that could land him an exciting British fight against lightweight rivals Ricky Burns, Kevin Mitchell, John Murray and Anthony Crolla – and the 31 year-old says he’ll prove he can fight anywhere.
“Every boxer wants to fight at home but I don't mind going to France,” said Rees. “I don't think it'll be a hostile crowd but even if it is, it's only a crowd, they can't get in the ring and help him when he's in there with me at my best. I only have to worry about my performance, not his – if I do what I do best, I'll get the job done.
“I've seen a few clips of him from his fight against Thaxton. He beat him quite comfortably but I think that wasn't the best of Jon, he was on his way out. So I think that this is a job I am confident of doing.”
Rees’ first defence ended in a technical draw against Derry Mathews in October when a clash of heads left the Liverpool man with a broken nose. The champ has been itching to get back into the ring to show the benefits of his new attitude to training, which he attributes to trainer Gary Lockett and nutritionist Renzo Algieri.
“I've been a professional nearly 14 years and only lost one fight so I've done well, but I think I'm improving all the time,” said Rees. “I'm 32 in May and I'm feeling so good I could go on forever.
“I've got older and got wiser. When you are younger you think your career is going to go on forever. This is my last chance at World title glory really so everything has to be done 100 per cent right. I was eating the wrong foods, drinking water at the wrong times, and in the championship distance, like against Andy Murray, I died after four rounds. So we'd been tinkering with that before the Derry Mathews fight and we got it right.
That didn't go beyond four rounds so no-one got to see the difference, but it was a lot better then and it will be even better now.
“There are some big domestic fights out there for me with Burns, Mitchell, Crolla and (John) Murray and I want all of them. I've been training hard for Mezaache and once I've got past him I want to fight one of the big name Brits. I don't believe that I have been truly recognised for my achievements so hopefully beating one of those boys would get me there. I sparred with Ricky and we had some great sessions and I know it would be a crowd-pleaser.
“I'd like to have a go at Ricky or maybe I could win another one of the World titles and we could have a massive unification fight. We've got a great group of lightweights in Britain at the moment, maybe one of the strongest ever, so hopefully we can all fight each other soon.”
REES MEDIA WORKOUT:
Gavin Rees is relishing defending his European lightweight title against Anthony Mezaache in Paris on Friday night live on Sky Sports 4 and HD4 from 9pm – and says victory will prove he is willing to fight anyone, anywhere.
The Welshman defends the belt for the second time against Mezaache, the Parisian fighter who won the belt on foreign soil himself in February 2009 when he beat Jon Thaxton in Norwich.
Rees enters Mezaache’s backyard aiming to kick his 2012 off with an impressive defence that could land him an exciting British fight against lightweight rivals Ricky Burns, Kevin Mitchell, John Murray and Anthony Crolla – and the 31 year-old says he’ll prove he can fight anywhere.
“Every boxer wants to fight at home but I don't mind going to France,” said Rees. “I don't think it'll be a hostile crowd but even if it is, it's only a crowd, they can't get in the ring and help him when he's in there with me at my best. I only have to worry about my performance, not his – if I do what I do best, I'll get the job done.
“I've seen a few clips of him from his fight against Thaxton. He beat him quite comfortably but I think that wasn't the best of Jon, he was on his way out. So I think that this is a job I am confident of doing.”
Rees’ first defence ended in a technical draw against Derry Mathews in October when a clash of heads left the Liverpool man with a broken nose. The champ has been itching to get back into the ring to show the benefits of his new attitude to training, which he attributes to trainer Gary Lockett and nutritionist Renzo Algieri.
“I've been a professional nearly 14 years and only lost one fight so I've done well, but I think I'm improving all the time,” said Rees. “I'm 32 in May and I'm feeling so good I could go on forever.
“I've got older and got wiser. When you are younger you think your career is going to go on forever. This is my last chance at World title glory really so everything has to be done 100 per cent right. I was eating the wrong foods, drinking water at the wrong times, and in the championship distance, like against Andy Murray, I died after four rounds. So we'd been tinkering with that before the Derry Mathews fight and we got it right.
That didn't go beyond four rounds so no-one got to see the difference, but it was a lot better then and it will be even better now.
“There are some big domestic fights out there for me with Burns, Mitchell, Crolla and (John) Murray and I want all of them. I've been training hard for Mezaache and once I've got past him I want to fight one of the big name Brits. I don't believe that I have been truly recognised for my achievements so hopefully beating one of those boys would get me there. I sparred with Ricky and we had some great sessions and I know it would be a crowd-pleaser.
“I'd like to have a go at Ricky or maybe I could win another one of the World titles and we could have a massive unification fight. We've got a great group of lightweights in Britain at the moment, maybe one of the strongest ever, so hopefully we can all fight each other soon.”
REES MEDIA WORKOUT:
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