Rees seeking British title before targeting world honours

Former WBA light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees, 33-1 (15), believes he is good enough to challenge for another version of the world title, but next time it will be down at lightweight. The Welsh dragon was yesterday named as mandatory challenger for John Murray’s British lightweight crown with purse bids set for 8 September.

Rees isn’t expecting Murray to be in the opposite corner when he bids to claim the Lonsdale belt later this year, however.

“I think Murray will vacate rather than fight me,” said Rees candidly over the phone to BoxRec News. “He’s got a European title defence coming up (against Andriy Kudriavtsev on 25 September) and there’s talk of him boxing an eliminator for the WBC title after that. I’m currently number three in Britain behind Murray and Kevin Mitchell but I’m happy to fight anyone for the title because I believe I can beat anyone in the UK.”

Murray will be aiming to mirror Rees’ seamless transition from domestic to world class as the Welshman did when appearing from virtual obscurity to claim the WBA light-welterweight title in July 2007 after a shock points win over Souleymane M’Baye. Rees’ success proved to be shortlived though after he lost his world title in his first defence nine months later following his 12th round stoppage loss at the hands of Andriy Kotelnik when trailing on the scorecards.

“I was undefeated in 27 fights but I’d become complacent for far too long because I didn’t appreciate what it was like to lose. Kotelnik is a very good fighter though and he proved that again at the weekend by pushing Devon Alexander close (Alexander retained his WBC and IBF light-welterweight titles with a hard-earned unanimous decision).”

Rees subsequently took an 18 month break to consider his options but looked a force once more when decisioning Ted Bami, Jason Cook and Colin Lynes en-route to triumphing in the Prizefighter light-welterweight tournament last December.

“I’ve never really been a light-welterweight but despite that I won Prizefighter easily against some of the leading contenders in Britain but I see my future as being definitely at lightweight,” said Rees.

The 30-year-old Welshman debuted at super-featherweight as a teenager in 1998 but allowed his weight to regularly blow-up in-between fights. In fact, Rees hasn’t made the 9st 9 lightweight championship limit since outpointing Andrey Devyataykin seven years ago.

“Now that I’m training regularly and more focused I doubt I’ll ever box at light-welterweight again. I’ve scaled 9st 11 and 9st 10 in my last two fights and felt good doing so. My plan is to win the British lightweight title this year and then go for the European before looking to challenge for a world title.”

Rees is now under the wing of the big-punching ex middleweight pro Gary Lockett and believes his new trainer has made a noticeable difference to his offensive prowess which was evident in his last outing, a third round stoppage over former Commonwealth title challenger Sam Amoako in June.

“Gary was a natural puncher and he’s been teaching me how to sit down on my shots in training which has helped me to develop my power more. The effects seem to be paying off because I was able to walk right through Amoako who had previously gone 12 rounds with Lee McAllister in his previous fight,” he added.