Highly motivated and with the confidence of what he defines as the best preparation of his career, Argentinean and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino junior middleweight champion, former world title challenger Javier “La Bestia” Maciel, traveled to Sheffield, England, for his highly anticipated challenge against Englishman Brian “The Lion” Rose, in a WBO junior middleweight world title eliminator, that will take place on Saturday, October 26th., at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England, televised live by TyC Sports in Argentina and lots of parts of America, and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

 

After finishing his intense training camp in Las Vegas, where he stayed for three weeks with well known trainer Miguel Diaz, Maciel (27-2, 20 KOs), ranked WBO junior middleweight #5, and International Boxing Federation (IBF) #7, flew this Monday to Sheffield together with Diaz -who will be at his corner- for his fight against Rose (24-1-1, 7 KOs), current WBO intercontinental junior middleweight champion, ranked WBO junior middleweight #4 and World Boxing Council (WBC) #16. There he will join the rest of his team, headed by his manager and promoter, Mario Margossian, head of Argentina Boxing Promotions, his trainer Eduardo Molina, and his assistant Gustavo Garay Rezola, to participate in the promotional activities.

 

"I feel wonderful. I made the best preparation ever, the best in my life. The workouts in Las Vegas were very demanding. The sparrings were much more intense and of higher level than the ones we can get in Argentina. In addition, with Miguel I learnt a lot of important aspects to consider, and improved lots of others. It was just what I needed", said the 29-year-old Maciel, who finished eight of his last nine victims in less than five rounds.

 

After stopping in five rounds his countryman Alejandro Falliga, to defend his Latino belt for the fifth time on September 7th. at the Luna Park Stadium in Buenos Aires, Maciel, who was named Latino Boxer of the Year by the WBO, started his training at home before travelling to Las Vegas to conclude his camp at Top Rank's gym, where he had as his sparring former world title challenger, American Mike Jones, and Puerto Rican Carlos De León Jr., among others. And now, he plans to show what he has done.

 

"We worked very hard. Although I always give my best in every training, the rhythm and style is very different in Las Vegas. You just turn around and who have great champions training at the same place as you. All this made ​​me give much more of me, made me get out everything I have inside, which is what I need for the bout against Rose", added who will have his second presentation abroad, after his frustrated fight against Armenian-born American Vanes Martirosyan, in a highly world ranked junior middleweight bout, which was scheduled for April 6th. in Macau, China, but was cancelled due to an injury in his opponent.

 

"This is the most important fight of my life. Although I had a world title opportunity, now I am in a better shape, more experienced and fighting in my weight division. I'm a totally different boxer. And in case of winning, I would go for the world title, which is what I desire. It's a chance which I'm not planning on wasting", stated who after making the distance against WBO middleweight world champion Dmitry Pirog in Russia, on March 2011, went down to the 154 pounds -his real division- where he has nine victories in a row.

 

With his weight controlled and everything according to what has been planned, “The Beast” already imagines his Saturday's challenge: "We have watched several of Rose's fights and studied him.  He comes forward, solidly, maybe not that fast, but he comes forward and looks for the fight, always with a high and closed guard, in a compact way, which makes it difficult to connect him. I go forward as well, so it will be a toe to toe fight. It's going to be a nice one. I have to go out there and win from the beginning, and impose my presence wisely".

 

Although his opponent has faced strong rivals, and has knocked out former world champions such as Vivian Harris and Joachim Alcine, together with the fact of fighting at his own backyard, Maciel has no fear. "I know he has faced important boxers. But I pay more attention to the way he fights. He is a good boxer, but I see myself stronger than him. It doesn't matter that he is fighting at home, in front of his people. I have to focus on making my fight. I'm ready to go to twelve rounds, or to win before the bell, if I get the opportunity. With the preparation I did, I can't wait to go out there and show it on the ring", he considered.

 

"I have trained really hard, harder than ever. I am going to go out there to win, to take the fight to the strategy that most suits me, and I trust it will be that way. I am going to win the fight", he concluded.

 

Maciel and Rose clash on a massive boxing night in Sheffield. In the other main event, undefeated hometown favorite Kell Brook (30-0, 22 KOs) will face former Ukrainian world champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (34-1, 23 KOs), in an IBF welterweight world title eliminator.