By Lee Collier
Blackpool’s Brian Rose returns to action on the 27th of February for the first time since the tragic happenings of his last fight, a fight in which he won the Central Area light-middleweight title. The 24-year-old’s celebrations were cut short when opponent Jason Rushton was rushed to hospital and placed into a drug-induced coma so that doctors could monitor a bleed on the fighter’s brain.
Rushton is now in a stable condition and Rose has decided that it is time to return to the ring. This time the Blackpool fighter will fight Frenchman Bertrand Aloa, 15-6 (1 early), for the vacant International Masters title and Rose is dedicating the fight to his injured opponent.
“I am going to dedicate the fight to Jason,” explained Rose. “I have only met Jason a few times and the way I know him now he wouldn’t want it to affect me. If I let it affect me then I may as well give up boxing because I’ll go in half-hearted and will get beat. I will use it to spur me on as I am dedicating the fight to Jason and hopefully he’ll be proud when I win the fight.”
This time out Rose challenges for his second belt in front of his hometown fans and is hoping for a successful title bid as he felt unable to celebrate last time out.
“There will be a lot more people from Blackpool there so it should be good. The night I won the Central area title in Bolton it kind of got taken away from me with the circumstances of what happened afterwards [Rushton collapsed in the dressing room straight after the fight]. I was more concerned with Jason,” recalled Rushton.
“I didn’t pick up my belt for a few months because I felt so bad afterwards. People wanted pictures with my belt but I said no because I knew they would go on Facebook and his girlfriend would have seen them. I have put that to the back of my mind and I just want to get on with boxing in Blackpool and this time it will be a better feeling when I win as there will be no horrible circumstances afterwards.”
Rose faces a tough Frenchman, who has six losses but has yet to be stopped, and he is confident that should fight become a tactical battle then there will only be one winner.
“I can imagine him being a tough boxer and I don’t have many stoppages myself. If he is going to try and beat me on points by out boxing me then I’m in. I think if anyone tries to outbox me then I’m confident of winning,” declared the 14-0-1 (4) fighter.
Rose will win his second title in four months if he beats Aloa and still harbours ambitions to defend the central area title he still holds, before trying to step up to British or English title fight.
“I still have the Central Area title and thought I was going to be defending it in Blackpool but I got the chance to fight for this new International Master’s title and it’s a good scalp,” claimed Rose.
“It’s a minor title but will give me two titles in the last four months which is brilliant for me. I am definitely looking at fighting a British eliminator or English title by the end of the year and I feel ready for the challenge.”
Tickets to see Jack and Brian on the ‘2 Titles at the Tower’ bill can be purchased by visiting www.vipbe.co.uk or www.vipboxingequipment.co.uk and are priced at £35. The full 8 fight undercard is included
