Brook vs Kotey on December 11; Burns is Ready For War
Kell Brook will face African opposition on December 11 in a defence of his WBO Intercontinental welterweight title.
The Sheffield sensation had been due to defend against former World title challenger Michael Clark, but Clark has had to withdraw from the contest after he encountered passport issues with US authorities due to unpaid child maintenance charges.
Instead Brook will meet Ghana's Philip Kotey at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Frank Warren's big 30th anniversary show, live on Sky Box Office.
The 28-year-old southpaw has 15 knockouts in 21 wins, with five losses and two draws in his eight year career.
And Brook knows that he will have to be at his best if he is to keep alive his hope of a world title shot in 2011.
"I want to send a message to Mike Jones, because he looks like the one I'll be fighting for the title," said Brook.
"Nothing less than a sensational knockout will satisfy me.
"I wanted to put Michael Jennings away, and I didn't get that chance because the fight was stopped on a cut.
"But this time around there will be no escape for Kotey.
"He's in for a painful night in Liverpool."
Unbeaten Brook, a former British champion, has compiled a classy unbeaten record since turning professional.
And he is on the verge of a transatlantic match up with US prospect Jones, who is promoted by Bob Arum.
"I've been waiting for a title shot for a long time," he said. "I'm so
close I can touch.
"I cannot afford to slip up now against Kotey."
Tickets for the Return of the Magnificent Seven, priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £250, are available from:
The Liverpool Echo Arena
0844 800 0400
www.echoarena.com
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
BURNS PROMISES TO TURN THE HEAT UP ON EVENSEN
Ricky Burns says he'll warm the hearts of fight fans this week after the Big Chill hit Scotland.
The 27-year-old makes the first defence of his WBO World Super-Featherweight title against
Andreas Evensen at the Braehead Arena, Glasgow on Saturday night.
The challenger is guaranteed a frosty reception after temperatures in the north of the UK plummeted to -15 this weekend.
Burns has been running in the snow in his native Coatbridge, and is refusing to let the weather disrupt his preparations.
It kept him away from a media event on Monday at a whisky distillery, but won't prevent him defending his title.
"We're used to a bit of cold up here, but I'm going to turn the heat up on Evensen on Saturday.
"He's going to find himself in a blizzard of punches - and there is no way he'll be able to dig himself out.
"My trainer Billy Nelson asked me if I wanted the heaters on at the gym the other day.
"But I told him I'll quite happily work up a head of steam all by myself.
"I've been running in the snow, real Rocky stuff, but as the old saying goes, no pain, no gain.
"The mercury might be falling outside, but at the Braehead arena on Saturday the battle will be white hot, and believe me, Evensen's in big trouble."
Tickets for Monarch of the Glen, priced at £50, £75 and £100, are available from:
Braehead Arena
0844 499 1700
www.braehead-arena.co.uk
Ticket Master
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
See Tickets
0871 620 7054
www.seetickets.com