By Terence Dooley
Michael Jennings is gearing up for his British welterweight title challenge against Kell Brook; the fight takes place on the undercard of Paul Smith’s challenge to British light-heavyweight boss Tony Quigley. Jennings, a former world title challenger, believes that experience will be served come October the 30th.
Jennings has held the British title before; he lost the belt after a seesaw war with Young Mutley back in 2006. Michael regrouped well following that loss, putting together a six-fight run that culminated in a challenge for Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight title.
Although brave, Jennings was out of his depth that night in February; Cotto broke Michael down with body shots, before clinically knocking Jennings out in the fifth round.
However, Chorley’s Jennings feels that his edge in experience will tell come the fight with Kell. Jennings told The Liverpool Echo that his fight with Cotto was a learning experience, and that Sheffield’s Brook is still not the finished article.
“Every fight is a big fight, whether it is an eight rounder or a world title, but this is obviously important,” stated Jennings. “I want to be back up there challenging for world titles again, and if I beat Kell, the chances of that happening greatly improve. It was a great experience fighting Cotto, and even though I lost, I took a lot from the defeat.”
“He caught me with a couple of good body shots, and I have gone back to the gym and worked on that to make sure I don’t get hit with those kind of punches again,” he continued. “It was no disgrace to lose to Cotto because he is one of the best fighters in the world at the moment. Anyone could have got beaten in the same way that I did, and it might happen to Manny Pacquiao when they fight later this year.”
A young man at 31, Jennings has boxed conservatively for the majority of his career, there is plenty left in the tank, he has shown in the past that he is a high-quality counter puncher; consequently, Michael had no doubts about continuing in the wake of the Cotto defeat.
“I went to the press conference afterwards and stated then it was always my intention of carrying on, and I was straight back into the gym,” roared Michael. “I’m only 31 and I’ve been beaten twice, once by a world class fighter and once when I thought I should have got the decision.”
“Some people think that Kell Brook only has to turn up to beat me, but I bring a lot to the table and I am very experienced,” he explained. “He’s been beating everyone who has been put in front of him recently, and the Board of Control have been approving them as opponents, so full credit to him, but I’m the most experienced man he’s faced.”
The fight takes place at Liverpool’s Echo Arena; with Jenning’s looking to prove a point, and Kell in fine form, it could be turn into a classic encounter of orthodox boxing versus mercurial power. Come what may, the Liverpool boxing fans will be the winners on the night.
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