Cox Eyes Brook, Broadhurst, Purdy-Lothian – News

Super-flyweight prospect Don Broadhurst will be keeping a close eye on this weekend’s super-clash between the division’s leading lights in America. Vic Darchinyan will defend his IBF, WBC and WBA world titles against Jorge Arce in a mouth-watering showdown in California, a bout to be shown live on Showtime in the States.

Unbeaten Broadhurst says the clash is bringing some much needed exposure to the division – and he will be studying videos of the fight in the hope that he might one day fight the winner.

“They are two great fighters and it’s fantastic to have a super-fight at my weight,” said Broadhurst.

“People are always talking about the middleweights and the welterweights, but now we’ve got a great fight down at super-flyweight, and boxing fans are going to realise that us little guys can produce the goods as well.”

Broadhurst makes a defence of his Commonwealth title on February 28 at the NIA in Birmingham, on a card that will also see the professional debuts of the 2008 Olympians.

And he’s hoping for an even bigger show to come to Birmingham in the next few years.

“I’ve been tracking Arce and Darchinyan since they were flyweights and I was a flyweight, and hopefully our paths will cross at some point in the future,” he said.

“I’d love to meet one of them at Villa Park here in Birmingham either next year or in 2011.

“I’ve dreamed of big fights ever since I turned professional and I’m going to make sure I get them.

“I’ve been running up and down hills in the snow all week, and that’s the kind of committment I’m going to show for the next 18 months as I battle for a world title.”

COX EYES UP BROOK

Swindon star Jamie Cox has set his sights on a mouthwatering showdown against British welterweight champion Kell Brook.

Undefeated Brook is just one fight away from winning a Lonsdale belt outright, and has won his title fights in the seventh, first and second rounds.

But his red-hot punching power isn’t deterring Cox, also unbeaten, from demanding a fight – and the 22-year-old star is eying a clash with the Yorkshireman later in 2009.

First he fights in his hometown at the Oasis Sports Centre on February 13 against Doncaster warrior Jason Rushton over eight rounds.

And he knows an impressive performance in front of the Sky Sports cameras and his home town fans could move him a step closer to his dream showdown.

“Kell is great fighter but I reckon I will be ready for him later this year,” said stylish southpaw Cox, who won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

“It’s going to be coming to me soon, whenever he’s ready to have the fight.”

And Cox shrugged off the fact he’s just had nine professional outings since turning over in 2007.

“Kostya Tszyu won a world title in his 14th fight,” he said. “I don’t want to run before I can walk, but I know that I will soon be ready for Kell Brook.

“I know it is going to be an exciting fight, the public know it is going to be exciting.

“He should be watching me, he should be studying me to know what I’m about.

“I hit to the body and head just as hard as Kell Brook but I think I have got a much better boxing brain.”

Cox was ringside to see Brook successfully defend his British title at York Hall on Friday with a second round stoppage of Stuart Elwell.

And the manner of the victory didn’t stop him handing Brook a written invitation afterwards asking for the fight.

No pain, no gain for Purdy

Colchester’s Lee “Lights Out” Purdy says he spent Christmas licking his wounds following the first defeat of his career on in December. Having remained unbeaten in his first ten starts Purdy lost a thrilling Southern Area Light Welterweight title scrap with seasoned campaigner Peter McDonagh live on ITV 4. The fact that the high octane ten rounder was a domestic thriller did nothing to ease his disappointment.

“It was a great fight but it shouldn’t have been a great fight. All respect to Peter McDonagh but I should have dominated that fight from start to finish and made it easy. He was catching me clean in their time and time again. I’m lucky he’s not a big puncher because if he was I could have got hurt.

“I was gutted afterwards and people were coming up to me and saying that it was the best fight they’d seen in ages but that was no consolation whatsoever. It’s very hard to accept your first defeat but I’ve no complaints about the decision. McDonagh deserved it, he’s a good pro and he won the fight fair and square.

Purdy will have the opportunity to get back to winning ways on February 28th when he takes on Leonard Lothian on the undercard of Jon Thaxton’s first European Lightweight title defence at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich.

“I learned a painful lesson in the McDonagh fight and it’s made me realise just how much I want to make a success of my pro career so hopefully it can be the making of me. If I’m honest with myself I hadn’t prepared right for that fight. Training had gone well and I was ready to do the 10 rounds but I didn’t do the weight properly and that cost me.

“I cut the weight too quick and my trainer Tony Sims could see it in the corner on the night. From the third round I had nothing left and I paid the price for that. The good thing is that I’m still only 21 so it’s better to learn these lessons early in your career instead of later on because I can get out of the bad habits now.

Purdy is already gunning for a rematch with McDonagh but says fight fans shouldn’t expect another thriller. “If I prepare right then I know I can make it an easy fight. I underestimated McDonagh last time but I won’t be making that mistake again. Once I get Lothian out of the way I’d love another crack at McDonagh. I’m a lot more focused now since that defeat and it’s made me realise how much I want to make a real success of my career.”

Featuring on the exciting undercard: Danny McIntosh v Matthew Barney for the English Light Heavyweight Title (subject to Boards approval), also appearing New Heavyweight Sensation Tyson Fury, Matthew Thirlwall and making his pro debut, ABA Senior Featherweight Champion 2008 & awarded the best boxer of the night Royston’s Bradley Evans.

Tickets for Purdy – Lothian which is part of the undercard of Jon Thaxton’s first European title defence at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich on the 28th February are available from the Ticketline box office on 0871 424 4444 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.

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