Gavin Rees – Andrey Kotelnik

By Boxing News - 03/19/2008 - Comments

Gavin Rees says he’ll give Amir Khan a pasting – after he’s dealt with Andreas Kotelnik in Cardiff on Saturday night. The Rock defends his WBA light-welterweight crown at the CIA against his dangerous mandatory challenger, live on Setanta Sports. But he believes he will win – and then go on to wreck the career of Khan later this year..

” Kotelnik is a good fighter, and I know I’ll have my work cut out to beat him,” said undefeated Rees, who won the belt against Souleymane M’Baye last summer.

” But I’m in the shape of my life and ready to go 12 hard rounds against anyone. I don’t believe Kotelink can beat me.”

And the 27-year-old Welshman added that he also fancies a shot at Commonwealth lightweight champion Khan.

” He’s been opening his gob a lot recently, but if he does that when he’s near me I’ll stick my fist straight in it,” said Rees at a public work out today.

” Khan reckons he’s Mr Big, but put him in the ring with me and I’ll give him a right good pasting. I really believe I’ll smash him to pieces.

” After I’ve sent Kotelnik packing I’ll be straight on the phone to our promoter Frank Warren begging him to get the Khan fight done, because I’ll knock him out in six rounds.”

Andrey Kotelnik Ready For Gavin Rees

Universum light welterweight contender Andreas Kotelnik, currently #1 of the WBA rankings, will travel to Great Britain this coming weekend for the second time as the mandatory challenger. On March 22nd he will challenge the local hero and reigning WBA light welterweight champion Gavin Rees (27-0-0 (13)) in Cardiff/Wales..

Kotelnik (28-2-1 (12)) of the Ukraine, who boxes out of Hamburg and is trained by Michael Timm, wants to fulfil his dream and become world champion. In his second title bout Kotelnik certainly wants to get pass the controversial draw against the former world champion Souleymane M´Baye in Liverpool last year.

„In that fight it appeared not only to boxing experts and the fans that I had won and would be the new world champion.. the British judges saw it differently though. The WBA had noticed that and still rated me as the mandatory challenger and #1 of the rankings. Luckily I got through the preparation of this fight without any injuries and was highly motivated throughout this time. The training camp in Sölden/Austria was great and I’m in perfect shape. In this upcoming fight against Rees I want to demonstrate that I’m the best and I’m hoping for a fair scoring of the judges,”

Kotelnik states. “My faith in god makes me even stronger and god will stand by me in this very important fight. I will win with God’s help!”

Gavin Rees pulled off a huge shock against Frenchman and former WBA light welterweight champion Souleymane M´Baye in July 2007 in Cardiff when he claimed the title by unanimous decision. In his first title defence, the 5’3 Gavin Rees must face again a much taller opponent as his challenger Andreas Kotelnik is 54 7½.

This fight for the WBA light welterweight championship will take place on Saturday March 22nd at 10:00pm (11:00pm local time) at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff / Wales and is the headlining the boxing event which is presented by Frank Warren (Sports Network).

Rugby Heroes Back Gavin Rees To Win

Wales’ Grand Slam winners are backing Gavin Rees to beat Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday night – and bring more glory to Cardiff. The Welsh rugby team made it a clean sweep of the Six Nations when they defeated France at an emotional Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon. And the squad are hoping to be present when Rees makes the first defence of his WBA crown against a dangerous mandatory challenger at the C.I.A, Cardiff..

Winning captain Ryan Jones said: “Good luck to Gavin from myself and the rest of the Wales team.

“Welsh sport has a feel good factor about it at the moment, not least because of our Grand Slam victory last weekend and we are backing Gavin to keep the smile on Welsh faces on Saturday night and defend his title whilst throwing a few ‘Grand Slams’ of his own.”

Rees, 27, is hoping to maintain his unbeaten record against Kotelnki following his stunning victory over Souleymane M’Baye last July to land the WBA strap.

It was a huge upset – but Rees is determined to prove it was no fluke.

“I watched the rugby on Saturday and it was an amazing game,” he said. “With the score all square after an hour, it could have gone either way, but the boys showed true Welsh spirit to up trumps.

“The atmosphere in South Wales over the last few days has been unbelievable, and I’m aiming to keep up the party spirit with a comprehensive win over Kotelnik.”