Brian Rose will face Joachim Alcine at the Blackpool Winter Gardens on April 20 in Betfair’s ‘The New Life of Brian’, live on Sky Sports.
The Lonsdale belt holder is ready to step up from the British scene as he hunts World honours and the 28 year old is excited about facing the former WBA champion in front of his home fans.
“Anything put in front of me I’ll take and I’m ready for the next chapter,” said Rose. “I want to step on from British level up to World level and we’ll see if I’m ready for that against Alcine. I think I am and so do the team so lets’ do it.
“I’m over the moon to land this fight and to get it at home is even better. I get great support in Blackpool and I hope they all turn up on April 20 for a great night.”
Rose’s career has been on the up and up since bouncing back from defeat against Max Maxwell in May 2010 to land the British belt in November 2011 and avenge his Maxwell loss in his first defence last March. ‘The Lion’ saw off Kris Carslaw and Sam Webb to claim the Lonsdale belt and trainer Bobby Rimmer has praised his charge for always rising to the challenge.
“Brian does step up to the plate, every fight we put in front of him he takes without flinching,” said Rimmer. “We’ve worked so hard as a team and there’s never been a doubt that he can get to the top, so I’m excited about seeing him get in with the best.”
Rose headlines a huge show on the Fylde coast, with fellow Blackpool fighter Scotty Cardle fighting for his first pro title on the card when he takes on Maxi Hughes for the Central Area lightweight title. The 23 year old first boxes for the tenth time in the pro ranks on March 30 in Liverpool just a year and three days after making his pro debut, and Cardle is itching to land his first honours in the paid ranks.
“I am ready to rise to a bigger challenge and get that first title in the bag,” said Cardle. “I’ve got an important fight in Liverpool first and then I’m looking to take the Central belt and meet the best in England.
“I don’t want to rush myself but I’m ready to get British title fight later this year I think, and that starts with my first big test on home soil. It’s a god send fighting in Blackpool for my first title, I’m happy to be back home and to win my first title in my home town will be great.”
After announcing he expects Rose to box for an IBF belt, promoter Eddie Hearn revealed there would be exciting news on the chief support soon and believes this is the first of many fights for Rose at the top level.
“We want to build Brian into a big star in Britain and it starts on April 20,” said Hearn. “We’re stepping Brian up to World level and this is the first rung on that ladder, we’re looking at 12 to 18 months for a World title shot. I’d like to box him on the Froch Kessler bill too so if he can get through the April 20 fight in good fashion and be healthy, that could happen. But I want to keep him busy and that needs to happen for him to get to World level.
“We’re building a great card in Blackpool with Rose and Cardle joined by Kal Yafai, Callum Smith and Thomas Stalker, and an exciting chief-support will be announced next week.”
