Kell Brook has vowed to prove he’s ready for his IBF World Welterweight title shot when he taken on former World champion Vyacheslav Senchenko at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield tomorrow night (October 26), live on Sky Sports.
Brook tackles the Ukrainian conqueror of British boxing hero Ricky Hatton with IBF king Devon Alexander and his challenger Shawn Porter in the winner’s sights. The unbeaten Sheffield star believes he’ll be the one facing the winner of that November 30 bout early in 2014, and cannot wait to put on a big display tomorrow night.
“I’m going to prove on Saturday night why they call me the Special One,” said Brook, who tipped the scales at 10st 6lbs 2oz, with Senchenko scaling 10st 6lbs 13oz. “Last time Senchenko came over here he left a happy man, but I can assure you that this time he will go home a sad man.
“After the first round he is going to realise that he is in with a totally different animal than he has ever been in with before. I’ve taken myself away from my family home to live next door to my trainer.
“I have got a lot of respect for this guy, last time he came here he upset us all by beating Ricky Hatton. I know he means business because only Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have done that.
“The respect is there but tomorrow night that goes out of the window and I’m going to let me fists do the talking and prove that I belong in that number one spot at the elite, top level.”
Brook’s clash with Senchenko tops a great line-up of action in Sheffield, with Brian Rose also closing in on a World title as he faces Javier Maciel in a final eliminator for the WBO Light Middleweight strap.
Rising Liverpool star Callum Smith meets Ruben Acosta for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight International title and Olympic Gold medal hero Anthony Joshua MBE faces Paul Butlin in his second professional fight. There’s a welcome return to action for Kal Yafai, the exciting 8-0 bantamweight who boxes for the first time since injuring his bicep in his last outing in March, while popular Sheffield fighters Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Sam O’Maison also feature.
Tickets are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60 and £100 through the Motorpoint Arena – www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk – and on 0114 2565656.
VIP packages priced £200 are available exclusively through Matchroom Boxing – www.matchroomboxing.com – or call 01277 359900.
SATURDAY’S RUNNING ORDER WITH WEIGHTS (WHERE APPLICABLE – CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
LIVE SKY SPORTS 3: 6pm-8pm
6pm 6 x 3 mins Lightweight Contest
SCOTT JENKINS (9st 9lbs 5oz) v ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ (9st 8lb)
(Sheffield) (Spain)
Followed by 6 x 3 mins Bantamweight Contest
KAL YAFAI (8st 7lbs 4oz) v ABIGAIL MEDINA
(Birmingham) (Spain)
Followed by 10 x 3 mins Vacant WBC International Super-Middleweight Championship
CALLUM SMITH (11st 13lbs 10oz) v RUBEN ACOSTA (11st 13lbs 11oz)
(Liverpool) (Argentina)
Live float(s) 6 x 3 mins Lightweight Contest
SAM O’MAISON (9st 12lbs 5oz) v ASHLEY MAYALL (9st 10lbs 13oz)
(Sheffield) (Oldham)
4 x 2 mins Super-Featherweight Contest
JORDAN GILL v ARRON FLINN
(Cambridge) (Coventry)
LIVE SKY SPORTS 1: 8pm – 11:30pm
8pm 10 x 3 mins IBF Youth Middleweight Championship
ADAM ETCHES (11st 11lbs 3oz) v ALEXANDRE MENDES (11st 8lbs 10oz)
(Sheffield) (Brazil)
Followed by 12 x 3 mins Final Eliminator WBO World Light-Middleweight Championship
BRIAN ROSE (10st 12lbs 10oz) v JAVIER MACIEL (10st 12lbs 2oz)
(Blackpool) (Argentina)
Followed by 6 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest
ANTHONY JOSHUA (16st 8lbs 7oz) v PAUL BUTLIN (16st 11lbs 14oz)
(London) (Melton Mowbray)
Followed by 12 x 3 mins IBF World Welterweight Eliminator Contest
KELL BROOK (10st 6lbs 2oz) v VYACHESLAV SENCHENKO (10st 6lbs 13oz)
(Sheffield) (Ukraine)
