Denton Vassell is hunting a rematch with Frankie Gavin as he prepares to face Sam Eggington in a British Welterweight title eliminator at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester on September 13, live on Sky Sports.
Vassell challenged Gavin for the British and Welterweight title in June 2013 and was forced to retire before the start of the eighth round with a broken jaw. The Manchester man turns 30 on the day of the Eggington clash and having spent over a year on the side-lines, he aims to prove he’s still got plenty to offer in the 147lbs division.
“It’s my opportunity to show the fans that I am still here,” said Vassell. “I’m hungrier than ever and I’m very confident. I had a little injury but even when the doctor told me to stop I wanted to carry and that’s the fighter in me coming through. Obviously the doctor has to do his job but I am confident that I would’ve gone on to win the fight, I was a bit behind on points probably but I would have caught up to him.
“I’ve had to take the time to let the jaw heal, you are going to get caught in sparring so it had to be 110 per cent right so that I could get back training at full pelt. As soon as left the hospital though I was back doing ten mile runs and it’s made me hungrier, being a champion is about bouncing back from defeats.
“I hope Frankie can bounce back from his loss to Leonard Bundu; I would love the rematch. I am confident that I would beat him, but first things first, I have to concentrate on Sam.
“Sam comes to fight and he’s a tough lad, that’s something that I need. It’s a big fight in my back garden and it’s an exciting fight for the fans too. I live in the gym and I am really confident, I’ve been working on new things so let’s see what happens on September 13.”
Vassell’s clash with Eggington is part of an exciting night of action in Manchester, led by Scott Quigg’s WBA World Super Bantamweight title defence against Stephane Jamoye, with chief support coming from Anthony Crolla’s WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title defence against Gamaliel Diaz and Olympic gold medal hero Anthony Joshua MBE hunting an eighth KO win in the Heavyweight division.
Scotty Cardle challenges Kirk Goodings for the English Lightweight title in a British title eliminator, while local favourites Liam Hanrahan, Sam Hyde, Hosea Burton, Jimmy Kelly and debutant Marcus Morrison and Derbyshire’s Jack Massey.
