Brian Rose will face Javier Maciel in a final eliminator for the WBO World Light Middleweight title at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on October 26, live on Sky Sports.
Rose and Maciel provide the chief support to Kell Brook’s blockbuster Welterweight clash with Vyacheslav Senchenko. The Blackpool man steps into the contest on the back of his Inter-Continental belt stoppage win in his hometown of Blackpool in April, which he followed with a wide points triumph over Alexey Ribchev in Bolton in June.
The vacant title is contested by Demetrius Andrade and Vanes Martirosyan in Texas on November 16, and Rose will be putting everything into his preparations for Maciel to ensure he’s next in line for the winner of that bout.
“This is a great chance for me to land the World title shot I have been working my whole life for,” said Rose. “Maciel is a tough opponent and I know I will have to be at my very best to beat him, but we’ve got seven weeks to go until fight night and myself and Bobby Rimmer will leave no stones unturned in the gym to get the win.”
Maciel is in his third stint as the WBO Latino champion and fought Dmitry Pirog for the Middleweight crown in March 2011. The 30 year old has won his last four bouts inside the first five rounds, and promoter Eddie Hearn is expecting a great battle in Sheffield.
“This is a golden opportunity for Brian to secure his World title shot and become mandatory for the WBO title,” said Hearn. “Maciel is by far the biggest test of his career but I believe he is ready to make a statement in this fight. I’m delighted to be working with Top Rank and the WBO to make this fantastic bout.”
Rose and Maciel’s chief support bout to Brook’s test against Senchenko is all part of a great night of action in Sheffield.
Olympic Gold medallist Anthony Joshua MBE will box for the second time as a pro on the card after his debut at The O2 on October 5, there’s a spot on the card for Rose’s fellow Blackpool fighter Scotty Cardle.
Liverpool’s Callum Smith continued his incredible run of first round stoppage wins in Glasgow on Saturday and will be in action in the Steel City and 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.
