Tommy Coyle wants to face Kevin Mitchell on the Carl Froch vs. George Groves blockbuster rematch this summer – but knows he has to shine against Daniel Brizuela live on Sky Sports on Saturday night to land his shot.
The Hull Lightweight defends the IBF International title he captured in the Hull Ice Arena in November against John Simpson, and faces Argentinian danger man Brizuela in the same venue.
Coyle stopped the tough Scotsman in the seventh round to dismiss the demons of his heart-breaking KO loss to Derry Mathews in the summer, and says Saturday is his toughest assignment yet as he sets out to prove he is ready for big things this year.
“Daniel is a massive step up and I think it is a fight which will provide excitement,” said Coyle. “Everybody thinks that being an Argentinian, he is going to be come-forward, tough, aggressive fighter but he is actually a bit of a mover. He is a smart technician, he boxes on the back foot and he has a fantastic jab. I have sat down with my trainer Jamie Moore and we have worked out a game plan to beat him. It is going to be a tough fight, it is a 50/50 fight.”
Froch and Groves’ rematch is set to fill a stadium this summer and Coyle is aiming to pass Saturday’s examination against the Argentine to land a juicy all-Brit clash with former World title challenger Mitchell.
“That would be a fantastic fight and one I would be very confident of winning,” said Coyle. “If I was to beat Kevin, which I am confident that I will, then I could be fighting for a World title and become Hull’s first ever World champion.
“Eddie Hearn said that the fight could be on the Froch vs. Groves bill. That is a massive, massive opportunity for me and a massive incentive to win this fight.
“It would be a massive test but I think Kevin is ready for the taking. He has got a lot of miles on the clock, he is a fantastic fighter who has proved himself at the top of the domestic level and he has touched on World level. He has been in some great fights but I think it is my time. I think I am the younger, fitter, fresher, stronger kid coming up, and I think I can get the win.
“I think Saturday’s fight is tougher than the Derry one last summer because you have the pressure there of the carrot being dangled to face Kevin Mitchell. Derry has got huge punching power, great boxing ability. This guy has great boxing ability – he went to the Olympics, and that shows he has all the skills. I don’t want to count my chickens but I don’t think he has the power that Derry possesses.”
Coyle’s clash with Brizuela is part of an exciting bill in Hull, with Olympic Gold medal hero Luke Campbell MBE stepping up to eight-round action against Scott Moises in his fifth pro contest.
Darren Hamilton aiming to secure the Lonsdale belt for keeps when he defends his British Light Welterweight title against Curtis Woodhouse, while Doncaster’s Gavin McDonnell faces Leigh Wood for the vacant British Super Bantamweight title.
A trio of local prospects are in action in the form of Zak Collins, Joel Haigh and Charlie Payton, and there are four-rounders for Manchester’s Hosea Burton and New Malden’s Lerrone Richards and Liverpool Super Middleweight Tony Dodson, who is aiming to secure a Commonwealth title shot against Rocky Fielding on March 15.
