21.03.08 Official Cardiff weigh-in

Gavin Rees makes the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title on Saturday night against Andreas Kotelnik - and will start the fight as a betting outsider in his home town.

But Rees is used to upsetting the odds after pulling off a huge shock against Frenchman Souleymane M'Baye in July at the CIA, Cardiff. It was one of the greatest upsets in British boxing history, although M'Baye had a nightmare.

Like Kotelink, the Parisian was vastly more experienced and bigger than the dimunitive Welshman, but lost widely on points, unable to keep up with Rees' ferocious work-rate.

The surprise victory was also a major coup for trainer Enzo Calzaghe, who for years been telling anyone who would listen just how much potential Rees had.

Now Rees has to repeat the trick against Kotelnik, who should arguably have beaten M'Baye in Liverpool last year.

Having won a split decision against the Ukrainian in France a couple of years earlier, M'Baye looked very lucky to have held on to his WBA crown with a laboured performance on Merseyside. The judges saw it a draw.

Kotelnik, a Ukrainian who now boxes out of Hamburg, showed the slick, counter-attacking skills that took him to the final of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where he lost to stand-out Cuban Mario Kindelan.

Rees will have to find a way of dealing with his awkward opponent, who at 30 years old is probably in his prime, and can call on the experience of 31 fights, eight of them championship affairs.

Mandatory for the WBA belt, Kotelnik has only lost in good company - apart from the defeat against M'Baye in Paris, the only man to have got past him is current WBC boss Junior Witter, and that was on a close points decision.

Rees, in contrast, is unbeaten, but much less experienced.
Until he toppled M'Baye, he was fighting domestic journeymen over four and six rounds, and his date against the Frenchman was his first championship distance fight for nearly six years.

That he adapted so well is in part down to the brilliant conditioning regime at Calzaghe Snr's Newbridge stable, and the dozens of rounds of quality sparring Rees gets with the likes of Bradley Pryce, Enzo Maccarinelli and Joe Calzaghe.

Still only 27, Rees should be fresh after a hassle-free apprenticeship, but beating Kotelnik looks a big ask.

As laid back a world champion as you are likely to meet, Rees will be on a high following his win over M'Baye, although the confidence of the stable as a whole will have taken a dent after Maccarinelli's devastating defeat at the fists of David Haye at the O2 Arena at the start of the month.

Rees will be giving up almost half a foot in height to Kotelnik, but the challenger isn't a noted puncher, and has scored just one stoppage in his last 12 fights, against 12 from 28 over all.

With his swarming, all action style, Rees will fancy nicking a close decision on the scorecards in a fight where he'll aim to be busier, although it wouldn't be a surprise to see Kotelnik doing the better work.

The pressure is on Calzaghe Snr, who has seen his "trainer of the year" tag take a bit of battering following Maccarinelli-Haye, and this is the second leg of a triple world title header involving his stable.

Back in more familiar territory at the CIA, Calzaghe Snr will be hoping to plot another glorious night in Welsh boxing history - and Rees will be looking for a second points win in a world championship fight.

discuss in FORUM HERE