 Rees is unbeaten in a nine-year professional career |
Gavin Rees has been given a wake-up call by his own promoter ahead of his shot at Souleymane M'Baye's WBA title. The light welterweight clash has been twice delayed, but goes ahead at the Cardiff International Arena on 21 July.
Frank Warren promotes both fighters, and he has warned Welshman Rees, 27, it is time to deliver on his talent.
"Gavin's hands are full and his biggest problem is himself. He's a quality boxer and if he showed some discipline he could win the title," said Warren.
"He is 26-0 despite some of the crap he has got into outside of the ring.
"But Gavin is fighting the guy Ricky Hatton wouldn't fight. Hatton vacated rather than fight M'Baye."
Rees believes that the great tradition of Welsh boxing will help him take M'Baye's title.
 | WALES' WORLD CHAMPIONS Percy Jones (World flyweight champion, 1914) Freddie Welsh (World lightweight champion, 1914-17) Jimmy Wilde (World flyweight champion, 1916-23) Howard Winstone (WBC featherweight champion, 1968) Steve Robinson (WBO featherweight champion, 1993-95) Robbie Regan (IBF flyweight champion, 1995, WBO bantamweight champion, 1996) Barry Jones (WBO super featherweight champion, 1997) Joe Calzaghe (WBO super middleweight champion, 1997-, IBF super middleweight champion 2006) Enzo Maccarinelli (WBO cruiserweight champion, 2006-) |
"There's a proud tradition of champions from Wales and I plan to join the greats. I've waited years for this," he said.
"I've had trouble outside of the ring in the past and it took me a little while to get my life sorted out.
"But thanks to my trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, I'm 100% focused now and ready to win a world title.
"I've had the privilege of training with Joe Calzaghe since I've been a pro and recently with Enzo Maccarinelli.
"I've waited years for this. M'Baye is an excellent champion but I'm taking his title, there's nothing he can do."
Unbeaten Newbridge man Rees has a record of 26-0 (13 KOs), but M'Baye will be a significant step up in class.
Weight problems cost Rees - known as 'the Rock' - a world title shot in 2004, while injury and ill-discipline have also held the talented fighter back.
Frenchman M'Baye, 32, holds a record of 35-1-1 (20 KOs).
The Paris man claimed the vacant WBA title with a fourth-round TKO of Raul Horacio Balbi in Bolton in September.
His first defence, against Andreas Kotelnik in Liverpool in March, was a 12-round draw.
M'Baye's only defeat was in a shot at then-WBA champion Vivian Harris' title in 2003.
The Frenchman dropped a 12-round points decision in Las Vegas, his only fight outside Europe.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 