LOOMING in the considerable shadow cast by the other light middle weight showdown this weekend is a North West derby between Blackpool’s adopted Mancunian Brian Rose 17-1-1 (5) and Droylsden’s British champion Prince Arron 21-3 (4) at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Saturday December 3. Maloney Promotions and VIP Boxing co-promote with Sky Sports televising live.
This intriguing trade fight may not be set to a back drop of suspect hand wraps, last minute license queries or hate fuelled rivalry but it does throw up a slant on the routine challenger vs. Champion storyline as both fighters admit to a friendship outside of their chosen battle ground.
Indeed both camps, headed up by Bobby Rimmer and Bob Shannon have been thoroughly respectful of each other during the low key build up, stemming from the two coaches long personal and professional friendship, but both fighters acknowledge that their own friendliness will be put to one side come fight time. “I’ve got nothing but respect for Prince Arron, he’s just got something I want” Rose told me last Friday.
The 23-year-old defending British champion Prince Arron first came into prominence back in 2010 when he won Prizefighter the light middle weights securing him a shot at Sam Webb for the Lonsdale belt in May this year. The young up and comer seized his chance in a thrilling battle that saw him wear down the champion for a final round stoppage win. At 6ft 3ins the prince is tall for the weight with long limbs that he uses to his advantage but he can shorten those punches to good effect as seen against Webb. As a novice pro the student of Bob Shannon was matched tough against the likes of Anthony Small who handed him his first professional loss in only his fifth start, before suffering his second set back against Danny Reynolds two fights later, this time over the six round distance. His most notable win early in his career came in 2007 when he captured the British Masters middleweight strap with a 10 round points win over Peterborough puncher Cello Renda, before going in deep with then undefeated Irish prospect John Duddy, in Ireland in October 2007 losing in two rounds. He most definitely hasn’t benefitted from careful match making that is so often the case these days; instead he has come through those tough learning fights to become a champion in his own right. He is currently on an unbeaten run of 12 fights, blemished only by a draw against common opponent Max Maxwell in 2009, and will believe he has faced much the stiffer opposition thus far.
26-year-old challenger Brian Rose has spent a career under the tutelage of coach and good friend Bobby Rimmer and finds himself presented with this title chance after capturing the Central Area and English belts via the well trodden journeymen route of an up and coming prospect. His steady rise into British title contention was derailed by a shocking knockout loss to divisional danger man Max Maxwell last year but has since regrouped with three back to back victories and is in confident mood. “I’m ready to go to war if I have to, I’ve trained for it”
Having been originally set to defend his English title against Stoke Newington’s Erick Ochieng before getting the call to face Arron, Rose insists that it is the right time to move up in class. “Some fighters get thrown into Commonwealth title fights etc too early” said Rose, “But I’ve built myself up and I wouldn’t have taken it if I didn’t feel ready”. Arron countered by saying “I know Rose well, but there is no way I’m giving up my belt”
Neither man is a concussive puncher having scored only nine inside the distance wins between them in 38 fights so the stats point to a tactical, drawn out affair over the championship distance as each fighter looks to impose their style on the other. Rose will look to establish his cultured jab whilst avoiding the long arms of the champion who will believe he has the greater venom in his punches. This really is a pick ‘em fight in my opinion, despite Arron being an overwhelming prefight favourite with the bookies, and one that could go either way. If pressed to name a winner I would learn slightly towards the neater boxing skills of “The Lion” to cause a mini upset en route to becoming Blackpool’s first British champion since Brian London.
In the chief supporting contest talented Manchester prospect Karl Place faces Scouser Stevie Williams in a British light welterweight title eliminator. Place, with the unforgettable fighting nickname of “Bulb head” is keen to secure more television exposure and will see victory over Williams as the ideal springboard to that goal, but will be made to work by an opponent who has already challenged for the title in 2010, losing in the 10th round to Lenny Daws. I expect the undefeated Place to take a lopsided point’s decision or a late stoppage victory in an exciting match.
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