Pound-for-pound number one Cecilia Braekhus (22-0, 6 KOs) will defend her WBA, WBC and WBO Female Welterweight Titles against WBO Female Light Middleweight Champion Oxandia Castillo (12-0-2, 9 KOs) at the Nordic Fight Night in Frederikshavn on September 7. Here is the latest from the First Lady prior to the clash of champions.

 

Q: It´s not long until the fight, how has the training been going?

CB: “Everything is going fine. We are training twice a day at the Max-Schmeling-Gym, normal training in the morning and then sparring in the afternoon. That´s very exhausting but just what I need to be in top shape. I need to be at my very best to beat an opponent like Oxandia.”

 

Q: Just like you, Oxandia is an unbeaten champion. She just shocked the boxing world with a KO win over Hanna Gabriel. What do you think of her?

CB: “She is young, hungry and very strong. That´s a dangerous mixture. She has a lot of power, so I must not get hit. In boxing, one punch can change the whole fight. I have to be very concentrated for the full ten rounds. I have a lot of respect for Oxandia. The way she defeated Gabriel was impressive.”

 

Q: Have you changed anything in your training routine to prepare for her?

CB: “Not really. We do little things differently all the time. This time, we wanted to add a little bit of strength, so we have worked on that. But you can´t really change too much. It´s important to keep your own style and make sure you are in top shape, which I will be on September 7.”

 

Q: It´s not often that you face fighters who are that much younger than you. What is that like?

CB: “It´s no problem. I am super fit, so even though she is younger, she won´t be in better shape. But I see a little bit of myself in her. I remember the time when I was 18, ready to take on the entire world. I wanted to be the number one and I wanted to fight everyone. I worked very hard to become world champion and the pound-for-pound number one. I won´t let her take that away from me.”

 

Q: What do you think of fighting in Frederikshavn again?

CB: “I love fighting in Frederikshavn. Arena Nord is a great place for boxing. The support of the Danish fans has always been fantastic. And of course there will be hundreds of Norwegians coming over, which really means a lot to me. It´s so good to have their support. Boxing is a great sport… for the athletes, the fans on TV and especially for the fans in attendance. It´s one of the great live sporting experiences. I want to invite all the Norwegian fans to come to Frederikshavn to see me fight Castillo. It will be a dramatic and exciting night.”

 

Tickets for the Nordic Fight Night are available at www.arenanord.dk . Fellow Norwegians Simen Smaadal and Tim-Robin Lihaug will also be in action.

12 Questions with Georgie Kean - Frank Warren’s New Signing Makes his Pro Debut at The Copper Box

1.How old are you?

22

 

2.Where are you from?

Islington, North London

 

2.What’s your day job?

Personal Trainer

 

3.What’s your nickname?

Gorgeous George

 

4.Tell us about your amateur career.

I boxed for England. I won 2 national champions and boxed for Repton. I fought all over the place, I fought in Lagos Nigeria, Cyprus, Switzerland- I really travelled about.

 

5.Why did you choose to turn pro now?

I’ve always had a pro style and I have always been in exciting fights even when I didn’t need to be. I was going turn pro since I was 18, but now feels like the right time.

 

6. Who do you know from your amateur days that’s now in the pro game?

Ricky Boylan and Bradley Skeete I didn’t box against them but we were coming through at the same time and were in and around the same circuit. I also know Frank Buglioni who I boxed for Repton with, as well as Charlie Hoy.

 

7.What are your interests away from boxing?

I’m big into my fashion and I always like to look smart. I like to eat nice food and go to nice restaurants.

 

8. Tell us about your style?

Best qualities are my shot selection and my exiting style. I like to say I’m Joe Calzaghe Ricky Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya all wrapped into one and you will see that on the 21st September

 

9.Who’s your favourite current fighter?

Nathan Cleverly is a great fighter, really fit and a solid chin. Obviously I train with James DeGale who really has unbelievable talent. So those two.

 

10. Which current fighter do you most dislike?

I’ve got no real issues with any fighter in particular. A lot of people don’t like Audley Harrison for instance, but I love his never give up attitude and have become a real fan of his.

 

11.Which current match would you most like to see made?

The stand out one would be Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio but not sure that will happen as there’s a lot that will stand in the way of it, alternatively I’d love to see Mayweather against Amir Khan and if not that I’d love to fight Floyd myself, now that I’m a pro!

 

12. You have a big following already, how many Georgie Kean fans are going to be at your debut at The Copper Box?

As soon as I get out of here I’m going to rally the troops, and make sure their all there in force. We’ve hopefully got a whole block so there is going to be a lot of noise in that place, and if anyone wants to join that block get in touch now!

 

Amateur starlet Georgie Kean’s pro debut is part of a terrific undercard for ‘Rock The Box’ at The Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Park, which is headlined by the highly anticipated Billy Joe Saunders v John Ryder British title showdown. The action is exclusively live on BoxNation.

 

The card will see Britain’s most controversial boxer, Dereck Chisora take his next step towards another crack at a Klitchsko brother, as he looks to build on his stoppage win against Malik Scott in an international heavyweight contest. Whilst British Welterweight Champion Frankie Gavin, makes the first defence of both the British and Commonwealth titles as he attempts to secure the Lonsdale belt outright. Merseyside's exciting 'Baby-Faced Assassin, British and Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion Paul Butler faces Chiles Miguel Gonzalez for the WBO Intercontinental title.

 

In addition to all this, a cracking Commonwealth Super-Featherweight Title showdown takes place between Liam Walsh and Joe Murray, whilst the KO specialist elder Walsh brother Michael also appears on the bill looking to extend his 100% perfect resume.

 

The hotly touted Mitchell Smith also has his first tilt at a title when he faces Scott Moises for the Southern Area Super- Featherweight Title, whilst Super Middleweight sensation Frank Buglioni will be bringing his army of over 600 fans to the venue.

 

Another top Amateur star Josh Leather is also debut on the card.

 

Tickets for the Copper Box Arena show are priced at:

 

£40 Upper Concourse

 

£50 Lower Seating Bowl

 

£70 Floor

 

£120 Ringside

 

And are available now from:

 

Eventim*

 

Box Office: 0844 269 1000

Hall of Fame ring announcer heading to Glasgow for World title clash

Hall of Fame ring announcer Michael Buffer will call Ricky Burns and Raymundo Beltran to the ring when the pair clash for Burns’ WBO World lightweight crown on September 7 at the SECC in Glasgow, live on Sky Sports.

The American legend will be whipping up the crowd as Burns steps into the ring in his eighth world title bout and the fourth defence of his belt, and Buffer is excited to be heading to Scotland as the Coatbridge ace tackles the Mexican.

“When Eddie Hearn reached out to me for this event, I jumped at the chance,” said Buffer. “I was originally booked in Los Angeles for JC Chavez's fight which was cancelled and postponed. Eddie asked if I was now free to come to Glasgow for ‘Rickster's’ title defence I couldn’t say no – Ricky has unbelievable fans!”

Buffer wanted some qualified and knowledgeable information on the challenger, ‘Sugar’ Beltran, so he called Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler at Top Rank, Inc. – and was told Glasgow can expect a great night.

“I contacted my long-time pal Bruce and he told me this guy is hungry and can crack, he is in tremendous condition and is a very dangerous opponent who gives Manny Pacquiao all he can handle in sparring sessions,” said Buffer. “I think we are in for a great fight and anyone who knows Ricky knows that's the only way he would want it to be. He wants to fight the top guys in his division. In his last fight he was behind, knew it and reached down inside with that will power to win that all great athlete have. Ricky is something special. I'm just damn glad that I have a chance to be in Glasgow again for this one.”

Burns vs. Beltran tops a brilliant bill in Glasgow, with Olympic Gold medallist Luke Campbell MBE boxing for the second time as a pro and joined by the return of British featherweight champ Paul Appleby, Jon Slowey, Stephen Simmons, Scotty Cardle, David Brophy and Michael Roberts.

Tickets are on sale now priced £40, £60 & £100 available through www.ticketsoup.com or by calling 08443954000. VIP packages are on sale now priced £200 exclusively through Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com .