Betfair Big Interview: Gavin Rees

/ Ralph Ellis / 26 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"I’ve got to put in a great performance and win Prizefighter, and then maybe I’ll fight Amir Khan in the future."

Audley Harrison used the Prizefighter promotion to revive his career - and former WBA World Light Welterweight Champion Gavin Rees is hoping to do the same next Friday. Betfair went to meet the Welsh star to talk about his ambitions to win his belt back from Amir Khan.

Hi Gavin, and how are your preparations going?

Great thanks. I'm still sparring until the end of this week with Bradley Price, and then I'll know I've done the hard work and can chill out a little bit. I've been training hard for eight weeks since my last fight. I've had to because I was out of the ring more than a year before that

The Prizefighter nights have got a good profile since the heavyweights...

Everyone who wins it gets a title shot, that's why as soon as they came to me I thought it was a quick route back to the top, whether it's for a European, a world title, or whatever. It puts me back in the mix.

Do you need to prepare any differently because of the Prizefighter format?

No, it's the same. It's just doing the fitness work and sparring eight to 10 rounds every day. Even when I went up to London for a day to promote it, I did my sparring when I got back. I'm 29, I know what I'm doing, I'm not leaving anything to chance because I'm planning for a really good night and then boxing for a title next year.

You came back in August with a good win over Johnny Greaves. Has that helped rebuild your confidence after losing your world title?

To be honest I don't think my confidence was bad anyway. As for that fight, I was expected to win. Even so, I felt I looked sharp and I just battered him to be honest.

Why did you have such a long break between losing your title and the Greaves fight?

It was nothing to do with me. There was a court case between Frank Warren and Joe Calzaghe about money, and all that situation was going on, and me and the rest of the boys in the gym were caught in the middle. He's our promoter, they weren't talking, so there was no work done, it was really frustrating because it wasn't our fault, but we stuck loyal to Enzo. He had taken care of me since I was nine, had been training me for 20 years, so I couldn't get up and say: 'I'm off'. Now I'm glad I can get on, forget about all that stuff, and look forward to the future.

Tell us about working with Enzo Calzaghe. What's so special about him?

He'll scream his head off and swear at you all day, and some people will look at that and think: 'What's he up to?', but he has got the respect of the lads and he gets the best out of us all, 100 per cent. He keeps you fit and he's a great trainer. I don't think he gets the recognition he deserves.

Does Joe get more involved now?

No, to be honest since he's done the dancing we only see him once or twice a week. He's not a trainer. Some people can train, some can't, and he'll come down and watch a bit and do his own stuff, but it's Enzo who is our trainer. He knows what he's on about, and it takes a special person sometimes to be able to bring the best from you.

Has all the time out changed you at all?

I realised when I lost the title it was because I wasn't training properly. I'd not lost a fight for 13 years, and I had got into thinking I was unbeatable, that I could put anybody away. When I lost it was gutting, devastating, and it made me think hard about myself and make sure I got myself right. Now I'm glad to be back, I'm a fighter and when I'm not in the ring part of my life is missing.

It must make it worse that Amir Khan is defending what was your title the night after Prizefighter. How do you see that going?

I've never seen Dmitriy Salita box, to be honest. I know he's unbeaten but I don't really know how good he is. I've seen other people who are unbeaten and then you watch them and they are terrible and you wonder how they could be. Salita's fought in his own country a lot. I'd take Khan to win, he'll jab and work.

How do you rate Khan?

He's a great boxer, no doubt, and if he had a good chin he'd be really good, but he's always got that little thing that he could be knocked out. He's been with people who are featherweights and not good punchers and struggled with them. Michael Gomez had him down, and he got caught cold by Breidis Prestcott. There's always a chance if you're a good puncher. If he sticks to his game plan he'll win though.

Do you fancy a shot at him?

I've got to put in a great performance and win Prizefighter first, and then maybe I'll fight him in the future. If Warren and Calzaghe can sort it out I don't know, but I'd fancy it.

We wish you luck, and we've a free £50 bet for a favourite charity...

Thanks. I'll back myself to win Prizefighter at [2.5], and when I do the money can go to Cancer Research Wales.