Anthony Fowler vs Brian Rose middleweight fight

Date

The bout takes place on Friday, August 2

Venue

The home advantage goes to Fowler, the contest to be held at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool

Rounds scheduled

12 three-minute rounds at middleweight

Titles

The vacant WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title is up for grabs

Ringwalks

UK fight fans can expect the pair to make their ringwalks any time after 10pm (GMT)

TV Coverage

Coverage will be live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US

Live Stream

You can watch online via the Sky Sports website here: https://www.skysports.com/watch

Undercard Highlights

Former British champ Lewis Ritson (18-1) takes on ex-European champion Joe Hughes (17-4-1) in the first defence of the ‘Sandman’s’ WBA Continental super-lightweight title that he won last March against Arentinian German Argentino Benitez.

Press Conference Quotes

“I want tests and I want to be involved in the big fights,” said Fowler. “To be headlining a show in Liverpool is a great honour. I’m not in this game to be taking easy fights. Brian has mixed it at the top level throughout his career and this is a fantastic chance for me to test myself against an experienced opponent.

“I learnt a lot from my last fight and we went away and improved in a few areas. I know that I’m in for a tough night’s work but this is a fight that I feel ready and prepared for. Brian is a known name and I think he’ll get the best out of me on the night. This is strictly business and I’m ready to do the business in what is a must-win fight for me.”

Rose replied, “I think he’s a good fighter but he’s certainly not ready for me. I’m more experienced than him and I can do 12 rounds standing on my head. It’s a mismatch. 18 months out of the ring gave me time to think about what I wanted and I feel like I’ve got so much left in the tank to give.

“I sparred with him a few years ago and I get on with him but quite recently he’s slagged me off on social media. It’s left a bad taste in my mouth but I’ll deal with that on the night. For me this comeback isn’t about money, it’s not even about achievement, it’s about knowing I’ve got something left to give the sport that I’ve served for so long.”

Background

2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anthony Fowler was a standout amateur, representing his country for over a decade and racking up an incredible 190-19 record. As a pro, he stormed to nine wins unbeaten with eight coming by knockout. He then stepped into te ring with his old rival from the amateur days, Scott Fitzgerald, and suffered a very narrow points defeat in his 10th contest in March this year. It was a thrilling fight between two equally skilled boxers, with a genuine rivalry, that saw Fowler’s 10th round knockdown essentially cost him the decision on the tight scorecards.

He comes back from that sole defeat to headline his own show for the first time in his short two-year paid career against former world title challenger Brian Rose.

At 34, the Birmingham-born Blackpool-based Rose has had a fine career, winning the Central Area; English; British outright; and WBO Inter-Continental super-welterweight titles. He, too, was a successful amateur, as six-time national champion, earning bronze in the European cadet championships, and accumulated a decent record of 78 wins from 90 fights.

The Lancastrian has only won three from his last five fights and, after almost a decade-and-a-half punching for pay, his time as a force in the sport of boxing is questionably waning. It will be a hard night’s work going up against heavy-handed Fowler, six years his junior.