Sunday 15 June 2014 02:44, UK
Brian Rose insists he is ready to upset the odds when he takes on Demetrius Andrade for the WBO light-middleweight title in New York.
The 29-year-old from Blackpool is a big outsider going into the fight at the Barclays Center – which will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 3am Sunday morning – with Andrade having won all 20 of his fights as a professional.
Andrade, a southpaw, clinched the world title last time out after claiming a split decision verdict over the previously unbeaten Vanes Martirosyan, while he has registered 13 stoppages on his way to the top.
Rose, on the other hand, has had to rebuild his career after he was knocked out by Max Maxwell in 2010.
Since then, though, Rose has avenged that loss and gone on clinch the English, British and WBO inter-continental titles to become the mandatory challenger for Andrade’s belt.
And Rose, who has a record of 25-1-1, is ready to make the most of his opportunity.
“I feel blessed to be here but at the same time I deserve to be here, I deserve my shot,” he told Sky Sports.
“I deserve everything I get. I have worked hard throughout my career to get to this stage. I am going to enjoy every moment of it but realise that I have got a job to do on Saturday night.”
Andrade, who won a World Championship gold medal as an amateur, has been vocal in the build up to the fight, claiming he will knock out Rose.
“I knew he would gob off in the weigh in and at the press conference as well and that is what he has done but the pressure is all on his shoulders,” said Rose.
“The pressure is not on my shoulders. I have come over here and everyone is expecting me to get beat but I know otherwise and the people around me know otherwise.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Rose can return to England with as the new WBO champion.
“He is here to win. He is not here to make up the numbers,” added Hearn.
“The difference is he is not a voluntary defence they have plucked out the rankings, he has earned this shot with that victory against Maciel and good luck to him.
“I believe he can win. It is a very, very tough fight but the main thing is to make sure you leave that ring having given everything with no regrets as this is a once in the lifetime opportunity.”
However Sky Sports expert Glenn McCrory claims Rose will need to produce his best ever performance to beat the American.
“He’s worked very hard throughout his career,” McCrory said. “He’s had some setbacks. He had a bad knock out but came back to beat Max Maxwell, he injured Jason Rushton and went through a bad time there but came back. He’s shown great will, great heart and great determination and that’s what you need to be a world champion.
“You also need a bit of class and Andrade has got that. He is a former world amateur champion, he’s undefeated and everything is looking towards him staying world champion and Rose has got to look to derail that.
“He has got to get in there and give him the fight of his life. He has got to way above anything he has fought before and if he does he might just bring home a world title.”
