Gavin Rees stops Anthony Mezaache to retain European title

Gavin Rees retained his European lightweight title with a seventh-round stoppage of mandatory challenger Anthony Mezaache in Paris.

The referee stepped in with 42 seconds left of the seventh round as Welshman Rees landed several unanswered blows.

Mezaache had been knocked down for the first time moments earlier and the champion pounced ruthlessly to end the Frenchman's spirited resistance.

Rees now wants a fight with Scotland's WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns.

Gavin Rees  (Picture by Matchroom Sport)

The victory in France was 31-year-old Rees's second defence of the European belt, taking his record to 36 wins from 38 professional fights.

His first defence against Derry Mathews in October ended prematurely when Mathews sustained a broken nose from a clash of heads.

And fears of a similar outcome grew against Mezaache as blood began to pour from a cut to the former European champion's forehead in the third round.

But the fight continued and Rees began to reassert his dominance in the fifth with sharp, powerful combinations.

The onslaught continued in the sixth, while an increasing clumsy Mezaache showed plenty of heart, his face covered with blood as he trudged back to his corner after the bell.

Rees attacked the body early in the seventh before forcing the Frenchman down to one knee with a fierce straight right to the challenger's chin.

Several clean head shots followed as Rees overwhelmed his opponent on the ropes, giving the referee little option but to stop the contest and spare Mezaache from further punishment.

Source:  www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/17303842

Rees dominates Frenchman in his hometown

Gavin Rees produced a fantastic performance in Anthony Mezaache’s backyard in France, forcing a seventh round stoppage to retain his European lightweight title in style.

The Welshman travelled over to Paris for his second defence in the venue that former champion Mezaache’s last three fights had been in and was the aggressor from the opening bell.

The-31-year old produced a classy, powerful and controlled display to dismiss the Frenchman’s challenge and move a step closer to his dream of becoming a two-weight World champion.

‘I keep telling people I can punch at lightweight and giving the chance I think I can win another world title,’ said Rees. ‘I had a great training camp, it was boiling in here tonight but I still felt fresh. I worked well on the jab and I was catching him with the right often and I think I did a great job tonight.’

Rees connected early with his right hand and mixed his work up well, controlling things with his jab before a clash of heads in the second round caused a nasty gash to the Frenchman’s forehead.

The cut threatened to bring the fight to a premature end, but thankfully Mezaache’s corner stemmed the flow of blood and the fight continued, and Rees moved through the gears seamlessly.

The champion really put his foot down in the sixth round, rocking the hometown favourite at will and relentlessly pouring the pressure on with unerring accuracy.

Some great work to the body led to another big right hand in the opening half of the seventh round that floored the Frenchman and with so much time left in the round, Rees saw his chance to end things and pounced brilliantly.

Again, the jackhammer right landed to rock Mezaache and he pinned him on the ropes with some stinging blows, and a combination of Mezaache’s corner and the referee ended the contest with 45 seconds of the seventh round left.

Source:  www.boxingfutures.com/news/0324-rees-dominates-frenchman-his-hometown

Fantastic Rees wins in France

Written by Anthony Leaver

Gavin Rees produced a fantastic performance in Anthony Mezaache’s backyard in France, forcing a seventh round stoppage to retain his European lightweight title in style.

The Welshman travelled over to Paris for his second defence in the venue that former champion Mezaache’s last three fights had been in and was the aggressor from the opening bell.

The 31 year old produced a classy, powerful and controlled display to dismiss the Frenchman’s challenge and move a step closer to his dream of becoming a two-weight World champion.

“I keep telling people I can punch at lightweight and giving the chance I think I can win another World title,” said Rees.

“I had a great training camp, it was boiling in here tonight but I still felt fresh. I worked well on the jab and I was catching him with the right often and I think I did a great job tonight.”

Rees connected early with his right hand and mixed his work up well, controlling things with his jab. A clash of heads in the second round caused a nasty gash to the Frenchman’s forehead and threatened to bring the fight to a premature end, but thankfully Mezaache’s corner stemmed the flow of blood and the fight continued, and Rees moved through the gears seamlessly.

The champion really put his foot down in the sixth round, rocking the hometown favourite at will and relentlessly pouring the pressure on with unerring accuracy.

Some great work to the body led to another big right hand in the opening half of the seventh round that floored the Frenchman and with so much time left in the round, Rees saw his chance to end things and pounced brilliantly. Again, the jackhammer right landed to rock Mezaache and he pinned him on the ropes with some stinging blows, and a combination of Mezaache’s corner and the referee ended the contest with 45 seconds of the seventh round left.

Source:  ringnews24.com/index.php