Ben Rees is on the verge of fighting for professional success if he can clear the hurdle in front of him at Rainton Arena.
The unbeaten Newbiggin star takes on fellow undefeated boxer Denzil Browne Jnr on Saturday, November 22 in a Commonwealth light-heavyweight title eliminator on the Jobes Boxing promotion at the Houghton venue.
It looks, on paper, an incredibly-well-picked match-up with Rees’s record reading 6-0-1 with his 31-year-old opponent’s fight-log standing at 6-0.
Rees has reeled off six straight wins after his debut lasted only one round in a sea of claret and ended in a technical draw against North-East neighbour Greg O’Neil.
The Northumberland southpaw made it to the top as an amateur, having been England’s Elite champion in 2018 while boxing for the brilliant Birtley ABC.
“It’s been a very slow start to my pro career so it’s great now to be having a meaningful fight against a real live opponent for once, instead of these journeymen,” said the boxer known as ‘Big Tasty’.
“I know this kid has a good record and he’s coming to win.
“I feel he’ll bring the best out of me.
“The better the opponent the better I’ll be.”
Ben is part of a relentless Rees double act – younger brother Owen is already the Northern Area light-welterweight having outpointed Jordan Ellison in September at Rainton Arena.
But there is family pride at stake too in the opposite corner.
Boxing fans of a certain, how can we put it, senior age will be familiar with the name Denzil Browne.
For Denzil Browne Snr was a particularly handy pro in the 1990s, when he challenged for both the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles and, while unsuccessful, he did get to wear a belt by becoming the Central Area champion.
Son Denzil Jnr began his pro career in 2017, but his rise was interrupted in 2019 by an enforced five-year hiatus.
This is bout number three of the second part of his career, having comfortably outpointed Robbie Chapman over four rounds last August and edged past Lee Roberts after six rounds in Liverpool in March.
Does Rees believe he has what it takes to overcome the Yorkshireman?
“Definitely,” he told punch-lines. “I’ve seen a few clips of him and he looks flashy and he’s got a good left hook.
“But I think his basics are poor and he make mistakes I can capitalise on.”
Rees is certainly in a rich vein of form. After some quickfire outings early in his career, he has gone the distance in his last two appearances.
The Jobe Boxing star outpointed battled-hardened South American Wilmer Baron over six gripping rounds 12 months ago when he topped the Shamrock Promotions event before enjoying a shut-out over six against Argentina’s Marcos Karalitzky on Jobes Boxing’s big bash at Houghton in June.
“It’s going really well,” he said. “I love it at Jobes, I get great coaching there and it’s a good bunch of lads.”
Rees has taken Browne ultra-seriously when you look at some of the sparring he has indulged in, having session with Alex Arthur Jnr, Mark Jeffers, Callum Simpson, Alex Arthur Jnr
With all those sessions and his work at the Jobes HQ, Ben is feeling quietly confident.
“It’s been the best camp I’ve had as a pro,” he said.
But is ‘Big Tasty’ feeling any family pressure given Owen’s success in the Northern Area championship?
“No pressure,” laughed Ben, who will be backed at Rainton Arena by hi band of fan.
“He’s the first of us to do a 10-rounder and the first to win a title as a pro. “Owen was brilliant and I’m looking to follow in his footsteps.
“There are plenty coming down to support me, which I appreciate.”
Words: Roy Kelly
