Fowler v Rose in Liverpool on August 2, Ritson and Bakole feature

Fowler v Rose postponed

Anthony Fowler replaces injured Scott Fitzgerald against Brian Rose on Lawrence Okolie-Jack Massey bill

Brian Rose blockbuster fight is off as Scott Fitzgerald pulls out of Blackpool v Preston clash

The 27-year-old Preston boxer has not been shy on the social media platform, especially in the build up to his blockbuster domestic clash against Anthony Fowler at the Liverpool Arena last Saturday week.

Engaging in some brutal and, at times, crude banter with his former GB team-mate, the pair certainly drummed up plenty of interest in their subsequent dust-up. And keen to engage with fans on Twitter, Fitzgerald was asked what he would do if he did not live up to his pre-fight talk and beat Fowler.

I imagine his tongue was firmly in his cheek when his typed response contained something along the lines of, he would go on holiday with the realisation that he was not as good as he thought he was and then look to embark on another career, such as joining the Royal Mail.

Fortunately for the self-styled Mad Man, he will not be pounding the streets of the Larches and Savick housing estates in Preston with a postie bag over his shoulder any time soon, after his brilliant performance against Fowler. Having kept an eye on Fitzgerald’s career from before he won the National ABA title at the age of 21, I wrote in this column previously that he was entering a make-or-break period.

A top amateur who won Commonwealth Games gold, the former Our Lady’s High School pupil appeared to be in danger of wasting his career 
after turning pro.

In a candid interview with this newspaper in the build-up to the Fowler fight, Fitzgerald spoke of his difficulty in staying motivated as a professional, which had led him to seek solace in drugs and drink.

However, the Fowler clash was just the fight he needed to get him on the straight and narrow – and focused. Making the bookies and many other people, who had predicted an easy Fowler win, look foolish, Fitzgerald showed just what a class act he is in the ring.

Now the world appears to be his oyster and it will be interesting to see what his next move is. The mandatory challenger for Ted Cheeseman’s British super-welterweight 
title, a fight against the 
Londoner is the obvious one.

However, what is really capturing the imagination especially around these parts is a potential ‘derby dust-up’ with Blackpool veteran Brian Rose.

Many observers have questioned why the Preston man would take such a fight against someone who is perhaps nearing the end of his career. But Fitzgerald senses a fight against Rose would ignite the Preston v Blackpool rivalry and would work wonders for his growing fan-base.

An admirer of the popular Ricky Hatton, Fitzgerald would love to cultivate a following even the Hitman would have been proud of in his pomp.

Blackpool’s Brian Rose recorded a points victory against Belgian James Hagenimana in his six-rounder in Liverpool tonight.

Blackpool favourite Brian Rose wins on return to the ring and immediately sets up next big fight

Brian Rose gained revenge against Carson Jones after digging deep for a wide points win in their rematch on Saturday.

THE BLACKPOOL FIGHT SCENE IS SET FOR A HUGE THRILL -

Jack Arnfield versus Brian Rose are to clash in a contest of endless fascination.

Long-standing friendship between the pair will be put on hold when the one-time sparring partners and gym-mates meet in March. But the biggest local derby in the history of boxing in Blackpool will not take place in the town - the showdown will happen at the Manchester Arena on March 25.

At stake will be the World Boxing Association international middleweight title that Arnfield defended against Mick Hall at Preston Guild Hall on Saturday night.

Both agreed to the fight when promoter Eddie Hearn made an offer for a match-up that promises to split the Fylde fight fraternity straight down the middle. Arnfield, four years younger at 27 than his rival is confident he will have the upper hand in this intriguing match-up. He said: “I am going to win the fight, 100 per cent. We must have done hundreds of rounds together and the sparring sessions have been very close and I did have his number. “I have the edge - I used to be in the same gym as Brian, but since I left and joined Michael and Dave Jennings, I have worked hard and improved. “I must have trained with Brian for 13 or 14 years, and it is a great fight for me because a win would mean that I improve my WBA rating,” the Stalmine fighter said.

The mega-fight with Rose means that Arnfield’s British middleweight title eliminator with Elliott Matthews scheduled for the spring has had to be put off - but Arnfield says he will continue to pursue his Lonsdale Belt ambitions.

Rose said: “People may say that I am now past my best, but I regard this as my second-coming. There are reasons why I have not been at my best in recent fights, like the (loss against) Matthew Macklin. “I virtually lived with Jack for five years and we trained together for a long time. I am Jack’s friend, but that does not matter. It’s not about friendship, but doing it to provide for my family. Jack will obviously think he can beat me at this stage of my career, but then I would not be taking this fight if I did not believe that I was going to win it.”

The bout is on the under-card of the world lightweight title fight between Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares.

Read more at: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/boxing/arnfield-and-rose-in-big-fight-clash-1-8350767