In 2007, after 25 straight wins, Gavin Rees defeated Souleymane M'baye to become the WBA Light
Welterweight champion with a unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Rees
however lost his World title in his first defence via a
12th-round TKO loss to Andreas Kotelnik in March 2008.
Following his world title loss Rees
was out of action for more than a year before returning in
August 2009 to beat Johnny Greaves in 4 rounds. On 4 December,
Rees entered the light welterweight prize-fighter competition
beating Ted Bami in the quarter finals,
Jason Cook in the Semi-finals and
Colin Lynes in the Final to win the £32,000 prize
Following his Prizefighter
victory, Rees moved down to the (lightweight) division where he
enjoyed instant success winning the vacant British title in 2010 (which
he then vacated) by way of an 11th round TKO of John Watson. He then won the European title in June
2011 and also regained the British title in July 2012. With a run of 11 fights unbeaten, Rees fought Adrien Broner for the
World Boxing Council lightweight world title at Boardwalk Hall
in Atlantic City, New Jersey on 16 February 2013. He lost the
fight via 5th-round TKO.
A
further 2 losses, both over 12 rounds, for the WBO Inter-Continental
title and a British title eliminator respectively saw The Rock end his
multi-title winning career with a points win in an elimiator for the
British title against fellow Welshman, Gary Buckland.
|
|