Rose targets Khan on return to big time

Brian Rose, back in action in Birmingham on Saturday, has spelled out his intention to return to the boxing big league.
Rose - wants the big fightsRose - wants the big fights
Rose - wants the big fights

And the Blackpool boxer says he would relish a fight with Amir Khan.

Rose, who meets Bulgarian Stiliyan Kostov at the Barclaycard Arena, is aiming high as he returns to the 11-stone division after a brief foray at middleweight.

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The 31-year-old, who lost on points to Matthew Macklin in his last fight in April, says he is reverting to super-welterweight (formerly light-middleweight), even though Saturday night’s contest on the Frankie Gavin-Sam Eggington bill has been made at 11st 6lb.

Rose said confidently: “I want to test myself against the best, and the best in this division at this moment is Amir Khan, who has stepped up to super-welterweight. We are talking about people like Khan and Liam Smith.”

Rose has spoken in the past about his problems making 11-stone but says a change in dietary regime has reassured him he can drop down the weights.

He said: “I was coming home after training and eating a cheap kind of food.

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“But now I am putting myself on a prep-food diet and I will be able to make the weight.”

The pinnacle of Rose’s domestic career was to win the Lonsdale Belt outright on the back of three defences of the British super-welterweight title.

In the summer of 2014, he journeyed to the United States to challenge Demetrius Andrade for the World Boxing Organisation version of the world title, going down to a stoppage loss.

Rose is convinced he has more to offer at the highest level but first he must overcome Kostov, who has won 20 fights, 16 of them knockouts.

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However, the merit of those he has fought is very much unknown.

Rose said: “He could be quite dangerous given his record but I don’t think he will pose me problems.

“The injury to my elbow meant that I couldn’t use my jab properly but the operation has sorted that out. I won’t be missing with my jab any more.”

Rose hopes his fight will be featured in Sky Sports’ coverage on the night.

He said: “Frankie Gavin, Anthony Ogogo and me are the three biggest names on the bill, so I’m hoping my fight is shown.”