Rees ready for Prizefighter

Former world champion Gavin Rees is relishing the opportunity of Prizefighter glory after a year in exile.

Victory would propel Welshman back in the world title mix

Former world champion Gavin Rees is relishing the opportunity of Prizefighter glory after a year in exile. The 29-year-old is the favourite to walk away with the title when eight of the best light-welterweights square off at London's Olympia. Although Rees has lost just one fight in 29 bouts, that defeat came at the hands of Andriy Kotelnik in March 2008, to whom he lost his WBA light-welterweight title. The Welshman has since been left in limbo due to his trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, involvement with his son Joe's legal battle with his promoter Frank Warren.

Desperate

Rees told The Sun: "In hindsight it wasn't the best situation to be involved with but the two parties weren't talking and therefore we weren't getting any work." Ted Bami is Rees' first-round opponent of the elimination tournament as he looks to put the Kotelnik defeat behind him. "I didn't hesitate when the chance came up to be involved with Prizefighter," he added. "I was desperate to get back into the ring. I'm looking forward to getting in there and throwing lots of punches."