McIntyre made mandatory for Lonsdale by British Boxing Jul 10th 2008

Kevin McIntyre has been installed as mandatory challenger for his old British welterweight title. McIntyre will face Sheffield's Kell Brook, who won the vacant title against Barrie Jones after the Paisley native was controversially relieved of his championship status by the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control for failing to defend the Lonsdale Belt as a result of a back injury. Purse bids have been called for the Brook-McIntyre bout and must be submitted to the Board's head office in Cardiff by 12:00 noon on Wednesday August 13, the contest to take place by the end of November. However, the purse bids are strictly subject to McIntyre confirming his fitness within the next six days as the Board have requested a medical certificate after back pain forced him to withdraw from two scheduled mandatory defences against Brook on May 3 and June 14. McIntyre said: “I am a relieved man. It was a huge weight off my mind when I was told I had been made the mandatory challenger as it means that things are back in my own hands again. I am still only two wins away from winning the Lonsdale Belt outright. “This is the fifth week since I started back training so there will be no problem in proving my fitness to the Board. I could have fought Brook at the end of June, but our fight was scheduled for the 14th, which was just too soon after my back injury and didn't leave me with enough time to prepare properly. “I feel as if I still am the champion as I never lost my title in the ring, although I might go into the fight against Brook with more of a challenger mindset. “Brook boxed well when he won the title against Jones, but he is still a relative novice in terms of championship rounds. We will see how Brook copes against a championship fighter who has experience over 12 rounds.”

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