Bumper year for Frank Warren's fighters

Top promoter Frank Warren is lining up an action packed 2009 with Britain's best young boxers out in recession-busting force. Despite the tough economic times, Warren will be showcasing exciting young talent like Kell Brook, Amir Khan and The Olympians: James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, in what could be the sports best year yet. Sheffield hot shot Brook kick starts the new year when he makes the second defence of his British Welterweight title against Stuart Elwell at London's York Hall on Friday 30 January. The 22-year-old shot captured the attention of the public and media last month with a sizzling first round stoppage of former champion Kevin McIntyre. This will be a big year for Brook, who hails from the same Sheffield gym as Naseem Hamed, as he aims to win the Lonsdale belt outright and become a star attraction now that Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe are heading towards the end of their careers.Bolton star Khan, who holds the Commonwealth and WBA International lightweight titles, will return to action in February against a top name. Khan made an explosive return to the ring earlier this month when he stopped Oisin Fagan inside two round, dropping the Irishman three times with his lighting fast combinations. Now trained by Freddie Roach at his gym in Hollywood, Khan is looking at rebuilding his career next year towards a world title opportunity.On the same show dynamite punching Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli takes on Johnathon Banks for the Vacant WBO World Cruiserweight title. The fight was scheduled to take place earlier this month in London, but the American withdrew only a few days before leaving Maccarinelli to face heavyweight Mathew Ellis instead - who he blasted out in two rounds. Olympians DeGale (Gold Medallist), Gavin (2007 World Amateur Champion) and Saunders (GB Olympic representative) make their highly anticipated professional debuts also in February but on a separate show. The trio will then tour the country, fighting on the same show as the public watch their careers develop towards championship honours. DeGale will shortly be announcing who his professional trainer will be, while Gavin is working hard under Anthony Farnell in Manchester, and Saunders has made it into celebrity listings The Red Pages as their Hot 100 for 2009. Warren, who enters his 29th year as a promoter, said, "Although 2009 is going to be a tough economic year, It's going to be full steam ahead for me with developing the future champions of the sport," "In all my time in boxing I can't think of a period when there has been so many talented and potential champions in the sport like Kell, Amir, James, Frankie, Billy plus lads like Nathan Cleverly, Don Broadhurst, Tony Bellew, Kenny Anderson, Anthony Crolla, Thomas Costello, Denton Vassell, Jamie Cox, The Smith brothers (Paul, Stephen and Liam) and Derek Chisora." "Like Arsenal and Manchester United who invest heavily into their youth policy, boxing is very much the same and it's about bringing through the young kids year-after-year and developing their careers," "I've spent a lot of time, effort and money into developing these youngsters and I hope to see the rewards when they become world champions and big attractions like we did with Ricky Hatton, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and countless others," He added, "Hatton and Calzaghe are at the end of their careers now and the aim is to get these youngsters into that position so that they are the new stars and the ones that the public and media are talking about."