Baker-Flynn looking like a grudge match

Poster for the Kane Baker - Jordan Flynn return

RUGGED Birmingham road warrior Kane Baker is a hard man driven by a sense of injustice.

And on August 19, at the Utilita Arena, in his home city, the 33-year-old has the opportunity to right a perceived wrong.

He will again face Jordan Flynn, the Oxford prospect who controversially outpointed him over eight rounds in April. Baker – backed by many others – believes he won the bout, which was on an Anthony Joshua undercard.

This time the stakes are much higher. On a major, televised Matchroom show, the pair will engage in an English title eliminator.

Boxing wise, they are chalk and cheese. Oxford’s Flynn, currently 9-0, has been groomed for stardom from the start.

Bartley Green’s Baker has done it the hard way, taking fights away from home with the odds stacked against him. He has, nevertheless, in a 30 bout career gained a Midlands title and come within a whisper of claiming the English crown.

Kane has faced some real iron. He’s gone about his business the old school way. He’s rolled the dice and not always received the rub of the green.

He has had one outing since the first bruising battle with Flynn, a routine points win over MJ Hall.

Flynn has not been in action.

On social media, Kane posted: “A fight I believe I already won. On August 19 every loss, robbery and hard chances I’ve taken will pay off in front of my people. Birmingham, let’s go!

“Thank you Matchroom, Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith, everyone for getting me this rematch. Very grateful.”

Flynn, too, is a man on a mission – to prove, once and for all, he’s the better man.

He told the Oxford Mail: “I’m really looking forward to shutting them up and beating him in front of his own people,” said Flynn.

“Last time on the AJ undercard, it was early but now it’ll be a full crowd.

“There’ll be hundreds going from Oxford, they always turn up so I’m expecting a good turnout.”

Make no mistake. This isn’t just about purse money, this one’s personal.