Napa facing French test in defence of EBU title

By Ben Carey

Ian Napa will make the first defence of his European bantamweight title against Malik Bouziane in Stoke on January 23. The 30-year-old Bouziane will enter the ring with a 10-1 (1) record and has boxed five times in 2008.

Disastrous UFC debut for former Cage Rage champ

By Ben Carey

London’s Mustapha Al-Turk suffered a rude awakening on his UFC debut when he was battered to defeat in the opening round by France’s Cheick Kongo at UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Body shots do the trick for Munroe in successful Dublin defence

By Ben Carey

Rendall Munroe retained his European super-bantamweight crown for the third occasion when challenger Fabrizio Trotta quit midway through round five citing an injury to his wrist at City University in Dublin on December 18.

British Ratings

By Ben Carey

For the final time in 2008, we rate the top 10 fighters in each weight division in our updated British ratings. See if you agree with our assessment.

Prizefighter runner-up lands British title shot

By Ben Carey

David Dolan will challenge Rob Norton for the British cruiserweight title on February 6 at a venue to be determined, most likely to be in the Midlands. Former amateur star Dolan dropped down to cruiserweight after losing to Martin Rogan in the final of the inaugural Prizefighter heavyweight tournament in April and looks more at home in the 14st 4lbs division where he has won two low key contests.

Haye jumps the gun but not the queue in race for Klitschko

By Ben Carey

David Haye’s announcement that he is set to challenge Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title next June may have been premature.

“I was out in Germany to watch Wladimir Klitschko bore everybody to sleep with his jab (in witnessing Wladimir’s seventh round stoppage win over Hasim Rahman). We agreed terms for myself and Vitali at a London venue to be decided. The fight is going to happen in June. It’s all done and dusted, just need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s,” claimed Haye at the beginning of last week.

European Champion Munroe Faces Italy’s Trotta In Dublin tonight

World ranked super bantamweight Rendall Munroe continues his busy reign as European champion when he meets rugged Italian challenger Fabrizio Trotta on a big boxing show at City University’s The Helix in Dublin tonight.

Supporting the main event is the much anticipated debut of Olympic bronze medalist Darren Sutherland and a Commonwealth bantamweight clash between champion Jason Booth, 30-5 (11), and challenger Sean Hughes, 15-7-1 (1). The evening’s other scheduled Commonwealth title match-up between welterweights Craig Watson and Adnan Amar has been scrapped due to challenger Amar being unwell.

Napa heads to Stoke to defend European title

Ian Napa makes the first defence of his European bantamweight title when he faces a selected opponent at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke on Friday 23rd January.

A cracking chief supporting contest sees local hero Chris Edwards (11-13-3) challenge Grimsby’s Wayne Bloy (5-3-1) for the vacant British flyweight championship. The show will be promoted by FTM Sports in association with Scott Lawton of Impact boxing.

Cleverly retains Commonwealth crown with one-punch knockout

By Ben Carey

Nathan Cleverly suggested that he has the power to complement his silky boxing skills by producing a stunning fourth-round knockout to retain his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title against Kenya’s Douglas Otieno in Widnes on Friday night.

Barker ready to go after sparring with world champion Froch

Darren Barker has been left raring to go in his Commonwealth Middleweight Title defence on Saturday after sparring with new WBC Super-Middleweight Champion Carl Froch. Undefeated Barker (Barnet, England) makes his second defence against Jason McKay (Banbridge, Northern Ireland) at the Brentwood Centre on Saturday (13 Dec).

Co feature on the bill, Brian Magee (Belfast, Northern Ireland) challenges Steve Maguire (Glenrothes, Scotland) for the Vacant British Super-Middleweight Title, both fights will be shown live on ITV4 from 8.40pm.

MAGEE AIMING TO FOLLOW FROCH TO WORLD TITLE GLORY

Brian Magee is looking to revive his career by making sure Irish eyes are smiling at the end of his British Super-Middleweight Title showdown against Stevie McGuire at the Brentwood Centre on Saturday, 13th December 2008.

The Belfast boxer has his third crack at becoming British champion after losing to newly crowned WBC world champion Carl Froch in 2006 and then being held to a controversial draw with Tony Oakey last year.

McGuire believes the time is right for him

Stevie McGuire believes Brian Magee is ready for the taking in Saturday’s Vacant British Super-Middleweight Title showdown at the Brentwood Centre.

McGuire (Glenrothes, Scotland) might be the underdog for the fight against Magee (Belfast, Northern Ireland) but he is not lacking confidence after a two-week training camp in Cyprus to get ready for the biggest fight of his life.

Magee will be trying to become British champion at the third attempt after being stopped for the same belt by new WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch in 2006 and then held to a controversial draw with Tony Oakey for the British light-heavyweight belt last year.

Hayemaker heading to Liverpool to stage bumper March show

Rhodes

By Ben Carey

David Haye and Hayemaker Boxing will stage a press conference in Liverpool on Monday (Dec 15) to announce details of a “blockbuster show” to be held at the Liverpool Echo Arena on March 28. Topping the ‘Hayemaker 6’ bill is expected to be Ryan Rhodes’ British light-middleweight title defence against mandatory challenger Anthony Small

Also present at the press conference will be Liverpool-based Hayemaker boxers Derry Mathews, Tony Dodson, John Watson and Joe McNally as well as two-time British light-middleweight champion Ryan Rhodes.

“It was always a logical move to come to Liverpool given the amount of Liverpool-based fighters we have in our stable,” began Haye, an ex WBC, WBA and WBO world cruiserweight king and current heavyweight contender.