Booth and Hunter’s careers in the balance in winner takes all showdown

By John Hannen

When the fighting’s finished, so could be a career at title level, after Jason Booth and Michael Hunter have contested the British super-bantamweight title this Friday at the Seaburn Centre in Sunderland.

With both boxers aged 31, and with long careers behind them, this fight really has a ‘winner takes all’ feel to it – more glory nights for the victor, a very long road back for the loser. Frank Maloney promotes this cracking crossroads clash which also features local hero and Olympian Tony Jeffries and a host of talent from the North East on a jam-packed undercard.

The form book points to Murray but veteran Thaxton can produce one last great performance

By Daniel Cann

This Saturday sees the eagerly awaited contest for the vacant British lightweight title between undefeated former champion, Manchester’s John Murray, and popular former British and European champion, Norwich’s Jon Thaxton. This match has been built up over the last few months and despite Thaxton’s patchy recent form still promises to be intriguing.

The fight, which is being promoted by Hennessy Sports (who promote both fighters) will take place at the Altrincham Leisure Centre in Cheshire and is being shown live on ITV4. It promises to be entertaining, maybe even explosive. The pedigree of both boxers is not in doubt; they are both quality lightweights at championship level. This is a classic matchup between a red hot prospect in Murray (though he has had 27 fights now) and a well respected veteran in Thaxton.

Skelton up against it in Germany

By Ben Carey

In a heavyweight fight that seems to have slipped under most peoples radars, former British, Commonwealth and European champion Matt Skelton will challenge Francesco Pianeta for the EU title (sister version of the European crown) in Neubrandenburg, Germany on Saturday night.

Bedford-based Skelton, now 42, will concede 18 years in youth to German-based southpaw Pianeta who is unbeaten in 19 contests (18-0-1). Pianeta holds a win over former British champion Scott Gammer after the Welshman retired after eight rounds with a damaged hand last August.

Daws and Morrison competing to be two-time British champions

By Ben Carey

Lenny Daws believes he will become a two time British light-welterweight champion on Friday night when he meets old foe Barry Morrison for the vacant title at York Hall, Bethnal Green. Previous holder Ajose Olusegun relinquished the title to concentrate on his impending WBC title eliminator against Romania’s Ionut Dan.

In fact, the British 10st crown has become the championship no one wants to keep in recent months. Prior to Olusegun, the title was held by Dungiven’s Paul McCloskey who subsequently vacated after one defence to focus on challenging for the European title (which will finally happen against Souleymane M’Baye on November 6).

McDermott will provide a clearer indication of Fury’s heavyweight potential

By Daniel Cann

This Friday (11th September) sees a fascinating contest at the Brentwood Centre in Essex when English heavyweight champion ‘Big Bad’ John McDermott (25-5 16kos) defends his title against unbeaten prospect Tyson Fury (7-0 7kos). The ‘Big’ nickname will seem ironic in light of the fact that McDermott will be looking up at his challenger, who, at six feet seven is the taller man by four inches. McDermott will also be conceding youth to his challenger, but not experience and here-in lies the fascination and draw of this match.

Opposites attract: Simpson and Truscott meet again in tantalising rematch

By John Hannen

Imagine being engrossed in a great book, only to discover that the last chapter’s missing. A boxing equivalent would be watching January’s Commonwealth featherweight title fight between John Simpson and Paul Truscott. With this all-action, finely balanced bout set to enter the crucial stage to determine the winner, the fight was waved off in round eight after an accidental head clash cut, and closed, Truscott’s right eye.

Watching the encounter again before penning this preview reaffirmed just what an entertaining and intriguing affair this fight was. It also highlighted how disappointing it was that the quality of the action didn’t get the finale it deserved. It’s terrific, then, that both boxers have readily agreed to the rematch, which takes place on 4 September in, as per last time, the Eston Sports Academy in Middlesbrough. Matchroom Sport promote this high quality show to kick-off the new domestic season.

Forgotten man Witter must produce a spectacular performance to regain world title

By Ben Carey

Junior Witter faces the prospect of fading into obscurity if he fails to regain the WBC light-welterweight crown against the unbeaten American Devon Alexander inside the Agua Caliente Casino in California tonight. The vacant title clash, which was almost aborted following a behind the scenes row yesterday, will go ahead after the California State Athletic Commission reached a compromise with the WBC over its choice of officials (both the WBC and Witter had objected to three ringside American judges, and rightly so). The identify of the approved judges remains unclear, however.

Small Takes on Former Contender Star in London tonight

By Ben Carey

Anthony Small will look to continue his fine run of form by defeating former USA Contender contestant Freddie Curiel in a light-middleweight 10-rounder in London tonight. This Frank Warren dinner show will raise money for DebRA, the charity that helps those suffering from the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). SKY Sports will screen the fight on delay at 10pm on Monday.

Eighteen months ago Small and veteran Curiel recorded victories on Warren’s and Sugar Ray Leonard’s UK vs USA Contender competition staged in Newcastle. Small withstood a torrid final round to outpoint Walter Wright over eight rounds while Curiel came from behind to sensationally flatten Ross Minter in the final round.

Will Burton’s chin carry him to Heavyweight Prizefighter success? In-depth preview

By Ben Carey

Darlington’s unbeaten heavyweight prospect Chris Burton is a clear favourite to win the second Heavyweight Prizefighter Series in Newcastle on Friday night after the draw could bring him face-to-face with two fighters he has already beaten.

Burton will face rank tournament outsider Dave Ingleby in the quarter-finals with the confidence of having stopped Ingleby in three rounds on his pro debut. Should Burton prevail, as is widely expected, he will meet the winner of Lee Swaby versus Darren Morgan in the second semi-final pairing.

Burton favourite to win Prizefighter 2: Fighters’ form guide

Chris Burton has been installed as favourite to win Prizefighter Heavyweights 2 on Friday at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. Burton, who is undefeated from his 11 professional contests with six knockouts, is priced at 11/8 with bookmakers Sky Bet.

His odds have dropped sharply after last week’s draw saw him paired with outsider David Ingleby, whose odds have drifted from 25/1 to 33/1. Sam Sexton, who had been joint favourite with Burton before the draw, is now at 7/2 – the same price as his opponent Pele Reid.

Home hope David Ferguson has also moved out from 6/1 to 7/1 but Lee Swaby has come in to 10/1 from 14/1.The other two contenders are Darren Morgan at 12/1, while Luke Simpkin, who came in as a late replacement for the injured Ian Millarvie, is 16/1.The competition sees four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final all take place in one action-packed night, with each contest lasting a maximum of three rounds.

Arthur-Cook world title clash should be fight of the night in Manchester

By Ben Carey

Alex Arthur will defend his WBO super-featherweight title against Nicky Cook at Manchester’s M.E.N Arena tonight and aim to prove that he truly belongs in world class company. The all British clash promises to be the fight of the night.

Arthur’s proposed marquee showdown against the supremely talented Juan Guzman in May was shelved after Guzman elected to move up to lightweight. The Scot was subsequently upgraded from interim championship status to official champion by the WBO. Arthur, 26-1 (19), hasn’t fought since narrowly outpointing Stephen Foster Jr last December when he had to climb off the floor after being heavily dropped by a right hand from Foster in the eleventh round.

Khan ventures into the unknown

By Ben Carey

Those who doubt Amir Khan’s punch resistance following the knockdowns he has suffered against Craig Watson (amateurs), Willie Limmond and Michael Gomez, are not prepared to discount the chances of the raw but apparently dangerous Breidis Prescott when the unknown Colombian takes on Khan inside Manchester’s M.E.N Arena tomorrow night.

The WBO inter-continental title is at stake, but more critically are Khan’s world title aspirations and promoter Frank Warren’s considerable investment in Bolton’s Olympic silver medalist. This contest is the first of Khan’s new multi-fight deal with broadcaster SKY who have gambled, along with Warren, on Khan’s thrill-seeking style persuading a minimum of 250,000 subscribers to fork out a hefty £14.99 for them to justify airing Khan on SKY Box Office. Khan doesn’t come cheap, for anyone.

Hyland brothers seeking to entice top British opposition into the ring

By Jonny Stapleton

The Hyland brothers return to the ring at the City West Hotel in Dublin this weekend and are being hailed as the “Untouchables”. But unlike Al Capone in the famous film, the Tallaght trio are confident they will live up to the name and won’t fall foul to their respective Elliot Ness’s.

John Gicharu, Sandi Kizito and Geoffrey Munica are the Kenyan trio planning the demise of Patrick, Paulie and Edward respectively but father, manager and coach Paddy Hyland claims that despite facing stern tests he is confident the local brothers will emerge victorious on Saturday night.

Munroe kicks off new boxing season with European defence

By Ben Carey

Leicester dustman Rendall Munroe will make the second defence of his European super-bantamweight title against French based Armenian Arsen Martirosian at Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre on Friday. The bill marks the first of promoter Frank Maloney’s new two-year deal with broadcaster Sky Sports.

And, according to Maloney, if the 28-year-old Munroe sees off Martirosian he could land a major fight against Bernard Dunne if the Irishman accepts the offer which he claims is on the table. The pocket-sized promoter is also looking towards Canada’s IBF champion Steve Molitor, and is confident Munroe can become his fifth major world champion. Maloney has already expertly steered Lennox Lewis, Paul Ingle, Scott Harrison and David Haye to world title glory. Munroe is currently ranked 8th by the IBF and the WBA.

Hyland-Callaghan preview

By Johnny Stapleton

The Hyland family will be boasting three professional Irish champions come Saturday night according to Paddy Hyland promoter, manager and father of brotherly pugilist trio Patrick, Edward and Paul Hyland

Patrick and Edward have already added professional titles to the host of amateur accolades they previous attained by recently winning the national featherweight and super-featherweight crowns respectively, and promoter Paddy Hyland believes the youngest of the talented trio, Paulie, will follow in their footsteps when he takes on Marc Callaghan in National Stadium tonight.

“I am 100% certain Paulie will win and we will have three Irish champions in the family. It will be a tough battle for him though. I think it will be a similar fight to when Edward fought O’Hara. Callaghan is a tough lad and he will be in there until the end. But Paulie is in great shape and once he is in the type of form he is currently in I just can’t see anyone beating him,” he told his local paper the Tallaght Voice this week.

Tarver could wreck Woods’ Calzaghe hopes

Clinton Woods defends his IBF light-heavyweight title against Antonio Tarver in Florida tomorrow tonight knowing that victory could secure him a money-spinning fight against Joe Calzaghe later this year. Calzaghe will make his US debut against Bernard Hopkins a week later. I know which fight I’ll be setting my alarm clock for.

Pele’s team take no chances

By Ben Carey

Explosive but fragile heavyweight Pele Reid continues his comeback this evening in what should be a routine assignment against blubbery journeyman Chris Woollas at Birmingham’s Holiday Inn hotel. The predictable match-up is scheduled for six-twos.

Reid resumed his boxing career in December after a four-year hiatus in the martial arts and K-1 circuits with a sixth round stoppage of Paul King. However, his British title ambitions were almost wrecked by Roman Suchoterin in March. After being nailed by a big right hand from the Russian visitor in round four Reid’s legs turned to jelly, but he managed to survive the crisis to eventually claim a 58-56 points win.

Beaten Contender lined-up as Rhodes’ comeback opponent

By Ben Carey

Ryan Rhodes will make his first appearance in 11 months when he takes on Paul Buchanan in a middleweight eight-rounder at the Barnsley Metrodome on Sunday afternoon. Rhodes’ prolonged absence stems from a long-standing back problem that has kept him on the sidelines since his points defeat to Gary Lockett last July.

Following successful treatment, the former “Spice Boy” is looking to propel himself back into title contention and build on his creditable showing against Lockett. After experiencing a flash knockdown in the opening round, Rhodes gradually fought his way back and floored Lockett heavily for the first time in his career in round ten.