Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are delighted to announce details of their upcoming UK schedule following the British Boxing Board of Control’s confirmation earlier this week that Boxing tournaments under its jurisdiction will resume in the middle of February. All of the action will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. and more than 200 countries and territories, with Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte 2 shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on DAZN in all other markets excluding the UK and Ireland.

Hackney Cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie (15-0, 12 KOs) attempts to become Britain’s next World Champion in just his sixteenth fight when he clashes with Krzysztof Glowacki for the vacant WBO crown on Saturday March 20.

On Saturday April 10, Hartlepool’s Savannah Marshall (9-0, 7 KOs) makes the first defence of her WBO Middleweight World Title after her emphatic win over Hannah Rankin in October, Commonwealth Middleweight Champion Felix Cash (13-0, 9 KOs) fights for the first time since his win over Jason Welborn

Matchroom Sport Managing Director Eddie Hearn said: “Even in a pandemic I feel like this is the strongest start to a year Matchroom have had in a long time. It’s going to be a rough ride over the next couple of months but with plenty of drama and excitement along the way. We have some thrilling main events and stacked cards that feature some of the biggest names in British boxing returning to action as we look to make a real statement in 2021.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development for Sky Sports, said: “Lawrence Okolie finally receives his World Title fight against Krzysztof Glowacki on another exciting night that features Ramla Ali’s return and Chantelle Cameron’s first defence of her WBC belt. It’s then Conor Benn’s turn to take centre stage in a crucial showdown with Samuel Vargas. Boxing is back in 2021, so get ready for more epic fights on Sky Sports.”

Undefeated WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion Ewa Brodnicka has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and has targeted a unification clash with the winner of Terri Harper vs. Natasha Jonas.

Poland’s Brodnicka (19-0, 2 KOs), a former European Lightweight Champion, outpointed Irma Balijagic Adler to land the interim WBO Super-Featherweight World Title in May 2017 before capturing the full crown against Sarah Pucek in Czestochowa a year later.

‘Kleo’ has made five successful defences of her title, all in Poland, most recently decisioning Belgium’s Djemilla Gontaruk in March, and the 36-year-old is determined to get her hands on Harper’s WBC and IBO belts.

Brodnicka is the latest addition to Matchroom’s unrivalled stable of women’s boxing talent that includes Undisputed Lightweight World Champion Katie Taylor and Undisputed Welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekhus, amongst a host of other top contenders.

“I’m delighted to team up with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing,” said Brodnicka. “Women’s boxing is on fire right now and I want to be in all the big fights starting with the unification match up between the winner of Harper and Jonas. I’m excited for the future and can’t wait for my return to the ring.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Ewa to the team” said Eddie Hearn. “This sets up a huge unification fight between the winner of Terri Harper vs. Natasha Jonas at Fight Camp at a time where women’s boxing continues to go from strength to strength.”

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are delighted to announce the full schedule for Fight Camp – an unrivalled summer of elite boxing based at the Matchroom HQ in Brentwood, Essex with the first three weeks shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US – and the final week shown live on Sky Sports Box Office.

The unique and ground-breaking outdoor setting overlooking the city of London will play host to huge World Title clashes, British and Commonwealth Title showdowns, Heavyweight wars and countless other Title fights as Matchroom bring top tier boxing back to the screens of fights fans across the UK and US.

Matchroom’s summer of boxing launches with a bang on Saturday August 1 as Sam Eggington (28-6, 17 KOs) puts his IBF International Super-Welterweight title on the line against Ted Cheeseman (15-2-1, 9 KOs) in a guaranteed barnburner, Belfast’s big-hitting James Tennyson (26-3, 22 KOs) takes on Cardiff’s Gavin Gwynne (12-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant British Lightweight title, Chatteris talent Jordan Gill (24-1, 7 KOs) meets Watford’s Reece Bellotti (14-3, 12 KOs) in an electric Featherweight battle, fast-rising Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (8-0, 7 KOs) steps up to take on Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily (17-2-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant English belt and gifted Sheffield Super-Lightweight Dalton Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) squares off with Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett (9-1, 2 KOs).

Terri Harper’s (10-0, 5 KOs) defence of her WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Titles against British rival Natasha Jonas (9-1, 7 KOs) headlines week 2 on Friday August 7 supported by Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith (10-1, 9 KOs) defending his Commonwealth Title against undefeated Cardiff man Nathan Thorley (14-0, 6 KOs), Liverpool Super-Welterweight Anthony Fowler (12-1, 9 KOs) gets his second outing of the year against Adam Harper (9-1), Oldham Lightweight prospect Aqib Fiaz (5-0) steps up against Birmingham’s former Midlands Area Champion Kane Baker (13-6) and Leeds Featherweight prospect Hopey Price (2-0) fights on UK soil again following his win on the huge Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua 2 show in Saudi Arabia.

Felix Cash (12-0, 8 KOs) puts his Commonwealth Middleweight Title on the line for the second time against former World Title challenger Jason Welborn (24-8, 7 KOs) at top of week 3’s bill on Friday August 14, recent Matchroom signing Zelfa Barrett (23-1, 14 KOs) meets Ireland’s undefeated Eric Donovan (12-0, 7 KOs) over ten rounds, Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway (14-1-1, 3 KOs) takes on Rotherham’s Navid Mansouri (20-3-2, 6 KOs), Watford Super-Bantamweight Shannon Courtenay (5-0, 2 KOs) faces the toughest opponent of her career in Rachel Ball (5-1) and hard-hitting Super-Middleweight menace John Docherty (8-0, 6 KOs) looks for his second win of the year.

Fight Camp concludes with an unmissable night of blockbuster action on Saturday August 22, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office, as Dillian Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) defends his WBC Interim Heavyweight World Title against Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) and Irish legend Katie Taylor (15-0, 6 KOs) defends her Undisputed Lightweight World Titles. There’s more Heavyweight action on offer as Martin Bakole (15-1, 12 KOs) returns to the ring against Russia’s Sergey Kuzmin (15-1, 11 KOs) and Luther Clay (13-1, 5 KOs) defends his WBO Global Welterweight Title against Chris Kongo (11-0, 6 KOs).

Adam Smith, Sky Sports Head of Boxing Development, said: “Eddie Hearn has supplied a sizzling summer schedule in August, starting with three Sky Sports shows packed with British talent. Sam Eggington against Ted Cheeseman should be a classic clash, while the exciting trio of Jordan Gill, Fabio Wardley and Dalton Smith will be eager to impress.

“Terri Harper has already endeared herself to fight fans with her remarkable success story, but Natasha Jonas is a genuine threat as we return to Matchroom HQ with a high-class World Title fight. Anthony Fowler and Chris Billam-Smith have big ambitions and cannot afford slip-ups on the same bill.

“Felix Cash defends his Commonwealth belt against the dangerous Jason Welborn on our third action-packed show. We’ll get another chance to see Shannon Courtenay in action – she is a rising talent with an entertaining style – and it’s a perfect platform for Kieron Conway and Zelfa Barrett to showcase their skills.

“Fight Camp ends with fireworks as Dillian Whyte risks his World Title ambitions against the big-hitting Alexander Povetkin, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Katie Taylor can cement her status as one of the sport’s finest fighters when she returns to action on another fantastic bill. We’re back with a red-hot line-up of live boxing!”

It will also mark the British boxer’s American debut.

Eddie Hearn promised that legitimate boxers would be on the KSI-Logan Paul 2 card on Nov. 9. Well, the Matchroom Boxing president just delivered.

Hearn announced Friday that Billy Joe Saunders is set to defend his WBO Super Middleweight title in his American debut as part of the card on DAZN. Saunders’ opponent is slated to be announced next week.

Saunders scored a unanimous decision over Shefat Isufi in May to be crowned the WBO super middleweight champ, making Nov. 9 his first title defense. Perhaps the internet-driven KSI-Logan Paul 2 audience will warm up to Saunders, considering the 30-year-old has one of the most colorful personalities in boxing.

The next big question: who will Saunders be facing?

vIA https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/boxing/billy-joe-saunders-to-defend-wbo-super-middleweight-title-on-ksi-logan-paul-2-card/1qr7rgbfwducv19k9g8ksrh698

Undefeated WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, with his next fight to be announced next week.

Saunders (28-0, 13 KOs) became a two-weight World Champion with a shutout points win over Shefat Isufi in Stevenage earlier this year, outclassing his Serbian opponent over 12 rounds to land the WBO 168lbs title.

The Hatfield southpaw’s first World title came against Irish fight legend Andy Lee at Manchester Arena in December 2015 when he floored the former Champion twice in the third round on route to a majority decision to claim the WBO Middleweight crown.

Successful defences followed against Artur Akavov, Willie Monroe Jr and, most notably, a career-best performance against David Lemieux on away soil in Canada where the 29-year-old star dismantled former IBF ruler Lemieux over 12 masterful rounds.

A former Southern Area, Commonwealth, British, WBO International and European Champion at Middleweight, Saunders is confident that his move to Matchroom Boxing will secure megafighs with new stablemates Callum Smith and Demetrius Andrade, as well as DAZN fighters Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.

“This move is going to benefit me massively,” said Saunders. “Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing can put me right out on the branch for those big fights. I’m on Golovkin and Canelo’s turf. I’ve made this move to make them fights because I’m sick of hearing their bullsh*t excuses. Those fights make financial sense and they make sense because we’re on the same network.

“I will go where the big fights are and I can fluctuate between Middle and Super-Middle. If the big fights are at Middleweight then I’ll have them at Middle. If they’re at Super-Middleweight then I’ll have them at Super. I’m a World Champion at Super-Middle so if anyone wants to come and try to win a belt then I’ve got one of the most recognised belts out there and I’m open to big offers.

“I’m going to bring a lot of excitement to Sky Sports and DAZN. I’m a good talker but I can also walk the walk. Matchroom are going to give me more publicity and more exposure for these big fights and that’s what I need. Once people see me and they see what I’m about they’ll want to see me in those big fights.

“I can’t wait to be involved in those big nights that I’ve seen Matchroom put on over the years. If that means fighting at 168lbs or 8lbs lighter then that’s no problem. I’m ready to go and I’m hoping to be out at the end of October or early November.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Welcome to the big league Billy Joe! This is a huge signing for us and the perfect place for Billy to be. Everyone in boxing knows how good Billy is and now he is going to get the chance to prove it against the elite.

“He holds a World title at 168 but can also make 160 comfortably and when you look at the fighters we work with across our platforms, this was an obvious link up. Fighters need to be motivated with regular dates and solid deliverable plans – now Billy finally has that you will see him shine on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing, said, “I’m absolutely delighted that Billy Joe Saunders has been announced as Eddie Hearn’s latest signing for Matchroom Boxing.

“Billy Joe is a huge talent, with mouthwatering fights available at Middleweight and Super-Middleweight, including Canelo, GGG, Demetrius Andrade, Danny Jacobs and that big domestic clash with Callum Smith.

“We’re very excited to have him on Sky Sports and look forward to seeing Billy Joe involved in some massive fights in the near future.”

By Jake Donovan-

Maurice Hooker was invited by promoter Eddie Hearn to attend Friday’s DAZN show at Hulu Theatre in New York City, in part to scout a pair of super lightweight fights for potential future opponents.

Long before the opening bell, the unbeaten super lightweight titlist already has his next challenger lined up.

Hooker (25-0-3, 17KOs) is locked in for the second defense of his 140-pound crown, as he will face unbeaten Mikkel “Slikk Mikk” LesPierre (20-0-1, 9KOs), from Brooklyn by way of Trinidad & Tobabo.

The bout will serve as the chief support to a March 9 DAZN-streamed card, topped by the platform debut of Dmitry Bivol who defends his light heavyweight title versus Joe Smith Jr. at a location to be determined.

LesPierre’s promoter, Lou DiBella confirmed the news to BoxingScene.com.

“Mikkel LesPierre is a slick, talented boxer with a tremendous work ethic,” DiBella told BoxingScene.com of his client, a 33-year old southpaw who cut his boxing teeth on the Broadway Boxing series.

Hooker will still be in attendance on Friday, checking out former three-division titlist Jorge Linares in a crossroads bout with Pablo Cano as well as former 140-pound beltholder Chris Algieri in a 10-round clash with stablemate Danny Gonzalez.

The winner of both bouts were floated as potential future opponents for the reigning champ, but will now have to wait their turn as Hooker opted for a quick ring return.

The defense will mark his first piece of ring action in the new year following a breakout 2018 ring. Hooker scored road wins over Terry Flanagan in England to win the title and a scintillating 7th round knockout of Alex Saucedo last November in Oklahoma City.

All told, the title challenge is a tall order for the relatively unknown LesPierre, who for most of his adult life has been forced to split his time between his full-time job at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City and honing his craft in the boxing gym.

He’s made the most of his time in the ring, only fighting twice in 2018 but in upgraded competition from where he was when the year began. A 10-round win over previously unbeaten Noel Murphy last February boosted LesPierre’s confidence, raising his game in his next—and most recent—fight, stopping Gustavo Vittori in seven rounds last June in the Astoria section of Queens, New York.

The latter win came on the same show that produced arguably 2018’s biggest upset. Former lightweight titlist Dejan Zlaticanin was a 45-1 betting favorite heading into his bout with Mexico’s Roberto Ramirez, against whom he was crushed in two rounds.

LesPierre left nothing to chance in his own appearance on the show, although it was hardly known at the time that it would lead to his first career title fight.

“He earned his world ranking while working full time, for the last ten years, as a data specialist at Mt Sinai Hospital at Manhattan,” DiBella notes. “A Brooklyn resident, he will join many Broadway Boxing veterans in realizing his dream of fighting for a world title.

“As a fighter and a person, he has earned this chance. I expect him to make the most of it.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/maurice-hooker-set-march-9-defense-vs-mikkel-lespierre–135489?print_friendly=1

WBO World Middleweight Clash: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FROM MATCHROOM BOXING USA IN BOSTON

Tickets for the October 20 bumper bill at the TD Garden on sale now

Eddie Hearn, President of Matchroom Boxing USA:

“I am thrilled to be bringing this triple-header of World championship action to the TD Garden in Boston.

“We want to take major fight nights to major cities across America that haven’t had the chance to witness this great sport in the flesh, that’s why we’re in Chicago on October 6 and then in Boston on October 20 – we’re taking this great sport to great cities in great arenas like the TD Garden with the best night of boxing the city has seen.”

Billy Joe Saunders – Hertfordshire, England – 26 (12) – 0 – defending his WBO World Middleweight title against Demetrius Andrade:

“This is such a big fight. The two main men at Middleweight at the moment is GGG and Canelo – and neither of them want to fight me or Demetrius. There’s a lot of smoke and mist in the division right now, and when it clears up I will be the man standing there.

“All jokes and trash talk aside, this is going to be a really good fight. Does anyone want to fight Demetrius? No. Does anyone want to fight me? No. We have to fight each other to prove who the number one guy is. Technically, we are the best two in the division, and the winner is going to be number one. I’m World champion, I’ve been more active, I’ve boxed the better opposition – but I have to beat this man.

“David Lemieux is a bum, a bum – he’s not worth talking about and I don’t take any credit from beating him. But I’ve been in with and easily handled World-class opposition – I’ve been in with Chris Eubank Jr and dealt with him, been in with Andy Lee and dealt with him, Willie Monroe had no heart or desire to win.

“There’s too much at stake in this fight to even think about losing – and I will prove that I am number one. If I turn up at my 100 per cent best, it’s good enough to beat him. He’s a great fighter and he’s been avoided, our paths have crossed and we have to fight. The winner is number one.”

Demetrius Andrade – Providence, Rhode Island – 25 (16) – 0 – challenging WBO World Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders.

“It’s an honour to be fighting at the TD Garden, we’re giving you the best fight in boxing this year, you have to be there.

“Billy Joe is a great fighter, an undefeated southpaw, he’s ugly looking, but he can fight – but your boy Demetrius Andrade always come through. Never have I failed to come out with the victory.

“It’s going to be an entertaining build up and I’m thrilled to be working with Eddie Hearn, he’s bringing boxing at the highest level out here – there’s no sport like boxing, and we’re showcasing it in Boston.

“We’re going to be in shape to do 12 rounds, I know I have the bigger dog inside me than Billy Joe, and I’m going to unleash that on him on October 20.”

Tickets for October 20 are on sale now from www.TDGarden.com

Photo by Ed Mulholland

Klitschko  By:  Dan Rafael –

Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, one of boxing history’s most dominant big men, will make a mandatory defense against Tyson Fury, a rare opponent bigger than him, on Oct. 24 at the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, after their camps made a last-minute deal and avoided a purse bid Monday.

With a purse bid scheduled for noon ET at the WBA headquarters in Panama City, Panama, Klitschko’s K2 Promotions and Fury promoter Mick Hennessy, who had been negotiating for weeks, reached an agreement with four minutes to spare.

Had the fight been put up for auction — Klitschko, as champion, was entitled to 80 percent of a winning bid and Fury 20 percent — they risked losing promotional control of the bout, as representatives for British promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren as well as Russian promoter Vlad Hrunov himself showed up at the purse bid intending to put in offers for a fight that surely would have garnered a winning bid of at least $15 million.

“We had constant conference calls with each other and the lawyers, and then four minutes before the deadline we reached an agreement,” Klitschko manager Bernd Boente told ESPN.com. “I think a good deal is one where both sides are happy, and both sides are happy with this deal. Mick Hennessy and Tyson Fury are happy and Wladimir and our side are also happy.”

Boente was in Germany but said he was in constant contact with Hennessy as well as Tom Loeffler, managing director of Klitschko’s K2 Promotions, who was in Panama, as they finalized the agreement.

Klitschko will be returning to defend the title at Esprit Arena for the third time. In 2012, he pummeled former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck in a fourth-round knockout, and in 2010 he dominated Eddie Chambers before scoring a crushing knockout with five seconds left in the 12th and final round.

Both fights drew massive crowds of more than 50,000 to the indoor soccer stadium, and this is a far more anticipated fight than either of those.

Terms of the Klitschko-Fury agreement were not disclosed, but the showdown looms as one of the most significant heavyweight title bouts in recent years given Klitschko’s enormous popularity in Germany as well as Fury’s following in England. Also, it is a bout that fans have looked forward to for the past few years.

“It is definitely a very big fight,” Boente said. “Tyson Fury is a top challenger without any doubt. It’s a tough fight, no doubt.”

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Klitschko (64-3, 54 KOs), 39, who is from Ukraine and lives in South Florida, will be making the 19th title defense during his nine-year, second reign — second-longest in heavyweight history behind only Joe Louis, who held the title for more than 11 years.

Klitschko’s 18 consecutive successful title defenses are third most in heavyweight history behind Louis’ all-time record of 25 and Larry Holmes’ 20. Klitschko is coming off a one-sided decision victory against then-undefeated Bryant Jennings on April 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

With the win against Jennings, Klitschko moved to 25-2 overall in world title bouts. When he faces Fury, it will be the 28th world heavyweight title bout Klitschko will be participating in, which will break the all-time record of 27 that he and Louis share.

England’s 6-foot-9, 260-pound Fury, 26, who will be the sixth undefeated opponent Klitschko will be facing in his last seven title defenses, is known for his outlandish trash talk, which undoubtedly will help sell the fight.

But Fury (24-0, 18 KOs) has also earned his position as Klitschko’s mandatory challenger. He scored a 10th-round knockout of contender Dereck Chisora — his second win against him — in their November title elimination bout. Fury knocked out Christian Hammer in the eighth round on Feb. 28 to stay busy before the title shot.

“I promise I won’t do a David Haye and s— myself. I’ll KO this super champ. I don’t talk unless I can back it up,” said Fury, taking a shot at countryman David Haye, who trash-talked Klitschko relentlessly and then did virtually nothing in a one-sided decision loss he blamed on a sore little toe when they met in a 2011 title unification bout.

Boente said the bout will be televised on HBO in the United States and RTL in Germany — networks that have contracts with Klitschko. He said the television outlet in the United Kingdom was not settled. He said talks are ongoing with ITV, Sky Sports and BT.

“We are happy we found an agreement in the end,” Boente said. “There are always certain points and certain issues you have to deal with but the good thing is we reached an agreement and that’s what counts. Maybe it was good we had the pressure of the purse bid to reach an agreement.

“Mick Hennessy and myself both said why is it necessary to give other promoters a chance to outbid us and promote the fight when we could have a nice cooperation? I am confident we will work together very well. We all want this to be a megaevent. The fight inside the ring could be absolutely thrilling and we will make sure that there will be a sold-out arena and television viewers around the world for this great fight.”

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/13209240/wladimir-klitschko-tyson-fury-set-october-title-fight-germany

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By Terence Dooley –

Team Sauerland are on the move from German TV broadcaster ARD to Sat.1, a privately-owned German TV station that started life in 1984 and is also available on the HD platform.  They will broadcast up to eight shows a year, with the option of a couple of pay-per-view events, and are allowed to take the Sauerland shows to other countries.

Indeed, Sauerland recently promoted the George Groves-Christopher Rebrasse EBU Super middleweight title fight here in the U.K., which was shown on Sky TV thanks to the input of Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, and they stated that it will be the first of a few foreign soil showcases.

Sauerland have a growing British contingent, EBU title-holder Groves and former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price signed with them this year, as well as the likes of Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham, the WBO super middleweight titlist, but they could be without the services of WBO cruiserweight king Marco Huck, who recently declared a desire to part company with Nisse and Kalle Sauerland’s company in order to seek a fight with Wladimir Klitschko.

They join German legend Felix Sturm on the channel. He faces Robert Stieglitz at a catchweight of 166.45lbs on November 8, with the winner set to meet Abraham, who defended his title again Paul Smith last month.  With Sauerland now on board, Sat.1 will aim to become a bigger player on the German boxing scene.  Former heavyweight title contender Axel Schluz will be part of their fight night broadcast team to provide heavyweight analysis.

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http://www.boxingscene.com/sauerland-event-major-tv-agreement-with-sat1–82997

 

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Anthony Crolla believes a big performance on Saturday night can lead him to a World title shot when he defends his WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title against Gamaliel Diaz at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester, live on Sky Sports.

‘Million Dollar’ has seen off Brit foes Gavin Rees, Stephen Foster Jnr and John Murray in his last three fights and now faces the former WBC Super Featherweight champion Diaz in an acid test of his World crown credentials.

Omar Figueroa successfully defended his WBC crown on the undercard of Kell Brook’s magnificent World title win in California and on Saturday night, Miguel Vazquez defends his IBF title against Mickey Bay on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana rematch in Las Vegas. Terence Crawford defends his WBO crown against Raymundo Beltran and Crolla has already been strongly linked with a clash against WBA champ Richar Abril – and the 27 year old is keeping a close eye on developments as he looks for a huge fight at the end of the year.

“I’m due a massive fight and if you look at the WBO ratings there’s a good chance I good get a final eliminator to fight for the WBO belt later in the year,” said Crolla. “All those fighters are superb operators but I wouldn’t hesitate in getting in there with them and I would be confident of becoming Britain’s newest World champion alongside Kell and Paul Smith in a couple of weeks. There’s always going to be politics in boxing but I have to keep performing and keep winning.

“I have to make sure I come through Saturday night against Diaz and I am sure if I do so in style then Eddie Hearn will be able to deliver something big for me. Anyone who knows boxing knows that Diaz is a quality operator and they know this is not an easy fight.

“There’s been a lot of talk on social media about a third fight with Derry Mathews but that doesn’t do anything for me at this stage. I’m ranked at number four in the WBO and if I get the win on Saturday I am looking in a really strong position to land a World title shot. The fight with Derry is always going to sell. We’ve had two great fights and I would take a third fight and it will always be a great fight, but at the minute, despite what Derry might say or think, I don’t need Derry now, it’s the biggest fight out there for him but it’s not for me.”

Crolla’s clash with Diaz is part of a great night of action in Manchester as ‘Million Dollar’ provides the chief support to Scott Quigg’s WBA World Super Bantamweight title defence against Stephane Jamoye.

Olympic gold medal hero Anthony Joshua MBE will be hunting an eighth KO win when he takes on Kazakh-born German Heavyweight Konstantin Airich. Scotty Cardle challenges Kirk Goodings for the English Lightweight title with the fight also an eliminator for the British belt, the first of two exciting eliminator contests for the coveted Lord Lonsdale strap as Welterweights Sam Eggington and Denton Vassell clash while local favourites Liam Hanrahan, Sam Hyde, Hosea Burton, Jimmy Kelly and debutant Marcus Morrison and Derbyshire’s Jack Massey are all in action.

http://www.boxingscene.com/crolla-if-i-win-style-hearn-get-me-big-fight—81956

 

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By Shaun Brown /

Only in boxing.

Two friends punch lumps out of one another for half an hour, putting aside their friendship for local bragging rights and to take another step on the ladder to fighting for world honours. And when Anthony Crolla 28-4-1 (11 KOs) had finally halted the unrelenting and valiant challenge of John Murray 33-3 (20 KOs) after 10 rounds in front of a fervent Manchester crowd last Saturday night, the two British lightweights shook hands and continued their friendship after the dust had settled.

With Crolla in a “Zombie like state” for a few days after a lack of sleep due to aches and pains, he then received a call from the friend that gave them to him.

“It was really nice of him (Murray) to phone,” Crolla told BoxingScene.

“We said we’ll meet up in the next week or two and grab some food or something. We just talked about the fight and we had a good chat. It was really nice to go over it. We both enjoyed the night, the occasion, the build-up and everything that came with it. It was a great thing for Manchester boxing and for us both to be involved in. We were mates before it and after a great fight like that we’re still mates I have even more respect for him now.”

With his body now healed, Crolla told me he is ready to go again. After three of his last four bouts having been against top ten British lightweights, the 27-year-old is now looking for a world title shot in the coming months and hopes that a win in his next fight, at the very least, will earn him a spot to contest one.

“The domestic scene is fantastic and there’s some great fights there but I feel like I’ve paid my dues. I’ve not got a problem fighting those fighters but the ultimate goal is a world title. If it’s not my next fight then I’d like to get in a position to fight for one.

“It’s not for me to say I’m above that level but I feel as though I’ve earned my shot. I’ve earned my stripes. I’ve been in good domestic fights and not ducked anyone. Now hopefully [my promoter] Eddie [Hearn] and the team behind me are gonna do their very best to get me a world title shot at some point. I’d like some sort of meaningful fight. I’m not saying Saturday wasn’t one, I don’t mean it like that, but I want a big fight for me. I believe I’ve earned my shot and I don’t believe anyone can say differently.”

Crolla knows that whichever world champion he could possibly face at 135lbs, it will be anything but straightforward. In Terence Crawford (WBO), Miguel Vazquez (IBF), Richar Abril (WBA) and Omar Figueroa (WBC) there are various challenges of craft, guile, awkwardness and grit. Crolla doesn’t mind who it is in the other corner.

“If any of those fights were offered I’d snap their hands off and take it,” he said.

“You can’t look at those world champions and say ‘That route’s better, that route’s easier’. I honestly believe it’s one of the toughest divisions. I know it is domestically but on the world stage when you look those fighters, if you asked the opinion of boxing people who the best lightweight is they’d be split. I honestly couldn’t say which one was harder or easier. It’d be a pleasure to share a ring with any of them.”

And what about Ricky Burns? The Scot who was comfortably out-pointed when losing his WBO belt to Crawford last month had been consistently linked with Crolla during his reign as a world champion. I asked the Mancunian if the fight still interests him.

“I’ve got great respect for Ricky. We’ve been due to fight a few times and it’s not happened. Ricky’s a great fighter and I want to test myself against the best and I see a fight with Ricky as that being what I would be doing. If the fight happens, it happens. If not, so be it. I don’t want to be chasing that fight and be the way Junior Witter was to Ricky Hatton. It’d be a pleasure to fight him. Ricky’s going his route and I’m going my route and if our paths cross, and there’s a good chance they will then the fight will happen. At the minute it won’t be happening.”

There were doubts about Crolla when he moved up to 135lbs from 130lbs a few years ago. Would he be strong enough? Is he not just a Super featherweight? Will he have the power? With wins over former world champion, Gavin Rees and former world title challenger, John Murray, those questions have been comprehensively answered. His confidence is growing. His performances are improving and credit is down to him and his trainer Joe Gallagher. So why does Gallagher come in for so much flak these days, especially on social networks?

“There’s some brilliant boxing fans out there, 99% of them are but you get the small minority. Whatever they want to say about Joe is their opinion and they’re entitled to it but what you can’t deny is that he’s doing brilliant things in a big way.

“I think if you get a parody account made about you then you’re doing something right (laughs). Those people that have done that have done Joe a favour. It’s given him more and more publicity. It does make me laugh. I’ve saw people on social networks say: ‘I’ve got nowt against Crolla but I want him to get knocked out because I can’t stand Gallagher’. We’re a team, what do you want me to say?: ‘Yeah, great don’t worry about it. You want me to get knocked out?’ If you’re wishing Joe’s fighters to get knocked out to get at Joe then you’re wishing it to us personally as well.”

Like the rest of the close-knit Gallagher’s gym, Crolla shrugs off the stick that his trainer gets. He knows he has the right man in his corner and is continually seeing improvements in all aspects of his boxing with much more to come.

“I believe I’m improving all the time. I’ve got a lot more improving to do which is a good thing. I’ve grown as a fighter and the last few performances have been getting better. And with each fight I want to raise my performance which is something that I believe that I’m more than capable of doing.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/anthony-crolla-ultimate-goal-world-title–77198

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RICKY BURNS has been granted his wish of a second world title battle with big-hitting Mexican Raymundo Beltran.

The WBO lightweight champion will meet Beltran for a second time in five months with his belt up for grabs in Glasgow early in February.

On September 7, the Scot had his jaw broken in the second round of their first meeting and was decked in the eighth on his way to a hotly-disputed and fortunate draw against the challenger in what was, nonetheless, one of the most courageous performances ever witnessed in a Scottish ring.

But, to his credit, and despite having had a titanium plate inserted in his jaw and offered a big-money match up in Madison Square Garden with US star Terence Crawford, Burns has remained true to his word Beltran would get a re-match.

Now the champ’s manager Alex Morrison has confirmed: “Eddie Hearn has reached an agreement with Beltran’s people for a rematch in Glasgow in February next year.

“Ricky made it clear from the moment the first fight between the two was over that he felt he owed Beltran a second chance and that speaks volumes for the type of man he is.

“After suffering the type of injury he did, many a fighter would be loath to go back in the ring, never mind face the same opponent again who had inflicted these injuries.

“But Ricky is the most honest man you will ever meet and he knows he must set the record straight in the second fight.

“Obviously, we had other options, but for Ricky the honourable thing to do was to give Beltran a second chance.

“He may have that, but I think this time Beltran will find out just how good Ricky is at his best.”

There are urgent areas of improvement required in his performance if he is not to be found impaled on Beltran’s left hook once more.

The champion’s professional career spans back to the night of his pro debut at the Kelvin Hall on October 20, 2001, against journeyman Woody Greenway on the undercard of Olympic champion Audley Harrison.

Since then, two kinks have remained in the Burns armour and that has been his tendency to remain rigidly upright with his jaw out and his failure to bring his right hand back to cover it after he has thrown a punch.

A brutally-honest big Alex admitted Burns will have to do better to prevail next time.

He said: “Ricky made mistakes in the first fight and learned some very painful lessons.

“But, come February, I have every confidence he will put a performance together which proves that point and puts Beltran to bed once and for all.”

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/boxing/ricky-ready-to-set-raymundo-record-straight-in-rematch-140457n.22510609

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Brian Rose came through a gruelling contest to gain a split decision over Argentina’s Javier Maciel in their WBO light-middleweight eliminator in Sheffield.

It was a fight of contrasting styles with the wild Maciel providing most of the aggression, but Rose offering much the more accurate and considered work despite being on the back foot for long spells.

In the end he was given the nod with Maciel getting a 115-113 verdict from one judge, but the Englishman was awarded it 117-111 by another and then 116-113 on the third and final card.

It was Maciel who was favourite with the bookmakers going into the bout, but Rose put down an early marker as he shaded the first behind some good work with his jab.

Maciel was much more aggressive in the second and was soon throwing big shots with increasing regularity forcing his rival to cover up. Indeed, Rose was doing most of his work on the back foot and trying to make his opponent miss.

Maciel started the fourth by landing with a crunching upper-cut, but Rose absorbed it well and continued to pop accurate if not powerful shots back to ensure he remained well in contention.

The Argentine finished the fifth with another barrage of shots and even raised his hand aloft as he made his way back to his stool. But, despite a nasty cut on the bridge of his nose, Rose’s spirit was by no means broken and he battled on gamely.

The eighth proved something of a turning point. Maciel launched a sustained and frenzied attack on his opponent and looked to have hurt his man having backed Rose up on the ropes.

But the Englishman took the South American’s best shots and then finished the round much the stronger and, by the time the bell sounded, Maciel’s barrage looked to have taken more out of him than his rival.

“You still haven’t seen the best of me, as I go up in levels the better I get. I’m happy with that performance, I’m more than happy. I’m over the moon.”
Brian Rose

Rejuvenated Rose

It was Rose stalking his man in the ninth and he would go on to look the fresher over the course of the next couple of rounds.

The 11th proved to be almost an action-replay of the eighth as Maciel again hurt his man and unloaded relentlessly only to then be pegged back a defiant Rose.

The final round saw both men struggling wearily to have the final say, but despite Maciel’s best efforts it was the accuracy of Rose which prevailed in the eyes of the judges.

The victory earns Rose a crack at the winner of the fight between Vanes Martirosyan and Dmetrius Andrade who meet next month for the vacant WBO light-middleweight title in Texas.

A delighted Rose told Sky Sports afterwards: “I’m usually a pretty cool character, but I wasn’t cool when I got that decision – I burst into tears. I found it really hard at times – there were times when I had to dig deep. I’ve never had to do that before

“You still haven’t seen the best of me, as I go up in levels the better I get. I’m happy with that performance, I’m more than happy. I’m over the moon.

“I was a bit unsure, I thought I’d done enough, I thought I was up by three or four rounds.

Rose’s promoter Eddie Hearn added: “I thought that was a great performance. Maciel was the favourite going into the fight. I thought it was close, but he showed the heart of a lion.”

http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/8993808/brian-rose-gains-split-decision-over-javier-maciel-in-wbo-light-middleweight-eliminator

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By Nicolas Samuilov –

Highly motivated and with the confidence of what he defines as the best preparation of his career, Argentinean and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino junior middleweight champion, former world title challenger Javier “La Bestia” Maciel, had his first face to face with Englishman Brian “The Lion” Rose, before their highly anticipated WBO junior middleweight world title final eliminator, that will take place on Saturday, October 26th., at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England, televised live by TyC Sports in Argentina and lots of parts of America, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, and AWEtv and AWEtv.com (3 p.m. ET).

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In a packed jammed press conference on Thursday afternoon, with his motivation high as ever after finishing his intense training camp in Las Vegas where he stayed for three weeks, Maciel (27-2, 20 KOs), ranked WBO junior middleweight #5, and International Boxing Federation (IBF) #7, expressed his confidence for his fight against Rose (24-1-1, 7 KOs), current WBO intercontinental junior middleweight champion, ranked WBO junior middleweight #4 and World Boxing Council (WBC) #16, who also said his words. Highly optimistic, both of them made clear what they are here for: get the victory that will put them on the #1 spot of the ranking and become mandatory challenger of the vacant title that will dispute Armenian-born American Vanes Martirosyan and American Demetrius Andrade on November 9th. But for that, “The Beast” and “The Lion” have to take a big step before.

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“I am very pleased to be here, for such an important fight like this eliminator. I came a long away from Argentina, to get everything. I come very well prepared, in a wonderful condition and in the best moment of my career. He is a good boxer, but I see myself stronger than him, and I’m ready”, said Maciel, who arrived from Las Vegas together with known trainer Miguel Diaz, and joined the rest of his team, headed by his manager and promoter, Mario Margossian, head of Argentina Boxing Promotions, his trainer Eduardo Molina, his assistant Gustavo Garay Rezola, his doctor Alberto Centanaro, his physiotherapist Cacho Latrónico, and Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield’s bursar Daniel Ramundo.

“I made the best preparation ever, the best in my life. The workouts in Las Vegas were very demanding, and I had first level sparrings, so I am in an excellent shape. We have watched several of Rose’s fights and studied him.  He comes forward, solidly, he looks for the fight, always with a high and closed guard, in a compact way, which makes it difficult to connect him. I go forward as well, so it will be a nice fight. And it doesn’t matter he is fighting at home, I am ready to beat him”, added the 29-year-old Maciel, who after making the distance against WBO middleweight world champion Dmitry Pirog in Russia, on March 2011, went down to the 154 pounds -his real division- where he finished eight of his last nine victims in less than five rounds.

Without being any less, Rose took the microphone and said his words. “This is a massive fight. As I said before, it’s a 50-50 fight on paper. It’s going to be a great fight, that anyone can win, but I feel more than capable of winning”, said the 28-year-old Blackpool favorite, who was with his whole team, headed the Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing, promoter of the event.

“I have watched him, and I think technically I’m a lot better. It’s just about putting that on practice on Saturday night. All the hard work is done. I’m not going to hold anything back, and I’m going to show to everyone on Saturday and prove that I belong on this stage”, stated Rose, who has knocked out former world champions such as Vivian Harris and Joachim Alcine.

But Maciel, who was named Latino Boxer of the Year by the WBO, and comes to this challenge after stopping in five rounds his countryman Alejandro Falliga, to defend his Latino belt for the fifth time on September 7th. at the Luna Park Stadium in Buenos Aires, has clear what he has to do.

“I am going to go wisely to look for the fight from the beginning. I want to fight for the world title so I’m going to go out there to win on Saturday night, and take the victory to Argentina. I feel great and I can’t wait for the fight to come. I am going to win the fight”, he concluded.

Maciel and Rose clash on a massive boxing night in Sheffield. In the other main event, undefeated hometown favorite Kell Brook (30-0, 22 KOs) will face former Ukrainian world champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (34-1, 23 KOs), in an IBF welterweight world title eliminator.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-maciel-more-confident-brian-rose-face-off–70955

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By Edward Chaykovsky –

According to manager Alex Morrison, WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (36-2-1, 11KOs) will meet rival Ray Beltran (28-6-1, 17KOs) for a second time on a date in early February in Glasgow, Scotland. They first collided on September 7, where Burns was dropped in the eight and had his jaw badly broken. Burns went on to retain his title with a very controversial twelve round draw, which even the UK press disagreed with.

Alex Morrison told The Scotsman: “Eddie Hearn has reached an agreement with Beltran’s people for a rematch in Glasgow in February next year. Ricky made it clear from the moment the first fight between the two was over that he felt he owed Beltran a second chance and that speaks volumes for the type of man he is.

“After suffering the type of injury he did, many a fighter would be loath to go back in the ring, never mind face the same opponent again who had inflicted these injuries. But Ricky is the most honest man you will ever meet and he knows he must set the record straight in the second fight. Obviously, we had other options, but for Ricky the honourable thing to do was to give Beltran a second chance. He may have that, but I think this time Beltran will find out just how good Ricky is at his best.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/ricky-burns-manager-says-beltran-rematch-nearly-done–70968

 

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Brian Rose will face Javier Maciel in a final eliminator for the WBO World Light Middleweight title at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on October 26, live on Sky Sports.

Rose and Maciel provide the chief support to Kell Brook’s blockbuster Welterweight clash with Vyacheslav Senchenko. The Blackpool man steps into the contest on the back of his Inter-Continental belt stoppage win in his hometown of Blackpool in April, which he followed with a wide points triumph over Alexey Ribchev in Bolton in June.

The vacant title is contested by Demetrius Andrade and Vanes Martirosyan in Texas on November 16, and Rose will be putting everything into his preparations for Maciel to ensure he’s next in line for the winner of that bout.

“This is a great chance for me to land the World title shot I have been working my whole life for,” said Rose. “Maciel is a tough opponent and I know I will have to be at my very best to beat him, but we’ve got seven weeks to go until fight night and myself and Bobby Rimmer will leave no stones unturned in the gym to get the win.”

Maciel is in his third stint as the WBO Latino champion and fought Dmitry Pirog for the Middleweight crown in March 2011. The 30 year old has won his last four bouts inside the first five rounds, and promoter Eddie Hearn is expecting a great battle in Sheffield.

“This is a golden opportunity for Brian to secure his World title shot and become mandatory for the WBO title,” said Hearn. “Maciel is by far the biggest test of his career but I believe he is ready to make a statement in this fight. I’m delighted to be working with Top Rank and the WBO to make this fantastic bout.”

Rose and Maciel’s chief support bout to Brook’s test against Senchenko is all part of a great night of action in Sheffield.

Olympic Gold medallist Anthony Joshua MBE will box for the second time as a pro on the card after his debut at The O2 on October 5, there’s a spot on the card for Rose’s fellow Blackpool fighter Scotty Cardle.

Liverpool’s Callum Smith continued his incredible run of first round stoppage wins in Glasgow on Saturday and will be in action in the Steel City and there’s a welcome return to action for Kal Yafai, the exciting 8-0 bantamweight who boxes for the first time since injuring his bicep in his last outing in March.

http://thaboxingvoice.com/rose-maciel-wbo-jr-middleweight-title-eliminator-october-26th/18319

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By:  Mike Dawes –

Ricky Burns will fight again despite breaking his jaw during the controversial draw with Raymundo Beltran on Saturday.

His promoter Eddie Hearn had said that the 30-year-old Scot’s future was in doubt and that he may never box again.

But Burns’ manager Alex Morrison is sure the WBO lightweight world champion will make a comeback.

‘Ricky will definitely fight again, one million per cent,’ Morrison told BBC Scotland.

‘I spoke to him this morning and he is definitely coming back, although when that will be, we don’t know.’

Many onlookers and pundits believe the 32-year-old Mexican Beltran had won the fight.

Burns had to have titanium plates inserted on to his jaw after suffering the injury in the second round, though he did continue through the full 12 rounds.

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Painful: Eddie Hearn tweeted this picture of Ricky Burns with his swollen jaw in hospital

Morrisson also believes Burns owes Beltran another shot at the title, and even said Burns is keen for a rematch.

‘It’s the moral thing to do,’ he said. ‘Ricky wants to fight him again here in Scotland in front of another packed crowd.

‘But it will only take place here in Scotland. If Beltran wants a rematch, he’ll have to come here again.’

Earlier, Burns’ promoter Eddie Hearn said that Burns may never fight again.

‘Everyone’s talking about his next move. I can’t even guarantee he’ll box again at the moment,’ Hearn told the BBC.

‘It was a horrific injury to suffer. There have been a few occasions when people have boxed on with broken jaws – I couldn’t imagine anything worse – but they are extraordinary people, fighters, and he found the bravery to carry on.

‘The doctor, who doesn’t know a lot about boxing, was quite astonished when I told him he had boxed for half an hour with a broken jaw.

‘He asked if he had taken any shots on it and I told him that was the understatement of the year.

‘When I spoke to Beltran last night, he said he could hear him almost crying in clinches where the heads were going in on the jaw – unpleasant stuff, but he’s on the mend.’

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2415991/Ricky-Burns-return-ring-says-manager-Alex-Morrison.html

Date:  September 7, 2013

Title:  WBO Lightweight Championship

Location:  Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Promoter:  Matchroom Boxing/Eddie Hearn

Supervisor:  Dennis Gilmartin

Referee:  Phil Edwards

Judges:  Carlos Ortiz, Jr.  (115-112), Richard Davies (114-114) and Andre Van Grootenbruel  (113-115)

Results:  A 12-round split draw.  Burns suffered a broken jaw in the 2nd round.  Burns was knocked down in the 8th round.

 

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Promoter Eddie Hearn claims Ricky Burns can be regarded as the best Scottish boxer ever if he defends his WBO lightweight title for the fourth time.

Burns faces Mexican challenger Raymundo Beltran on Saturday in Glasgow.

“The run of fights he’s had and the string of defences puts him up there as the greatest Scottish fighter of all time,” said Hearn.

Ricky Burns

  • 38 fights, 36 wins (11 knock-outs), two losses
  • WBO lightweight champion (2012 – two defences)
  • WBO super featherweight champion (2009 – three defences)

“He doesn’t believe his own hype, which is great as a fighter. But he’s got to remember he’s a huge, huge talent.”

There are two Scots already in the International Boxing Hall of Fame – Benny Lynch and Ken Buchanan.

Benny Lynch

  • 119 fights, 88 wins (34 knock-outs, 14 losses)
  • NBA world flyweight champion (1935 – one defence)

Ken Buchanan

  • 69 fights, 61 wins (27 knock-outs), eight losses
  • WBA lightweight champion (1970 – three defences)
  • WBC lightweight champion (1971)

And Hearn knows Burns will always play down his chances of being considered better than those fighters.

“He laughed at that because that’s what he’s like,” said Hearn. “I just believe that Ricky is a two-weight world champion.

“He carries the hope of a nation behind him, so he should be proud and the country should be proud of Ricky Burns.”

Burns’s bout with 32-year-old Beltran, a former sparring partner of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, comes after the Coatbridge boxer’s wife, Amanda, gave birth to their first child at the end of August.

But the 30-year-old insists the new arrival has not brought any distractions to his preparations.

“Things have been going along as normal,” said Burns. “Throughout the pregnancy, there’s been no complications, Amanda’s been great.

“Now the baby and that are home, I’ve been able to focus fully on the fight.”

Burns reckons it will be “a cracking fight” against Beltran.

“The fans are in for a real treat here,” added the Scot. “He comes to fight, I won’t need to go looking for him.

“We’ve trained for a hard 12 rounds because I believe this fight’s going to go the distance.

“I’m hoping to go out and get the win and then go for the big fights that Eddie was talking about.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/23963906