Category Archives: UK Boxing

OPEN LETTER FROM JOHN O’DONNELL TO SAM EGGINGTON

O’Donnell says “Man Up Sam and don’t be a bottle job”

 

Dear Sam,

 

I am writing to openly challenge you to defend your titles against me on October 17th. I fully appreciate that you may not want to do this as you know you will lose and will want to pick an easy touch but man up and at least when you lose you will have shown you’re a fighting man!

 

As it stands I am going to have to beat the guy who beat you, Dale Evans, in an eliminator for the British title. You know I will beat Dale and probably you will find an excuse to vacate when this happens rather than face me.

 

Sam it’s all about levels and I am levels above you. I will take you to school and give you a boxing lesson but at least you will learn from it.

 

You seem to lack an opponent for October 17th. Ask your promoter Eddie to give my team a call. We are waiting for the phone to ring. I will even give you a rematch clause if you want to be beaten twice in a row.

 

You have done really well coming back and its great to see a young man progress but the time has now come to face a real contender, someone who is hungry to go all the way. Glenn Foot was too small for you, Joseph Lamptey was out of his depth and Shayne Singleton had a built up record.

 

I am a former Commonwealth champion. Man up Sam!

 

All the best

 

John

JONES JR. Vs MORAN Open Press Conference, Liverpool, Wednesday 22nd July

 

 

The open to the public press conference for the Stephen Vaughan LEGEND event, headlined by the Roy Jones Jr. versus Tony Moran MBC International and World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental Cruiserweight championships bout, will take place at 1:30pm this coming Wednesday, the 22nd July at the BIERKELLER, 6 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool One, L1 8LW.

 

In addition to Roy Jones Jr and Tony Moran in attendance will also be many of those that will be in action on the night, including;

 

Paul Economides, who will be defending his WBF Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title against Prosper Ankrah.

 

Tasif Khan, who will be challenging Isaac Quaye for the WBF International Super Flyweight championship.

 

Nick Quigley, who faces undefeated Nathan Decastro

 

Antonio Counihan, who faces Ghana’s Michael Ansah

 

Undefeated Liverpool based Russian hot prospect David Agadzhanyan.

 

Lee Boyce, who takes on Scunthorpe’s Matthew Pepper.

 

Unbeaten Jay Carney, who faces unbeaten Mathew Fitzsimons from Belfast.

 

Local prospect Dayle Gallagher, who faces tough opposition from Matt Scriven

 

Unbeaten Heavyweight Rob Beech, who will take on Blackpool’s Mathew Ellis

 

Plus local prospects Lee Monaghan, Lee Milner and Carl Donohue, who will all be making their pro debuts on September 12th.

 

Tickets, priced £40, £60, £100 and VIP Ringside £150 for the Stephen Vaughan Promoted Roy Jones Jr. versus Tony Moran MBC International Cruiserweight Championship headed LEGEND event at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool on Saturday September 12th 2015 will be available for purchase at the press conference or are available to buy on line at www.tkoboxoffice.comand www.vaughanboxing.tv

 

Sanctioning for this event will be courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission – www.maltaboxingcommission.com

 

Churcher Prepared For War Against McEwan On August 15th

A mouth watering domestic clash, between Newport’s Lee Churcher and Edinburgh’s Craig McEwan, is set to feature on the undercard of the upcoming Thomas Melville’s Colloseum Promotions THE COMEBACK event at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley, Scotland on Saturday 15th August 2015, which is headlined by the Craig Docherty-Michael Kelly WBU World Super Welterweight Championship showdown.

 

Churcher (12-3-1), who secured the BBBofC Welsh area title with a ninth round stoppage victory over Barrie Jones in 2012, but never got to defend it before switching allegiance to the MBC, comes into the fight off a six win streak.

 

His opponent, McEwan (22-4-1) will be making his first home appearance since returning from America, where he fought amongst others World Champions Andy Lee and Peter Quillin.

 

On paper the bout looks set to be a stormer as both protagonists are very much ‘attack is the best form of defense’ minded, so much so that a number of on-line pundits have mooted that this is likely to be an out and out toe-to-toe war, very much in a similar vain to those classic battles between Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward back in 2002/3.

 

A train of thought that virtually mirrors Churcher’s own, as was made clear when he spoke earlier.

 

“This is a massive fight for me, I’m really looking forward to fighting him, he’s tough and a big puncher, much like me really.

 

These are the type of fights real fighters want, challenging to put it mildly, fights like this are made for the big occasion and they don’t get much bigger than this, well in Scotland that’s for sure, there’s the Craig Docherty-Michael Kelly title fight headlining and Scott Harrison will be making his return on the show too.

 

That said, I think it will be our fight the fans will talk about most, especially afterwards, It’s going to be a war in there.

 

Yeah he’s been in with some good names, but that doesn’t worry me, it’s not an option for me, I can’t lose, it’s as simple as that.

 

I’m going to take the fight to him, have to really, his right hand delivers a devastating blow, so mustn’t give him the room to use it, I’ve got to get in there and give it to him first.

 

I’m not worried about the occasion or that it’s on his home turf, OK so I’m likely to receive a hostile reception, but that’s fine with me.

 

Saying that there are some fans coming up to support me, obviously it’s a long trip for my fans, it’s a massive journey for them, I appreciate that and can’t thank them enough for traveling all that way to Scotland to watch me fight.”

 

Lee Churcher vs Craig McEwan features on the undercard of the Craig Docherty-Michael Kelly World Boxing Union (WBU) Super Welterweight World Championship bout that headlines the Thomas Melville’s Colloseum Promotions THE COMEBACK event at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley, Scotland on Saturday 15th August 2015.

 

Sanctioning for this event is courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) www.maltaboxingcommission.com

 

Tickets, priced £40, £50 and £75 (VIP) are available from any of the boxers taking part or call 07932 069376 and are also available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com

 

Lyons & James-Elliott Plan Huge Season Opener At York Hall 29th Aug.

Mark Lyons and Billy James-Elliott are really pulling out all the stops in preparation for their and the Capital City’s new season opener event, LORDS OF THE RING II, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 29th August.

 

With eighteen bouts already on the card, LORDS OF THE RINGS II is looking set to be the biggest pro boxing event in the Capital this year.

 

Heading up the massive card is reigning World Boxing Federation (WBF) Welterweight World Champion Chris Goodwin, who will be facing a yet to be announced opponent.

 

A two division World Champion, Goodwin (19-2-1) was the first British boxer to secure a World lightweight crown in almost twenty years, when he beat Istvan Kiss for the World Boxing Foundation Lightweight title back August 2012.

 

He then went on to secure the WBF Intercontinental crown in April 2014 before adding the WBF World Welterweight crown, with a split point win over Mikheil Avakyan at the Northgate Arena in Chester just four months later.

 

Main support sees Woolwich, London’s British #1 ranked and reigning MBC International Super Bantamweight Champion, Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston, in a non-championship bout ahead of her upcoming World title challenge.

 

Marston, who was discovered and coached by legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier and two time Cruiserweight Champion of the World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, also became the #1 pound-for-pound ranked British female, following her sensational shut out points victory over then Hungarian #1, European #3 and World #31 ranked Marianna Gulyas to secure the MBC International crown in October 2014.

 

This win sent Marston soring up the rankings, from #58 in the World to #24 and in contention to muster a challenge for a World accolade.

 

Heading up the support card sees London’s Jimmy Campbell (11-8-0) making his UK debut, as throughout his career Campbell had competed exclusively in America until now.

 

During his career Campbell has been in with some of the sports biggest names, such as WBC World Champion Anthony Dirrell and WBA World Champion Virgil Hill.

 

On August 29th Campbell faces Scunthorpe’s Jody ‘The Entertainer’ Meikle, whilst Meikle is not quite on the same level as Dirrell and Hill you can be sure that Campbell will get one of the toughest tests when he goes toe-to-toe with ‘The Entertainer’.

 

Welsh and British Masters Champion Lee ‘Lights Out’ Churcher will also be in action, unfortunately not in the planned MBC International title fight with George Hillyard, but in a non-championship six rounder against a yet to be named opponent.

 

Whilst on the subject of Champions – 13 time, unified World KI Rules, Full Contact Kick Boxing and Muay Thai Champion Marlon Hunt will be making his much anticipated professional Boxing debut, against Scunthorpe’s Matthew Pepper.

 

The Lords of the Ring event also features another Globe trotting British fighter, the sensational Iain ‘The Blessed One’ Weaver (5-1-0), who will be making a rare appearance on a British event.

 

Last time out. In Parsippany, New Jersey, was the victim of a little bit of ‘home cooking’ to the score cards – after dominating his opponent, Newark, New Jersey’s Wanzell Ellison, from start to finish, Weaver was shocked to end up on the losing side of a highly contentious split decision – so you can be sure that former Team GB star Weaver will be wanting to make a big statement and get another big win on his record.

 

Bardsley, Lincolnshire’s unbeaten Middleweight prospect Nathan ‘Nightmare’ Decastro (4-0-0) will also be in action, as will Kensington’s unbeaten Super Middleweight prospect Daley Ojuederie (3-0-1), both against yet to be announced opponents.

 

This event also features the long awaited return to the fray of ‘Rockin’ Robin Deakin, following a fifteen-month sabbatical from the sport.

 

Finally, making their professional debuts on August 29th are a number of top amateurs, including Doncaster’s sensational Tom Bell (Bantamweight), Sheffield’s Luke Junior (Welterweight), Newcastle’s Jak Johnson (Super Featherweight), Hertfordshire’s Daniel Mendes (Cruiserweight), Junior Walker (Super Welterweight), Johannes Umelo (Heavyweight), Mo Holloway, Malta’s Kerstin Brown (Bantamweight) and Billy Elliott (Welterweight).

 

The Mark Lyons and Billy James-Elliott Wise Guys promotions LORDS OF THE RING II event will take place at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 29th August 2015.

 

This event is sanctioned courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) www.maltaboxingcommission.com

 

Tickets, priced £35 (standard seated) and £65 (Ringside) are available from any of the boxers taking part, on-line atwww.tkoboxoffice.com and www.wiseguypromotions.com or call 07960 850645 or 07807 282559.

Roy Jones Jr. Vs Tony Moran Press Conference Set for Wednesday 22nd July.

Promoter Stephen Vaughan Jr. today announced that the press conference for the Roy Jones Jr. versus Tony Moran Championship bout, that takes place at the Aintree Equestrian Centre, in Liverpool on Saturday 12th September, will take place at the Bierkeller, 6 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool L1 8LW at 1:30pm on Wednesday 22nd July.

 

On making the announcement, Mr. Vaughan, said. “It’s a real honour to be having the legendary Roy Jones Jr. come over and fight in England for the first time, even better that we have him fighting right here in Liverpool on one of our shows, against one of our own local lads, Tony Moran, on the 12th September.

 

But before we get to see the Legend himself in action, first we have the press conference, which will take place at the Bierkeller in Liverpool One.

 

Besides Roy and Tony we’ll also have all the lads from the home side of the card and a few of their opponents in attendance too.

 

This will be an open Press Conference so everyone is welcome to come along.”

 

PRESS CONFERENCE

 

Time & Date: 1:30pm on Wednesday 22nd July 2015

 

Location: Bierkeller, 6 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool L1 8LW

 

In Attendance:

 

Roy Jones Jr. versus Tony Moran

MBC International Cruiserweight Championship

 

Paul Economides (17-5-0) versus Prosper Ankrah (24-5-0)

World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Super Bantamweight Championship

 

Tasif Khan (10-1-2) versus Isaac Quaye (27-11-1)

World Boxing Federation International Super Flyweight Championship

 

WBU Junior World Super Bantamweight Champion Stevie Quinn Jr. (7-2-0) (Opponent TBA)

 

Unbeaten Lightweight Prospect Antonio Counihan (7-0-0) (Opponent TBA)

 

Unbeaten Featherweight Prospects Jay Carney (2-0-0) versus Mathew Fitzsimons (1-0-0)

 

Unbeaten Featherweight Prospect David Agadzhanyan (5-0-0) (Opponent TBA)

 

Unbeaten Heavyweight Prospect Rob Beech (5-0-0) (Opponent TBA)

 

Middleweight: Nick Quigley (13-2-0) versus Nathan Decastro (4-0-0)

 

Light Heavyweight: Lee Boyce (2-1-0) versus Matthew Pepper (1-9-0)

 

Welterweight: Dayle Gallagher (1-0-0) versus Matt Scriven (14-89-1)

 

Plus debuting boxers: Bantamweight; Tom Bell, Light Heavyweight; Liam Milner and Welterweight; Lee Monaghan

 

Tickets, priced £40, £60, £100 and VIP Ringside £150 for the Stephen Vaughan Promoted Roy Jones Jr. versus Tony Moran MBC International Cruiserweight Championship headed LEGEND event at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool on Saturday September 12th 2015 are available now, call 0333 200 0905 or buy on line at www.tkoboxoffice.com and www.vaughanboxing.tv

 

Sanctioning for this event will be courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission – www.maltaboxingcommission.com

Docherty-Kelly Title Showdown Set For 15th August

Glasgow’s former Commonwealth Champion Craig Docherty is set to challenge Dundalk, Ireland’s Michael Kelly for the World Boxing Union (WBU) Super Welterweight World title, on the Thomas Melville’s Colloseum Promotions THE COMEBACK event at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley on Saturday 15th August.

 

For Docherty it could be deemed a case of back to the future, as back in 2007 he unsuccessfully challenged Lee McAllister for the Lightweight version of the WBU title.

 

Now eight years later Docherty will be hoping that it is a reversal in fortunes and on the 15th August it will be him, not his opponent that emerges victorious and crowned the WBU Super Welterweight Champion.

 

Whilst the main focus is rightfully on Docherty-Kelly World title bout, it’s not the only bout on the show that has caught both the media and boxing public’s attention, not by a long shot.

 

Main support sees the return of one of Scotland’s greatest boxers ever, as longtime British, Commonwealth, IBO Intercontinental and WBO World Featherweight Champion Scott Harrison makes his long awaited return to the ring, in a ten round bout against a yet to be named opponent.

 

Receiving equal levels of attention, to both the headline and main support bouts, is the sensational Scotland vs Wales battle royale, between Edinburgh’s Craig McEwan (22-4-1) and Newport’s Lee ‘Lights Out’ Churcher (12-3-1).

 

Surprisingly this mouth watering battle, between McEwan, who has fought the likes of Andy Lee and Peter Quillin, and Churcher, the Welsh Area and British Masters Champion, is not for any form of Championship accolade.

 

Another superb domestic match up, between Bellshill’s Ronnie Nailen (3-1) and Bardney, Lincolnshire’s unbeaten Nathan Decastro (4-0), is another bout that is sure to enthrall the crowds, as both are big punchers that are not afraid to mix it up and go toe-to-toe when needs be.

 

That’s not all, not by a long shot, as Nairn’s Sandy Robb takes on Scunthorpe’s highly entertaining Jody Meikle in a six round Light Heavyweight contest, whilst Glasgow’s unbeaten Darren McAdam takes on Nottingham’s Matt Scriven.

 

Also on the card is a Cruiserweight contest between Askham-in-Furness, Cumbria’s Lee Kellett and Nottingham’s debuting Kevin Barker in a four rounder and last but not least Dunfermline’s Alistair Gonsales takes on debuting Ryan Lyall in a four round Super Welterweight contest.

 

Craig Docherty vs Michael Kelly for the World Boxing Union (WBU) Super Welterweight World title, headlines the Thomas Melville’s Colloseum Promotions THE COMEBACK event at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in paisley, Scotland on Saturday 15th August 2015.

 

Sanctioning for this event is courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) www.maltaboxingcommission.com

 

Tickets, priced £40, £50 and £75 (VIP) are available from any of the boxers taking part or call 07932 069376 and are also available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com

Roy Jones Jr. Set To Head Up Vaughan’s September Liverpool Event

Stephen Vaughan Jr. announced earlier today that 5 Division World Champion Roy Jones Jr. will be coming to Liverpool, England to headline his upcoming event at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool on Saturday 12th September 2015.

 

Jones Jr, claimed his first World title with a unanimous points victory over Bernard Hopkins at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC back in May 1993 for the IBF version, which he successfully defended against Thomas Tate before challenging and beating James Toney for his IBF Super Middleweight crown in 1994.

 

Jones Jr. successfully defended the Super Middleweight title five times, against Antoine Bird, Vinnie Pazienza, Tony Thornton, Eric Lucas and Bryant Brannan, before moving up to Light Heavyweight to successfully challenge Mike McCallum for the WBC interim World Light Heavyweight title in November 1996.

 

Four months later Jones Jr. was back in the ring again, to challenge Montel Griffin for the WBC World Light Heavyweight Crown, however instead of securing the win Jones jr. was disqualified striking Griffin after he went down on one knee in the ninth round.

 

In the rematch in August ’97, Jones Jr. finally secured the WBC Light Heavyweight crown with a first round knockout to add his third World crown in a third division.

 

In July 2008 Jones Jr. added the WBA Light Heavyweight title to his collection after unifying the WBC and WBA Light Heavyweight championships with a unanimous points victory over reigning WBA champ Lou Del Valle.

 

Jones successfully defended both the WBC and WBA titles against Otis Grant and Richard Frazier, before unifying the division with the IBF Light Heavyweight belt with a points victory over Reggie Johnson in 1999.

 

In January 2000 Jones Jr. started off the new Millenium with a unified defense victory over David Telesco, which he followed up with a successful defense of the three titles with a eleventh round stoppage victory over Richard Hall in May.

 

In September 2000 Jones Jr. added the IBO version to his collection after defending Champ Eric Harding retired in the tenth round of their bout at the New Orleans Arena.

 

Jones Jr. successfully defended the four titles against Derek Harmon in February 2001 before successfully challenging World Boxing Federation Champion Julio Cesar Gonzalez for his crown as well as adding the vacant IBA version to his collection.

 

Jones Jr. successfully defended his six Light Heavyweight titles against Glen Kelly and Clinton Woods, before surprising most observers when he moved to the Heavyweight division to successfully challenge John Ruiz for the WBA World Heavyweight crown in March 2003.

 

In November of the same year Jones Jr. went back to the Light Heavy ranks and successfully defended his WBC, WBA and IBO titles against Antonio Tarver, six months later the pair would face off against one and other again, this time it was Tarver that emerged victorious and claiming the WBC, WBA, IBO, IBA and vacant World Boxing Foundation titles.

 

In September of that year Jones Jr. lost the IBF version to Glen Johnson following the Floridian being knocked out in the ninth. In October 2005 Jones Jr then unsuccessfully challenged Antonio Tarver for the IBO Light Heavyweight title.

 

With no World titles in his possession Jones Jr successfully challenged Prince Badi Ajamu in July 2006 for the WBO NABO Light Heavyweight Crown and almost one year to day later beat Anthony Hanshaw for the vacant IBC Light Heavyweight World title.

 

In March 2009 Jones Jr beat Omar Sheika for the vacant WBO NABO title, which he successfully defended against Jeff Lacy before unsuccessfully challenging Danny Green in December 2009 for his IBO Cruiserweight crown.

 

It would not be until December 2013 that Jones Jr. was to be in World Championship action once more, when he travelled to Moscow to successfully challenge Zineddine Benmakhlouf for the vacant WBUv World Cruiserweight title.

 

Jones Jr Successfully defended the title against Courtney Fry, Hany Atlyo and most recently Paul Vasquez.

 

Next up for the legendary five division World Champion, when he fights in Liverpool on September 12th, well at this point there are a number of opponents in the hat, so we will have to wait a short while until terms are agreed with some of those names.

Tickets for the Stephen Vaughan Promoted Roy Jones Jr. headed event at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool on Saturday September 12th 2015 will go on sale shortly, call 0333 200 0905 and the tickets will also be available on line atwww.tkoboxoffice.com and www.vaughanboxing.tv from next Monday.

 

Sanctioning for this event will be courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission – www.maltaboxingcommission.com

Bryan Vera- Rocky Fielding Media Day quotes and pictures

Liverpool, England (June 24, 2015)– Super Middleweight contender Bryan Vera (23-9, 14 KO’s) and Rocky Fielding (20-0, 11 KO’s) held a media workout Tuesday in advance of their bout on Friday.

The fight will take place at the Echo Arena, and he is with his team that consists of his brother Gilbert, manager David Watson and Matthew Rowland, Vice-President of Banner Promotions.

“We did a media day in front of a good crowd in Liverpool. We did a small workout for the crowd. Rocky fielding showed up after me and did his thing for the crowd,” Said Vera

“I am ready to bring back the belt. I am ready and feel great fighting at 168. I have fought many great fighters. I have been tested time and time again. Rocky Fielding knows that this is not his typical fight. He’s fighting a warrior and I’m coming to win. That I know.”

Bryan Vera in England for Friday fight with undefeated Rocky Fielding

 

Liverpool, England (June 23, 2015)–  Super Middleweight contender Bryan Vera (23-9, 14 KO’s) is in Liverpool, England and is focused for his Friday night showdown with undefeated Rocky Fielding (20-0, 11 KO’s)

The fight will take place at the Echo Arena, and he is with his team that consists of his brother Gilbert, manager David Watson and Matthew Rowland, Vice-President of Banner Promotions.

“I have not seen much of Fielding except for what I have seen on Youtube,” stated Vera.

“After I win this fight, I would love to fight one of Rocky’s stablemates in IBF Super Middleweight champion James DeGale or WBC champion Badou Jack.  I know 168 pounds is my ideal weight.  I feel stronger at this weight and I will put on a great performance on Friday. I am prepared for an emphatic win on Friday”

Said Matthew Rowland, “After Bryan wins on Friday, he will be right in the mix for a world title or a major fight 168 pounds.”