Renowned Liverpool based promoter Stephen Vaughan is clearly determined to raise the bar, for Small Hall Boxing events, to a whole new level, with his latest offering, dubbed ‘NEW ERA – An Evening Of Professional Boxing’, which takes place at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool, on Saturday 23rd May 2015.
For those that were at Vaughan’s previous event, at the Grand Central Hall back in March, there is no need to stress just how good the event was.
May 23rd promises much, much more, on paper NEW ERA looks set to not only be a true small hall classic, but also looks likely to set a new standard that very few small hall promotions could possibly match.
Heading up the twelve bout card is Liverpool’s very own Tony Dodson, who will be back in hometown action for the first time since beating Darren Stubbs to secure the IBO Light Heavyweight International title, back in October 2011.
On the 23rd May, Dodson, who in his previous fight secured a solid points victory over one of the toughest opponents around – the mischievous, yet highly durable, Jody Meikle, will be facing Latvia’s big punching Andrejs Pokumeiko.
In March last year, Pokumeiko secured a good solid points win over Ilford’s Kevin Greenwood at York Hall in London, which is the only points win on his record, every other win has come by way of stoppage victory.
The main support sees Chester’s WBF Intercontinental Champion Paul ‘Spartan’ Economides, in a non-championship contest against Estonia’s Sergey Tasimov.
Back on Vaughan’s previous event Economides put in another top class performance, against Ghana’s two time Commonwealth title challenger Isaac Quaye, on way to securing another sensational second round stoppage victory.
That particular win says a lot about Economides’ power as Quaye hadn’t been stopped on any of his previous thirty six fights, some feat considering Quaye has battled it out with the likes of Commonwealth champion Don Broadhurst, British, Commonwealth and European Champion Kevin Satchell and WBO European Champion Iain Butcher amongst other notable stars.
What’s more, on May 2nd Economides went one better, with a clinical first round stoppage of the Czech Republic’s Petr Gyna, at the York Hall in London.
Globe trotting Tasimov, has fought some of the UK’s top stars previously, including interim WBA World Champion Derry Mathews, British and European Champion and upcoming IBF World title challenger Lee Askins, as well as former British and Commonwealth Champion Nicky Booth.
Whilst most cards have a top-flight domestic bout or two heading up the show, the support card is usually made up of local ‘house’ fighters tentatively building their records. Not this card; only three of the undercard fights feature developing talent, the rest are already well and truly established prospects and stars.
One of the most interesting match ups on the card pits Liverpool’s Nick Quigley against … you’ve guessed it, the aforementioned Jody Meikle.
Quigley made short work of his last opponent, Ludvik Gina, sensationally stopping the Czech in just fifty five seconds of the first round.
Don’t think the same will happen against Meikle, but do expect six rounds of truly entertaining boxing, with some mischievousness sprinkled in for maximum effect, based on Meikle’s last outing against Onder Ozgul at York Hall on May 2nd.
Next up is the exciting prospect of watching one of the World’s most successful Kick Boxing stars ever, thirteen time World Champion Marlon Hunt, making his highly anticipated transition to the pro boxing ranks, against Latvia’s Uldis Pucens.
Hunt recently said “After winning 13 Professional World titles in Full Contact Kickboxing, K – 1Rules and Muay Thai and Unifying the Big 5 WBC, ISKA, WAKO PRO, IKF & WKA and winning other mid and low Tier World Titles and various Semi Pro Boxing Titles it’s time to take on the Professional Boxing world. “
Hunt has made clear that he isn’t taking up pro boxing to just make up the numbers, he’s a hundred percent determined to be the first ever four discipline World Champion.
Whilst on the subject of World Champions, Chester’s World Boxing Federation Welterweight World Champ Chris Goodwin is back in action once more, in a non-championship bout, against Finsbury Park, London’s Mark ‘The Flash’ Alexander.
Goodwin, a two division World Champion, will be making his first appearance since beating Georgia’s Mikheil Avakyan to win the coveted WBF World crown back in August.
Alexander, who had been training and fighting in America until recently, scored a third round stoppage victory over Tadas Stulginskas on his return to UK action at York Hall in London last October.
Birmingham’s undefeated Lightweight sensation Antonio Counihan is back in the ‘Pool, this time to face Janis Puksins.
Counihan, the former England Amateur Captain, has been nothing but sensational in each of his six previous bouts, stopping five inside the distance, however it was his last performance that proved that the Brummie youngster is destined to rise to the very top.
Back in March, Counihan took on previously unbeaten Czech Lukas Radic, Counihan didn’t just beat Radic, he plain destroyed him in just two minutes and twenty eight seconds of the first round.
Puksins is another globe trotter that should be quite well known to British fans, having fought the likes of former Prizefighter winner Ricky Owen, former WBU, WBF, WBC and Prizefighter Champion Choi Tseveenpurev, British Champ James Dickens and upcoming Commonwealth title challenger Jason Cunningham amongst others.
Another youngster who is fast heading towards World stardom is Liverpool based, Russian Featherweight prospect David Agadzhanyan, who will face former Ghanaian Champion Isaac Osuwu on May 23rd.
Like Counihan, Agadzhanyan has stopped all but one of his previous opponents and coincidently the bout against the one that went the distance, another previously unbeaten prospect Daniel Bazo, featured on Vaughan’s last event.
What a fight, it was something truly special and a fight that many of those in attendance would love to see re-matched sometime in the near future, although have to say the result would probably be the same as Agadzhanyan is a tremendous talent, one that is likely to follow in the footsteps of Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev – yep, he’s that special.
Since that win, Agadzhanyan totally destroyed Czech Republic’s Josef Redlich, putting the Czech lad down three times before finally stopping him on the two minute and twenty five second mark of the first round, at the York Hall in London on May 2nd.
Liverpool’s former British, Commonwealth and WBF World title challenger Tony Moran is set for his first hometown fight since beating Czaba Andras at the Olympia back in 2005.
On May 23rd Moran will be facing Blackpool’s former WBC United States title challenger Mathew ‘The Rock’ Ellis.
Welsh Middleweight Champion Lee Churcher makes his first Liverpool appearance on May 23rd, against Latvian Zaurs Sadihovs.
Back in March Churcher took on Nottingham’s Matt Scriven, after both their original opponents failed to make their flights to the UK.
Have to say I doubt the original match-ups would have been anywhere near the Battle Royale these two fought out on that night. It was a sensational close fought bout, with both protagonists giving their all in front of a highly appreciative crowd.
Churcher won on points, but have to say the real winners were the fans in attendance on the night, as that was one seriously exciting, all action fight.
Sadihovs, who has a won four, lost two record, however each of the wins came way of first round stoppage victories, including a full blown KO of Olegs Asejevs in January.
Making his third pro outing on May 23rd will be big punching Liverpudlian Featherweight Jay Carney.
Young Carney is proving to be one of the finds of the year, two outings, two fantastic stoppage wins.
Back in December Carney utterly outclassed Patrik Gadzo before stopping him on the one minute and thirty two second mark of the first round.
Then in March followed that great win up with a third round stoppage victory over the highly experienced Petr Gyna. Have to say that was a great fight, young Carney was far more relaxed and just performed perfectly, dominating Gyna for virtually every second the bout lasted.
Carney’s opponent on May 23rd is Dmitrijs Gutsman, is another big puncher, whilst his record is two wins and four losses, it should be noted that the wins both came way of first round stoppage.
Also making his third pro outing on May 23rd is Liverpool’s Lee Boyce, who will be taking on Scunthorpe’s Matthew Pepper.
Back in March Boyce literally destroyed Matus Olah with the very first power shot he threw, a cracking bodyshot that sent Olah down and out after just twenty seconds of the first round.
It should be noted that the power shot from Boyce actually cracked Olah’s rib, so whilst we didn’t get to see much action we now know just how powerful Boyce’s punches are.
Finally making his professional debut on the 23rd May is Liverpool Welterweight Dayle Gallagher, who goes up against Nottingham’s experienced Matt Scriven.
Gallagher is a classy young boxer and Scriven is as tough as they come, so expect fireworks when they go toe to toe.
So there you have it, one seriously great card for what is clearly going to be one seriously great fight night, so now you know it’s time to go and get those tickets because if you miss it, you’ll regret it.
The Stephen Vaughan promoted NEW ERA event takes place at the Grand Central Hall, 35 Renshaw Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 2SF, on Saturday 23rd May 2015.
Sanctioning for this event will be provided courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) –www.maltaboxingcommission.com
Tickets priced £30 & £40 are available direct from any of the boxers taking part or call Stephen Vaughan on 07789 037802.