Askin feeling great ahead of title shot

02/24/201502/12/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Matty Askin, 17-2 (10KO’s), is in confident mood ahead of his British and Commonwealth cruiserweight title shot against Ovill McKenzie, 23-12 (12KO’s), on 14th March.

The 26-year-old will top the bill on a lively Frank Warren promoted show in Widnes, including former World champion Enzo Maccarinelli and the exciting Ryan Farrag among others.

Speaking to FKSports, Askin confirmed everything was on track ahead of the biggest fight of his career.

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Quigg: I’d beat Frampton anywhere!

01/07/201702/12/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Scott Quigg is set to return reiterating once more that he is willing to fight Carl Frampton anywhere to get the fight on everyone’s lips made.

The reigning WBA super-bantamweight champion recently required surgery on a hand injury sustained in the 9th round of his title defence against Hidenori Otake in November.

The procedure was a success and two weeks out from being allowed to uncork his right hand again, Quigg, 30-0-2 (22KO’s), has told FKSports he is gunning for IBF champion Frampton, 19-0 (13KO’s).

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Saunders accepts 6-figure sum to step aside

02/07/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Billy Joe Saunders has accepted a 6-figure sum to relinquish his WBO World title shot to allow Andy Lee to face Peter Quillin in April.

In doing so the Hatfield middleweight secured a slot on the on the undercard of what promises to be a huge New York show against a yet to be named opponent.

This is the second time Saunders 21-0 (11KO’s) has stepped aside, having allowed Matt Korobov 24-1 (14KO’s) to face Andy Lee 34-2 (24KO’s) in December. Instead facing Chris Eubank Jnr 18-1 (13KO’s) in a lucrative rematch that he won on a split decision.

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Gradovich v Selby UK Bound

02/05/201502/05/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Lee Selby looks set to be granted home advantage in his mandatory challenge for the IBF World featherweight title held by Evgeny Gradovich, at a date yet to be set.

This was confirmed this week by Egis Klimas, the US based Russian’s manager, who also manages the affairs of Sergey Kovalev and the sensational Vasyl Lomachenko.

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Capital Punishment – Undercard Review

02/02/201502/01/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Hibbert goes up a level | Ryder ends a difficult night with a bang | Martin a class apart

John Wayne Hibbert TKO8 Tyler Goodjohn

John Wayne Hibbert 15-2 (9KO’s) took another huge step towards a tilt at the British light welterweight title, producing an eye-catching display to halt Tyler Goodjohn 11-4 (4KO’s) in the 8th round.

Given the obligatory social media bad blood in the lead up to the contest, there was a feeling that war would be declared from the opening bell. Hibbert had other ideas moving freely in and out of range, stinging the marching Goodjohn with sharp combinations.

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Capital Punishment – Main Event Review: Mitchell destroys Estrada in 8

02/01/201501/31/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Kevin Mitchell stormed into the mandatory position for Jorge Linares’ WBC lightweight title tonight with a sensational 8 round demolition of Daniel Estrada.

From the first punch until the last Mitchell, now 39-2 (29KO’s), was punch perfect as he completely dismantled a credible opponent in a career best showing.

Estrada, who now moves to 32-4 (24KO’s), looked surprised from the first exchange in the face of the superior speed of thought and movement from the Londoner who beat the Mexican to the punch on every occasion. Mitchell a standout victor of the first round accentuated the point landing flush with his lead left uppercut, the punch that would define the fight.

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Capital Punishment – Preview

01/30/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

In the wake of Anthony Joshua’s unfortunate back injury, Kevin Mitchell takes centre stage as Capital Punishment rolls into London’s O2 Arena, this coming Saturday.

Dagenham-born Mitchell faces Mexican Daniel Estrada for the vacant WBC Silver lightweight and a guaranteed shot at Jorge Linares’ recently acquired WBC strap.

It promises to be a raucous occasion with a card stacked with local interest. Not least of all John Ryder’s defence of his recently acquired WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title against late replacement Billi Godoy.

Here we will take a look at what’s in store as we kick of a huge 2015 for British boxing.

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UK: Boxing Back On British Terrestrial TV | Frankie Gavin Signs With Matchroom | Adam Etches Given The Chance to Shine

01/27/201501/27/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

It has been a stuttering start to 2015 for British boxing with January delivering a couple of cancellations that saw the handbrake temporarily applied. Firstly, Anthony Crolla being cruelly robbed of his lightweight world title opportunity and then heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua pulling out of his contest with Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson at O2 Arena in London with a back injury.

Thankfully, ‘temporarily’ is the operative term here and a year, which started in disappointment, has turned full circle with a series of announcements and upcoming events that have the fans purring and the vehicle moving forward once more.

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The Rule of Three: Rios v Alvarado III

01/26/201501/24/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

The rule of three is a principle utilised generally by writers and suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things.

The assertion being that the reader or audience of this form of text is more likely to consume information if it is written in groups of threes. We humans tend to agree as the rule of three has been applied across our lives in theatre, film and of course boxing in the form of the fabled and beloved trilogy.

A great trilogy see’s the perfect marriage of styles, personalities and backgrounds create an unbreakable bond between fighters that will define their careers and transcend the ages.

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Rigondeaux Can Spark Super Bantamweight Unification Series

01/08/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

As we settle in for 2015, it’s customary for the boxing fraternity and fans alike to state their hopes and wishes for the year ahead. Essentially dream fights which we hope will be made, which against all logic are not likely to happen. There are a few that spring to mind immediately, an end to the Floyd Mayweather/ Manny Pacquiao saga, Andre Ward v Gennady Golovkin (catch weight), Sergey Kovalev v Adonis Stevenson and of course Alex Ariza v a peak Mike Tyson.

On this occasion I have chosen to air on the side of caution and focus my attentions on an occurrence of a more realistic persuasion, which would be the collision of the current crop of Super Bantamweight World Champions. In Guillermo Rigondeaux, Leo Santa-Cruz, Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg, the division finds itself on the cusp of greatness. Greatness it enjoyed almost 15 years previous when Erik Morales won a split decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in what is widely considered one of the greatest fights of all time. Right now we have four fighters, boasting a collective 92-0-3 (61KO’s) record and a blend of styles capable of producing a series of fights that will define each of their careers.

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