24.05.04 – By Spud Woollatt: British Eastside spoke exclusively to Hennessy Sports Supremo, Mick Hennessy with regards to a number of comments made in connection with the forthcoming British & Commonwealth Super Middleweight Title fight between Tony Dodson and Carl Froch. The fight is being staged at The Nottingham Arena on Wednesday 2nd June and is also being shown on the BBC.
On speaking to Mick Hennessy he stated “When I put this fight together, I requested the fight be placed on a Saturday night slot, at a reasonable time, where fans of all ages could see it. The reason being is it is an exciting & genuine grudge match which any boxing fan will want to see. However I was told Wednesday 2nd June was the only suitable slot the BBC were giving to the fight, so I do sympathise with those fans who wanted to see this fight live on terrestrial TV”. He continued “In addition If the BBC had given me a date for the fight on a Saturday evening , Nottingham being a genuine fight fans city, would have meant them packing the Arena of between 6,000 and 8,000 people, which in turn would have created a fantastic atmosphere for not only those attending the fight but also the fans watching on TV”.
Mick Hennessy was asked with regards to the coverage Tony Dodson has been given thus far on the BBC concerning the fight with Froch. It was pointed out to Hennessy that a British Eastside reader was at the recent Audley Harrison fight and he saw Tony Dodson watching the fight of his good friend and sparring partner Courtney Fry. Hennessy was asked did he regard this as a missed opportunity on behalf of the BBC, he stated “Yes of course it was a missed opportunity, but, did Tony or a member of his team let the BBC know he was at the Bristol show?. In addition if Tony or his management had let me or a member of my team know he was attending that particular show, I would have been delighted in assisting in organising an interview with the BBC”.
Hennessy added “I also completely agree with your readers who state this fight is not a forgone conclusion. For Carl Froch to win the fight he will have to be at the very top of his game. Tony Dodson is a young and hungry fighter who on his night is very hard to beat”.
Hennessy applauded Dodson for taking the fight with Froch “In this day and age where it has been become the norm for fighters to avoid dangerous, up and coming fighters, You have to take your hat off to Tony wanting to fight Carl”.
Also in another twist Hennessy remarked on the fight poster. “The show is is obviously based around Carl fighting in his home city of Nottingham and we are marketing him so by the end of the year he will be fighting in front of 10,000 people at the Nottingham Arena and thus the original poster has just Carl showing, however I acknowledge Tony Dodson should also be given publicity for this fight so I have had my team design an additional poster and flyer which Tony will receive in the next few days”.
Finally Mick Hennessy stated “I am talking to the BBC over the next few days about the potential of making a trailer for the fight and naturally I will request Tony be included in any potential interviews. However, fans must realise that any particular fight footage of Tony may not be included as he is a Sky TV fighter”.
British Eastside thanked Mick Hennessy for his willingness to answer some forthright questions.