19.12.06 – Unbeaten light middleweight Gary “Hot Stuff” Woolcombe draws closer to British title challenge. Woolcombe will appear on the Martin Power vs. Tshifhiwa Munyai Commonwealth Bantamweight Championship rematch at Goresbrook LC in Dagenham, England on 26 January..
As part of an elimination tournament to determine the next challenger for the British title, Woolcombe was to face Michael Jones until the lanky based Liverpool boxer’s number came up in the form of a challenge to European Champion Michele Piccirillo in Milan next month.
“I was really looking forward to fighting Michael Jones,” said Woolcombe. “He’s a very good fighter and I’ll have to face him down the line anyway, so I wanted to get it out of the way now. I think it would’ve been a good fight and one that the fans really wanted to see.”
Instead of Jones on 26 January, Woolcombe will now meet an opponent yet to be determined but the 24 year old’s promoter, Frank Maloney, is promising an acid test for the light middle prospect.
“We have a number of names in the frame that we’ve been looking at,” said Maloney. “It will be a step up for Gary as we have to know that he is ready to challenge for the title. After going unbeaten in 21 fights, if he’s not ready now, he will never be.”
The other half of the light middle tournament goes forth as planned with Thomas McDonagh facing Martin Conception in a rematch at Manchester’s MEN Arena in March and Woolcombe gets the winner should he come through his challenge on 26 January. “McDonagh beat Conception over six rounds in October and it was a tough fight,” said Woolcombe.
“I’ve sparred Conception a few times and he’s a banger, big for the weight and he has my respect. I think he’d be a harder fight than McDonagh and I’d prefer to fight Conception because I think it would be a better contest; at least he’d stand there and fight.”
Maloney relishes a match between Woolcombe and anyone else in the UK at the weight except for reigning British Champion Jamie Moore, who he also promotes and who is widely expected to give up the title to contend for bigger things. “We’re disappointed that the Michael Jones fight isn’t happening but we understand him wanting to go for the European title,” said the promoter. “I see Gary beating either McDonagh or Conception and I wouldn’t have a problem making that fight.
“I also certainly wouldn’t have a problem making a fight between Gary and [Commonwealth Champion] Bradley Pryce. The only fight out there I don’t think we should look at, and it’s a good thing that they’re both in my stable, is Jamie Moore, who I doesn’t gets the credit he deserves.”
Woolcombe is taking no chances as he enters this crucial phase of his career. “I’ve started doing weights now for the first time,” he said. “I’ve noticed an increase in power already and still have a few weeks left training with coach Lee May, who has really helped me. At the end of my preparation, I’ll be doing double the weight I started at and I’ll be punching a lot harder.
“This fight on January 26 is a stepping stone because I’m on the way up now. Once I win the British title, I’ll start looking at the European. If Michael Jones wins that in March, hopefully I can be his first defense. Right now, I’ll have to train through Christmas but it’s got to be done because I just want to get this one taken care of and then win the British.”
Maloney Promotions presents the Martin Power vs. Tshifhiwa Munyai Commonwealth Bantamweight Championship rematch at Goresbrook LC in Dagenham, England, also featuring undefeated Southern Area light middleweight titlist Gary Woolcombe, on 26 January, 2007. Tickets can be purchased shortly by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0844 477 6466.