14.08.07 – History will be made on the next Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the Point, Dublin on Saturday, August 25th when Tony Oakey defends his British light heavyweight title against Lisburn’s Brian Magee. The eagerly awaited contest will be the first ever British title fight to be staged outside of Britain since the prestigious Lonsdale belt was first awarded in 1909. Portsmouth native Oakey will enter the ring as champion but the bookies are leaning towards the challenger with Magee installed as the pre fight favourite.
Oakey says he’s surprised and a little tempted by the odds! The 31-year-old said, “I’m surprised that the bookies have him as favourite. If that’s the case then I might just have to get down to the bookies and put a few quid on myself!”
“I think the bookies are forgetting that this is Brian’s first title fight up at light heavyweight and my biggest asset is my strength. I’m a proper light heavyweight and my strength combined with my workrate is going to be the difference in this fight especially in the later rounds.”
Magee has countered that argument by claiming that the later rounds will be his territory. The 1996 Olympian said, “I think I’ll have more energy in the championship rounds because I was working so hard to make super middleweight that I just couldn’t carry my strength through the full twelve rounds and I think that’s cost me before.”
“I’m far more comfortable at light heavyweight. I still have to work to get down to the weight but it’s not a struggle anymore and I feel far better for it.”
Magee only just missed out on winning the European super middleweight title in 2005 losing a controversial points decision in Germany to Vitali Tsypko so he’s happy to get another title tilt on what is practically home ground in what promises to be a spectacular night of boxing with Bernard Dunne defending his European super bantamweight title against Kiko Martinez.
“I’ll have great support in Dublin and it’s great that the fight is happening on such a big night for Irish boxing,” said Magee. “I’ve been training alongside Bernard in the build up to this one and I think we’ve both benefited from that. We do our roadwork together in the morning and then train together in the evening as well. We’re both facing massive fights so it’s been good to be able to train alongside each other.”
“Often Bernard’s just been starting training camp when I’ve been about to fight or vice versa but this time we’re both fighting on the same show so it’s meant that the gym has been buzzing for the last few weeks. Of course the fact that my fight with Tony is making history adds to the buzz and makes for a great story and hopefully I can cap it by claiming the title.”
Naturally enough Oakey foresees another scenario. The champion said, “I’ve fought so hard to win this title that it’s going to take a special, special fighter to take it from me and no disrespect but Brian Magee isn’t that fighter.”
“People are saying it’s a real 50-50 fight and I’ve no problem with that. I have an awful lot of respect for Brian. We both turned professional around the same time and I’ve bumped into him a few times over the years and always got on well with him so I’m not going to start trash talking.”
“It will be strange defending the British title in Dublin and it’s nice for myself and Brian to be part of history but at the end of the day it’s a fight and it doesn’t matter if the fight is in Dublin or our back gardens it’s just going to be the two of us.”
Oakey says he’s yet to study any video of Magee but remains confident of his chances. “I’m not one for watching tapes to be honest although I’ll probably watch some of Brian’s fights next week. That’s not to say I’m taking him lightly because I’ve left no stone unturned in preparing for this. I’ve prepared for this fight as if it’s going to be the toughest fight of my career even though I don’t think it will actually turn out that way.”
The Tony Oakey – Brian Magee fight is part of a terrific lineup at the Point with the Irish professional debut of undefeated sensation Andy Lee and appearances from Matthew Macklin and Paul McCloskey on the card. Headlining the event is the clash between European super bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne and undefeated mandatory challenger Kiko Martinez.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night promoted by Brian Peters Promotions in association with Denis Hobson and Team Magee are priced from €75 and are available from Ticketmaster.ie and all usual outlets.