By: H.Walklin – Frank Warren’s Sports Network promoted card scheduled for December 6th at the ExCel Arena is shaping up nicely, and should provide an evening of exciting boxing action. Britain’s only world champion, Londoner Nicky Cook defends his WBO Super Featherweight title for the first time after his impressive unanimous decision over the tough Alex Arthur..
Cook faces the man Arthur beat last December, Stephen Foster Jnr. Nicky Cook [29-1] a former British, Commonwealth and European Featherweight champion, whose only loss came when challenging American Steve Luevano for the vacant WBO Featherweight title, will have his hands full with Foster Jnr [24-2]. Foster, a former WBU champion at featherweight felled Arthur in the 11th round of their title fight last year, but came out on the wrong end of a close decision.
The most recent high profile addition to the card is the return of former WBO Cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli. ‘Big Macc’ was last seen in action in March against heavyweight hope David Haye, where he suffered a devastating 2nd round knockout defeat when attempting to unify the WBO, WBC and WBA titles. Maccarinelli [28-2] returns fighting for his old WBO title against the unbeaten American Jonathon Banks [20-0]. An eye-catching victory here would likely lead to a return to the upper echelons of the division for Maccarinelli, who saw his ratings stutter with his defeat to Haye.
The 6th December also marks the return of Commonwealth Lightweight champion Amir Khan. Khan [18-1] joined forces with American coach Freddie Roach in the wake of his brutal 54 second knockout defeat to power-punching Columbian Breidis Prescott in September. Khan returns to the ring against Irishman Oisin Fagan [22-5], in what is likely to prove to be no walk in the park for the 21 year old Khan. Fagan only succumbed to the former IBF Lightweight champion and still undefeated Paul Spafadora by a split decision in March of last year. This match up is a must win for Khan, as another defeat is likely to destroy his already dented dream of becoming world champion.
The card also features 2000 Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison [23-3], who has been for some time now drinking in the last chance saloon since his knockout defeat at the hands of Michael Sprott in February 2007. Harrison comes up against the undefeated Martin Rogan in a contest that has already been postponed on more than one occasion. Rogan [10-0] won the first Prizefighter contest earlier this year. Promoter Frank Warren has made it clear that anything less than a special performance from the sometimes lethargic Harrison could bring an end to their working relationship.
Unbeaten British heavyweight prospect Derek Chisora [7-0] is scheduled to fight, against a yet to be named opponent. Also, Paul Smith looks to wrestle his English Middleweight title back from Steven Bendall who won it with a contested points decision in their first fight earlier this year.