ARENA-CEO Ahmet Öner adds former IBF super middleweight and WBC light heavyweight champion Graciano Rocchigiani to his trainer staff. 45-year-old “Rocky” is now responsible for the development of rising Turkish welterweight star Selcuk Aydin. “I am glad to have the chance to work with a rough diamond like Selcuk”, states Rocchigiani. “If he stays focused and keeps on working hard he will surely not only become world champion but a dominant force and an international superstar..”
“Rocky” was impressed with the first training session he did with “Mini-Tyson”. “I have also seen all of his fights and I think that we have a lot in common. Selcuk is an aggressive fighter who loves to come forward. The only difference between us is that he hits way harder than I ever did. He’s got enormous punch power.”
Aydin has just recovered from a rib injury which has prevented him from defending his WBC international champion title against Said Ouali last November. “Mini-Tyson” should be able to return to the ring in March. He will do most parts of the preparation for his comeback fight at “Rocky’s Gym” in Duisburg.
CHISORA ON A MISSION
Derek Chisora says he’ll win a world heavyweight title – and complete a riches to riches story.
That’s because the hard hitting sensation from Finchley comes from a wealthy land-owning family – and went to private school.
But despite his priviliged upbringing, Del Boy has been terrorising opponents between the ropes, and has his sights firmly set on making it all the way to the top.
The 25-year-old returns to action on January 30 at Bethnal Green’s York Hall against Norway’s Daniel Peret in an eight-rounder on the undercard of Kell Brook’s British Welterweight title defence against Stuart Elwell, live on Sky Sports.
And Chisora is aiming for another explosive performance to build on his impressive 8-0 record which already includes five KOs.
“My family was well off when I was a youngster, but by the time I’d reached my teenage years I was out of control,” said Chisora, whose family owned a string of farms in Zimbabwe.
“I was involved with the police and boxing stopped me from going to prison!
“But now I’m on the straight and narrow and my aim is to become a world champion within the next three years.
“By the end of this year I want to be challenging for the British title, and I know that I’ve got the KO power to win a Lonsdale belt – and get a world title as well.”
Promoter Frank Warren added: “Derek’s always phoning me up asking if he can fight guys like Audley Harrison, Matt Skelton and Martin Rogan.
“His self belief is incredible and I’ve got every confidence that he’s going to become a major star.”
Tickets, priced at £30 and £50, are available from Frank Warren Box Office on 01992 550 888
WAYNE BLOY insists he will not under-estimate Stoke hero Chris Edwards when they clash for the vacant British and Commonwealth flyweight title next week
Grimsby’s Bloy (5-3) faces the Potteries puncher at Fenton Manor, Stoke on Friday 23rd January in what promises to be a classic domestic battle.
Edwards (11-13-3) boasts a patch record of just 11 wins, 13 losses and three draws, but Bloy’s trainer Stuart Fleet said: “Edwards has improved massively.
“His record is deceiving because he lost a few of his early fights, but he has lost just once in two-and-a-half years and that is at championship level.
“We are not under-estimating Edwards, but this is the type of opportunity that Wayne has been waiting for.
“Wayne has effectively been in camp for months and this is the best he has ever been.”
In the chief support Manchester knockout artist Mark Thompson (18-1) boxes Ghanaian Philip Kotey (19-4) in a final eliminator for Craig Watson’s Commonwealth welterweight championship.
Another great fight on the bill sees the show’s co-promoter Scott Lawton (25-4-1) make the first defence of his English lightweight title against Salisbury’s Henry Castle (19-4).
Tickets for ‘Stoking the Fire’ are priced £35 and £70. They can be obtained from www.frankmaloney..com or 0871 226 1508