In the prime of a long and storied career, Jason Booth now faces the highest hurdle of his professional life. The sharp-punching 31 year old Nottingham stylist meets former triple champion Michael Hunter on enemy ground at the Seaburn Centre in Sunderland, England on a Frank Maloney promotion on Friday, October 16. Booth, 33-5 (13), will place his British super bantam belt at risk against Hunter and the occasion will mark the 17th time that “2Smooth” has participated in a high-level title bout. But his opponent on October 16 can brag as to having already held the European crown that Booth covets..
Southpaw Hunter, 29-1-1 (13), who also boasts of British and Commonwealth belts in his trophy cabinet, made three successful defenses of the Continental strap during his eight month reign of 2005-2006.
So unstoppable was the lanky Hartlepool threshing machine that it took one of the top super bantams in the world, Canada’s Steve Molitor, to derail Hunter’s unbeaten run in an IBF title fight in late 2006.
The challenge posed by Hunter is significant but Booth possesses perhaps the best boxing skills in the UK and vows to put on a career best performance before moving onto European level.
Frank Maloney’s FTM Sports presents the Super Bantamweight Championship of Britain at Seaburn Centre in Sunderland, England on Friday, October 16.
The full undercard includes 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallists Tony Jeffries and David Price.
Tickets priced at £90 and £35 can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0871 226 1508 or 0191 564 0202 or by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com
Sky Sports will televise live on SS1 and HD1 at 10PM.
Audley Harrison auctions coveted Prizefighter Tournament Trophy on Sweatband.com
Harrison makes high profile move to support Michael Sprott’s nieces
Olympic Gold medallist heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison has today announced he is to auction the Prizefighter Tournament Trophy , a prize he won just over a week ago.
Audley has taken the step to support the nieces of fellow Heavyweight boxer Michael Sprott. Michael was due to participate in the same competition at which the prize was won but pulled out following the tragic death of his sister, Genette, 36.
The closed online auction is being held on www.sweatband.com and to get the ball rolling sweatband.com is donating £1,000 consisting of £50 for each of the first 50 bids placed.
Interest in the auction is expected to be huge as the competition at which it was won was scheduled to take place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, but with the 1,100 tickets selling out within 48 hours, Prizefighter organiser Barry Hearn was forced to switch to the bigger venue of London’s Excell.
Ginette, 36, died leaving her children Genevieve, eight and Tia 22 months and her long-term partner John Potter, 36. The couple were saving up to get married.
Harrison says, “I was really looking forward to avenging my loss to Michael in this tournament but after hearing of the tragic passing of Ginette and Michaels withdrawal I really wanted to do something for the family. I hope by donating this trophy some necessary funds are raised for the children”
Maz Darvish, CEO of Sweatband.com adds, “We know we have a community of generous sports enthusiasts out there and we are honoured that we are able to help promote such a worthy cause. Hopefully the incentive we’re adding to the auction will encourage people to dig deep in order to own what is a truly desirable piece of sports memorabilia.”
The auction goes live at www.sweatband.com/auction on GMT today (8 October ).
JOE CALZAGHE “UNDEFEATED”
Available to own on DVD from 19th October 2009
Available on DVD from the 19th October 2009, “UNDEFEATED” is a two disc DVD special, documenting the inside story of a true sporting legend making boxing history.
“UNDEFEATED” features an access all areas documentary following Joe Calzaghe, Britain’s only undefeated boxing world champion, leading up to his last ever fight before retirement.
This essential collector’s item for Joe Calzaghe and boxing fans alike, contains the full twelve rounds of Joe Calzaghe’s infamous last fight with Roy Jones Jnr in Madison Square, New York. The fight, which saw Calzaghe defeat the second US legend in his own backyard, remains a feat never achieved by any other UK boxer in the modern era and one which saw Joe retire as a two weight world champion. Joe Calzaghe says of his retirement, “I’ve achieved every goal I’ve ever set myself in the ring. There was always the temptation to fight on, especially if you are the champ and no-one has ever beaten you. But I came to a point where the satisfaction of retiring undefeated outweighed the thrill of another fight.”
Also included in this sporting must have is an exclusive retirement interview, rare footage from Joe’s personal archive and amateur fight highlights.
Viewers are invited to get to know the man as well as the boxer with the ‘My Life Story’ documentary, an exclusive interview with ‘Raging Bull’ Jake La Motta, plus the exclusive track written by Joe’s father and trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, entitled “Gonna Miss You Now You’re Gone” performed by Enzo, Uccio and Sergio Calzaghe.