French Middleweight Champion Affif Belghecham arrived in Limerick today confident of playing his part in a French sporting double against the Irish this weekend. On Saturday night the Lyon native, who also holds the European Union title will look to derail Andy Lee’s World and European title ambitions when they clash in the main event of the Yanjing Fight Night at the University Sports Arena in Limerick. Belghecham and Lee will take to the ring shortly after the final whistle has gone in Croke Park in Ireland’s massive World Cup Playoff encounter with the French. With the match being shown live on the big screens in the University Sports Arena Belghecham believes that those in attendance will be in for double disappointment..
“The Irish people have proven that they are warriors over the years,” said Belghecham. “You only have to look at their spirited performances on the rugby and football pitches and of course in the boxing ring but sport is about levels and I believe that unfortunately for the Irish both myself and the French footballers are on a different level to our opponents this weekend.”
Belghecham won the French Middleweight title earlier this year to follow in the footsteps of French boxing legend Marcel Cerdan. The “Casablanca Clouter” won the French and European Middleweight crowns en route to becoming World Middleweight Champ in 1948. Like Cerdan Belghecham is of Algerian stock and he admits that Cerdan’s achievements are a source of great inspiration to him.
“I am blessed to have two cultures and two countries in my heart – just like Marcel. It’s something that has shaped me and made me the warrior I am. Cerdan was a legend and one of the greatest fighters from any nation and any era.
“Of course I would love to follow in his footsteps and even to hold the French Middleweight title that he once held is very special for me. To become World Champion would be a dream come true and I know that a win over Andy Lee will get me a step closer to realising that dream.”
Despite his confidence the visitor says he has plenty of respect for Lee’s undoubted talents. “I have watched Lee and it’s easy to see why everyone is so excited about him in Ireland. He has tremendous potential but I think this fight has come too soon for him and my championship experience will prove the difference on Saturday night.”
Doors open at the University Arena from 6pm with the first bout at 7:20. Fans wishing to catch all the action from the crucial World Cup play off from Croke Park between Ireland and France will also be catered for with the game shown live on the big screens at the arena on what promises to be a massive night of sport in Limerick.
RTÉ TWO’s live coverage of the event begins at 10:30 directly after their broadcast from Croke Park. Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie), The George Boutique Hotel in Limerick and all usual outlets.
“AUTUMN CLASSIC PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
“Irish” Joey McCreedy:”What I just heard, I’ve heard my whole career – I’m going to take you out. My last opponent said that and look what happened to him. He went out on a stretcher. I have to give him respect. He was in there with (Jeff) Lacy and he won that reality show. I never saw it. Everybody who knows me knows I give everything in the ring. I’m not much for talking unless my opponent does a lot of talking. I will knock him out…I will! I’m not holding back anymore. When I win this fight, I’m looking for a bigger fight on television. Even if he hits me with his biggest punch, he can’t hurt me. November 20th is going to be a war.”
Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (taped): “I’ve had an opportunity the past few weeks to spar with Chad Dawson and Mikkel Kessler. I know Joey McCreedy is a blue-collar guy who is coming to fight. Styles make fights. I have to get past his jab and get him out. If I don’t get him out, I’ll box his ears off.”
Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt: “My last fight was here. I’m very excited. Coming back (Jaime had a baby March 17th) is tough. Three people really supported in helping me make my decision to comeback to boxing – my husband, Ryan Hayes, trainer Kurt Reader and promoter, Jimmy Burchfield. The only question Jimmy had was if I was in shape. Here I am fighting November 20th.”
Danny O’Connor: “I live in Framingham, Massachusetts but the last three years I’ve trained in Rhode Island. I consider it my second home. I enjoy training and fighting here. I’ve been to a lot of shows at Twin River, too. A lot of my fans are coming. It’s going to be a great night.”
Vladine Biosse: “I look at myself as the hardest worker in boxing. I put in the work, in and out of the gym, two, sometimes three, times a day. This fight is very special. I’m on weight and very prepared to come in and do what I’m supposed to do – get him out of there. I’m bringing my URI guys and Rhode Island fans. I will be Irish for the night (there is an Irish theme for the show). It’s going to be a great show. I love what I do.”
Maceo Crowder: “It’s been a short while; I fought as an amateur only five years. My biggest inspiration is my brother, Demetrius (“Boo Boo”) Andrade (2008 US Olympian). November 20th is going to be my pro debut. I have my own identity. I don’t want publicity off of ‘Boo Boo.’ We’re two different people and two different fighters.”
Gary Young, Gary McMillan Update
Gary McMillan has accused Gary Young of being “one-dimensional” and says that his fellow Edinburgh native “boxes the same way as he did when he was 15-years-old” ahead of their vacant Scottish welterweight title clash at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre on Sunday.
Young has not fought since breaking his right hand while securing a routine six-round win over David Kirk back in September 2007 but McMillan claims that has not changed his approach to the contest.
He said: “It depends, Young might have some ring rust but he is one-dimensional anyway and has not changed one bit during his career. He boxes the same way as he did when he was 15-years-old.
“But I am expecting the best Gary Young to turn up so I can knock him out.”
McMillan has returned from two weeks training in Los Angeles after his sponsor, Gordon McKenzie of Action Scaffolding, paid for McMillan and his trainer Terry McCormack’s accommodation while they made use of Freddie Roach’s famous Wild Card Boxing Club.
During his time there, McMillan engaged Rashad Holloway, one of superstar Manny Pacquiao’s regular sparring partners and the man who Roach claims will be the next big thing in boxing.
McMillan said: “It gives you a boost training next to such high calibre boxers and that I handled them in sparring without any problems. I have worked hard, my fitness is fine and I am just one pound off the weight.
“This could be my hardest fight so far but I hope it will act as a stepping stone and open more doors so I can box on a few televised bills and a British title eliminator.”
Young responded that he would do his talking in the ring. He said: “If Gary truly believes what he is saying then, I don’t know how else to put it, he is in for a rude awakening.
“I have never had a problem with Gary’s style of boxing or with the southpaw style. If he could fight as good as he can talk then Gary McMillan would be undisputed world champion.
“My preparation in the build-up to the fight couldn’t have been any better. Come fight night all the talking stops. Talk is cheap.”
Young added that he was grateful to promoters Alex and Katherine Morrison for the opportunity to win his first title after two years out of the ring. He said: “This will be the first Morrison Boxing Promotions show I have fought on and they have been great to work with. I am very grateful that they have given me this chance.”
Tickets priced at £20, £30 and £40 are available from Morrison’s Gym on 0141 554 7777 and the Pavilion Theatre on 0141 332 1846. There is not a bad seat in the house.