Promoter Frank Warren will start the new decade with a blockbuster show on Saturday 13th February in London. The venue will be announced shortly, but the main event will be the big heavyweight clash between British champion Danny Williams and Commonwealth king Sam Sexton. Chief support is the long awaited British Welterweight Championship showdown between reigning champion and outright winner of the Lonsdale belt Kell Brook and the former champion Michael Jennings. They were due to meet in Liverpool in October, but Brook withdrew from the fight after he picked up a virus. Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Derek Chisora will also get his first title opportunity on the card, further details will be announced on this shortly..
The Olympians James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, who all won last Saturday night in Newcastle, will open their 2010 campaign that could see them challenge for titles before the year is out.
Also on the card will be Vinny Mitchell, the undefeated younger brother of Kevin, and the Walsh brothers Liam, Michael and Ryan.
Hall of Fame promoter Warren, now entering his fourth decade as a licensed promoter, said, “I’m delighted to bring such a fantastic show to the capital for my first show of the year,”
“The card is packed with quality fighters and their are some intriguing title fights on there,”
“I promoted Williams for many years and the one thing he can do is produce an upset, but he faces the rising young star of the domestic scene in Sexton who recently defeated Martin Rogan for the second time,”
“Brook versus Jennings is mouthwatering fight that the public have been waiting for for a long time and I’m delighted that it will happen on this show,”
“Our unbeaten Olympian’s DeGale, Gavin and Saunders have had a great first year in the professional ranks and next year is going to be a big one for all of them,”
“British boxing is on a high at the moment and this card is an example of that and we will be announcing more big shows for 2010.”
Broadhust Ready To Step Up
Commonwealth super-flyweight champion Don Broadhust says he is ready to step up a level against British ruler Lee Haskins on Friday. The pair clash in a unification fight in Newport. Unbeaten Broadhurst, who won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and is promoted by Frank Warren, reckons that victory will take him a step closer to a world title opportunity. But the 25-year-old, who has won all 11 of his fight so far, knows that Haskins will provide him with his toughest test to date. “I talk the talk and I walk the walk – he’s nowhere near the calibre of some of the lads I’ve boxed internationally for England,” he told BBC WM.
“I’m ready for this fight – I’ve been calling Lee Haskins out.
“There is a lot at stake in this fight – two titles, and my undefeated record, my livelihood and everything like that.
“I’m proud to be undefeated as I’ve only had 11 or 12 pro fights – I’m not losing this soon in my career, no way, not for a British title anyway. This is just a stepping stone.”
Broadhurst has already clashed verbally with Haskins, and says the Bristol-based star is too big-headed for his liking.
“I went to watch him, and he asked me what I thought basically,” Broadhurst said.
“I said he’s keeping his belt on ice for me. Then when they interviewed him he mentioned me – there’s definitely no love lost.
“I don’t like his arrogance. I might sound a little bit arrogant calling him out and saying I want to shut him up, but it is what it is really – I’m humble, he’s cocky.”
BELL LANDS ROLE IN CORRIE!
Despite his disappointment last Saturday night in Newcastle when he lost to Commonwealth Featherweight Champion John Simpson, Manchester star Stephen Bell has been lifted with a guest role in Coronation Street.
The Ashton-under-Lyne fighter, who has also appeared in Shameless and was a gay bare knuckle boxer in a film, will play the part of soldier in the hit soap.
Bell, 34, started filming on Monday in Manchester, only a couple of days after his loss to Scotsman Simpson on Amir Khan’s world title undercard at the Metro Radio Arena.
In Corrie, Bell will feature in a new Army storyline involving Gary Windass (Mikey North) and it is expected to be screened in February.
He said, “I got a few funny looks turning up on set with a big shiner for the first day of filming and the make up artist had to do a bit of work on me but it’s all been great fun,”
“Obviously it was a gutter losing to Simpson in my first big title challenge, but I’m really into the acting and this is a perfect role for me,”
“I’ll have a rest from the boxing over Christmas and see what happens in the New Year, but for now I’m concentrating on Corrie,”