At Friday’s weigh in, both Mitchell and Katsidis made the 9’9 lightweight limit at the first time of asking. Mitchell was in fact slightly heavier, at 9’8 and a half pound, with Katsidis two ounces lighter.
`Hammer Time’ is headlined by Kevin Mitchell’s challenge for the WBO Interim World Lightweight Championship against Michael Katsidis. A quality packed undercard includes the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship between Danny Williams and unbeaten heavyweight star Derek Chisora..
Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale challenges for the first title in his career – the WBA International Super-Middleweight Championship; and Britain’s hottest young prospects Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders. Plus more fights to be added.
Danny Williams: Chisora Is Easier Than Sexton
Danny Williams sparked a war of words today by claiming that Derek Chisora is an easier opponent than Sam Sexton. Williams will meet Del Boy on May 15 in the final defence of his British heavyweight title before retirement. The unbeaten Finchley prospect is a last-minute replacement for Sexton, who has had to pull out of the fight because his mother is ill. The pair go head to head at West Ham’s Upton Park as part of the undercard to Kevin Mitchell’s world title challenge against Michael Katsidis.
“It’s a better fight for the public because Chisora is an aggressive fighter and I’m going to put it on him,” said Williams.
“But it is an easier fight for me. Chisora may have a win over Sexton, but since that fight Sam is the one who has made progress.
“Derek is good, he is strong and aggressive, but Sam was the harder fight.
“I want to go out in style, and I still plan to fight like Rocky Marciano in there. I’m proud that I have been in entertaining fights over the years, and I don’t plan on changing things now.”
Chisora hit back by saying: “Like Danny says, I am strong, I am aggressive – but I am also better than Sam Sexton.
“I didn’t have to think about taking this fight at all. As far as I am concerned, the pressure is all on Danny.
“He’s got to go in there and try and take me out. I know he has trained for this fight and he will be in great shape, but I’m going in there to take his title.
“And when I do I won’t duck and dive anybody. I want to fight the best in Britain, and once I’m British champion the other guys can come and get me if they think they are good enough.
“Sexton, John McDermott, Tyson Fury – I’m ready for any of them and my message to them is ‘Bring it on’.”
CRAIG EVANS: A NEW YOUNG STAR FROM WALES
The South Wales boxing production line has sprung into action again – with ABA Featherweight Champion Craig Evans its latest product.
The 20-year-old ace has his first professional under promoter Frank Warren on Saturday night at West Ham’s Upton Park football ground, and is being backed as a champion in waiting.
Hailing from Blackwood in Gwent, Evans comes from a part of the country which has recently produced four world champions – Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli, Gary Lockett and Gavin Rees, – European belt holder Nathan Cleverly, as well as a Commonwealth champion, Bradley Pryce.
“It must be something in the water down here,” says Evans’ dad, Darren.
“My grandfather, Selwyn Evans, was also a professional boxer. His talent skipped a
generation, but the sport is in Craig’s blood.”
Like his grandfather before him, Craig was an ABA champion offered the chance to go to a London Olympics (Selwyn, now 81, turned down a crack at the 1948 Games) but instead opted to turn professional.
“Craig felt that he’d done all he could as an amateur and didn’t want to be tied down for another couple of years,” adds Darren.
“Funnily enough, the lure of the professional sport was too much for my dad as well (Selwyn went over in 1947 and ended his career 26-19-8).
“Craig will be ideal for the pro game. He’s got a great professional style and loves going to the body, he can really whip his shots in.
“He’s not a pitter patter kind of boy at all. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good boxer, but he can fight a bit as well.
“He’ll be a bit nervous on Saturday because it’s his debut, but once he settles down and gets a few fights under his belt he’ll be fine.”
Craig has spent the past few months in a training camp in Manchester with trainer Lee Beard, and is relishing the chance to impress on the undercard of Kevin Mitchell’s clash with Michael Katsidis.
“It’s an amazing stage to have your first fight,” said Darren. “Craig has sold quite a few tickets and there is a coach-load of fans coming up from South Wales.
“The only thing that could have bettered it was a fight in Wales itself, but Frank Warren has said that will happen in the next few months.
“When it does there will be plenty of fans there because Craig is already well known in this part of the world because of all his success as an amateur.”
After going to the amateur world championships – he had previously won a bronze at the Europeans – and picking up a string of high-profile scalps, Evans was contemplating signing with Ricky Hatton, but instead opted for Warren.
“He’s the Chelsea of boxing,” explains Darren. “Top of the Premiership, the best out there. Craig knows Enzo Maccarinelli and Nathan Cleverly, and Frank’s done brilliantly for them.”
Kevin Mitchell v Michael Katsidis is live on Sky Sports HD1 from 8pm on Saturday 15 May.
Tickets for ‘Hammer Time’, priced at £30, £40, £50, £80, £150, £200 & £250, are available from:
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