Fromer European Middleweight Champion Matthew Macklin says working at Freddie Roach’s gym will help him in his fight against Darren Barker. Macklin will face his big London rival on September 18 at the LG Arena in Birmingham. But the Brummie will do much of his preparation thousands of miles away at the world famous Wild Card Gym in LA. He’s just one of many fighters who have turned to top coach Roach for help down the years. “Going to Freddie’s has helped me become a better fighter,” said Macklin..
“I wouldn’t want to put a figure on it, but when I was preparing for my last fight (Macklin was ruled out with a broken nose) I’d never felt in better shape and that was about five weeks before I was due in the ring.
“The sparring out there is fantastic.
“Over here you can pay guys good money, but they try and look after themselves, and unless the are training for a fight, they’re not necessarily in the best shape.
“But at Freddie’s everyone is hungry, everyone has a fight on the horizon, and it makes a difference when you spar.
“You know when you get in the ring you have left no stone unturned. I’m going to have had the best sparring possible for the Barker fight, and that’s going to make a hell of a difference.
The European title is coming back to Birmingham.”
Brook v Jennings will features alongside a terrific line up, including:
* European light-heavyweight champion NATHAN CLEVERLY steps up to to challenge for the Interim WBO World Light-Heavyweight championship against KARO MURAT
* Dynamite-fisted Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli defends his European Cruiserweight championship against ALEXANDER FRENKEL
* RYAN RHODES in a defence of his European light-middleweight title against LUKAS KONECNY
* MATTHEW MACKLIN in a massive domestic showdown against bitter rival DARREN BARKER for the European, Commonwealth and British Middleweight championships
* A major heavyweight shoot-out between British Champion Derek Chisora and Commonwealth Champion SAM SEXTON
* A first defence for WBA International super-middleweight champion JAMES DeGALE
* A debut championship fight for 2007 Amateur World Champion FRANKIE GAVIN against CURTIS WOODHOUSE
* A return for former Commonwealth super-flyweight champion DON BROADHURST in an English title fight
Tickets for the Magnificent Seven are priced at £40, £50, £80, £150 and £200 and are available from:
LG Arena
0844 338 8000
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Lenny Daws: I’m Ready
LONDON (7th July) Morden’s British Light Welterweight Champion Lenny Daws is brimming with confidence ahead of his title defence against unbeaten English Champion Steve Williams this Friday night (9th July) at York Hall, Bethnal Green.
The 12 round British Championship contest between the two champions will be headlining the Matchroom Sport in association with Hennessy Sports event which will be shown live on Sky Sports HD from 10pm.
Lenny Daws said “Big respect to Steve for stepping up and taking this opportunity at such an early stage in his career, but I will be out to avoid the disappointment of my last fight against former European champion Jason Cook in which the judges scored the contest as a draw. I still believe after watching the fight again I done more than enough to claim outright victory”
“Rob McCracken and myself have watched Steve’s last fight and have adapted my training to suit. I know it is going to be hot and draining in the ring on Friday but as always my fitness levels are high and sparring has been great with the likes of Lee Purdy and former unbeaten Commonwealth Champion John O’Donnell”
Daws who regained his British title in September 2009 after losing it back in 2007 believes his ring experience will be too much for challenger Steve Williams and will be looking to end the fight within the distance and take it out of the judge’s hands.
Lenny Daws added “I’m expecting him to come and give it a real go, but I feel with my experience and talent on the night I’m going to be too much for him to handle. I’m confident that I will be going home with the belt.”
Also on the undercard Hennessy Sports prospects Bradley Evans (Royston) and Phill Fury (Lancaster) will be back in action, both of whom will be looking to add another win to their unbeaten records.
Tickets are priced £30 (unreserved) and £50 (ringside) and are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900
BOOTH NEW WORLD TITLE DATE CONFIRMED
JASON BOOTH’S challenge for Steve Molitor’s for the IBF world super-bantamweight title has been rescheduled for Saturday September 11.
The Nottingham star (35-5) will meet the Canadian (32-1) at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-Le-Spring in Frank Maloney’s first show of the new season.
The pair were due to meet later this month, but Molitor suffered a stress fracture to his left shin which left him sidelined.
Booth, 32, said: “It was a bit of a disappointment, but on the flip side gives me even longer to prepare from my big chance.
“The delay isn’t Steve’s fought and I am sure he is as gutted as I am about the delay. I just hope he is getting better and on the mend.”
Molitor explained the injury which left him in agony, saying: “I have hurt my hand before and had other injuries and kept going, but this pain was unbearable.
“I am fed up over what happened, but I am delighted that the date has been rescheduled. I am just looking forward to staying healthy and giving a great performance.”
During a 14-year career Booth has won British and Commonwealth flyweight titles, the IBO super-flyweight crown, Commonwealth bantamweight championship plus British and Commonwealth belts.
Southpaw Molitor, 31, won the IBF crown for the second time when he outpointed Takalani Ndlovu in March.
His first reign as champion started in November 2006 when he knocked out Hartlepool’s Michael Hunter in five rounds.
Molitor made five successful defences, but his reign ended two years later when he was stopped in four rounds by Celestino Caballero in a unification fight.
Hunter is their one common opponent – Booth also claimed a five round win over him last October.
Booth won’t be after Molitor’s treasured world title belt, but also family revenge. Molitor visited these shores in September 2002 and took the Commonwealth bantamweight title from Jason’s younger brother, Nicky.
The fight will be televised live by Sky Sports.
HALL: “I’VE GOT THE POWER”
STUEY HALL is promising to make Martin Power suffer again when they clash later this month.
Hall, 30, makes the second defence of his British bantamweight title when he faces the Londoner at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring on Friday July 23.
The feuding duo first waged war last September when Darlington’s Hall (8-0-1) stopped Power (21-5) in the eighth round of a thriller.
And Hall who won the Lonsdale belt by forcing Ian Napa to quit last month is still on bad terms with Power.
“Last time it was a bit strange. I went all the way down to Kent for the weigh-in,” said the punching roofer.
The big ticket seller added: “The fight was made at 8st 8lb and when I got down there I was about 2oz overweight.
“He made me skip it off, which I wasn’t too pleased about. It wasn’t a title fight or anything and I took it at a week’s notice.
“But justice was done because I beat him. This time it’s no problem for me. I’m going to make the weight and be strong.
“He’s going to feel the strength when he gets in there.
“I can’t wait to fight him. He’s going to be sick he’s come after me – probably after the first round.”
Promoter Frank Maloney is ending the season with a bumper bill, and a second title fight sees another Londoner Matthew Marsh face Scot Kris Hughes for the vacant Commonwealth super-bantamweight title.
In a third title fight, Nigel Wright (21-6) who conquered former world champion Alex Arthur in his last battle contests the vacant English light-welterweight crown against Wolverhampton’s Dean Harrison (16-3).
Other stars in action includes Sunderland’s Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries who faces under-rated Michael Banbula (10-25-3)
Tickets for the big night of action, price £30 and £70 are available from 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com