John Murray and Kevin Mitchell will come face-to-face in the ring at The O2 in London on Saturday 21st May to announce their big fight.
The bitter rivals will be announced to the crowd before James DeGale and George Groves battle it out for the British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight titles.
Manchester ace Murray is looking forward to seeing his London counterpart in the ring for the first time before they do it for real on July 9th at a venue to be confirmed.
“It adds more fire to the evening now that me and Mitchell will be in the ring together,”
“The crowd will be already be whipped up waiting to see DeGale and Groves in their big fight so it will be an electric atmosphere when me and Mitchell come face-to-face in the center of the ring,”
“It’s a big British showdown that the fans have been waiting for and he’s my last test in this country before I go on to a world title fight.”
Murray gave his verdict on how he sees DeGale and Groves going as well as Nathan Cleverly’s chances against WBO World Light-Heavyweight Champion Juergen Braehmer.
“When the fight was made I thought that it was going to be an easy night for DeGale, but as I’ve watched them over the past few weeks on TV I’ve been impressed with Groves and his composure and I’m right down the middle at the moment,”
“As the fight gets closer and in the build up next week, I’ll then be able to make a prediction,”
“I’m just looking forward to sitting back and watching these two fight it out and afterwards I’ll be buzzing for my fight against Mitchell,”
“As for Cleverly, this is a massive night for him. He’s on the up and although Braehmer is the toughest he’s ever faced I really think he can beat him,”
“Cleverly has come on loads in the last few years and his speed and combinations, plus his power, will prove too much for Braehmer.”
IS DILLIAN ‘THE VILLAIN’ WHYTE THE NEW KO KING?
DILLIAN ‘THE VILLAIN’ WHYTE has already caused a storm in kick boxing, mixed martial arts and amateur boxing.
Now Britain’s heavyweights are about to be on the receiving end of the Londoner’s sledgehammer punches.
Whyte, 22, is managed by former Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Chris Okoh and promoted by Frank Maloney.
He will make his professional debut on Maloney’s show on Friday (May 13) at Medway Park Leisure Centre, Gillingham
The bill headed by Chislehurst’s Sam Webb (17-1) who defends his British light-middleweight title against Manchester’s Prince Arron (20-3-1), but Whyte is out to steal the show.
He moved to Britain from Jamaica in the 1990s says: “Britain is always looking for the next world heavyweight champion and with the right training team around me I can do it.”
Maloney has yet to see Whyte fight and signed him after friends witnessed sparring sessions with world heavyweight champion David Haye and UFC legend Quinton Jackson.
Maloney added: “I looked after Dillian’s manager Chris Okoh who won a Commonwealth title, so if he matched those achievements, he has done well.
“Saying that I am told he is a special fighter and this could be the start of something great for British boxing.”
Whyte had just six amateur fights, winning five inside the distance with new ABA super-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua among his scalps.
Okoh wanted Whyte to remain amateur, but he was railroaded out of that code because of his martial arts background.
Okoh added: “We would have liked to have gone further and won an ABA title, but basically we had some problems with the amateurs and the ABA relinquished his card.
“That is why we have turned professional soon and we’re very excited about the whole thing.
“Dillian is very explosive, but we will take it steady. Frank has got a great track record with heavyweights and Dillian will have a very good career.”
Also on the card being televised live by Sky Sports, Blackpool’s Brian Rose (16-1-1) makes the first defence of his English light-middleweight crown against Swanley’s unbeaten Martin Welsh (9-0).
In a third title fight Wembley’s Akaash Bhatia (15-1) meets Crawley’s Ben Jones (11-2-10 in a vacant English featherweight title clash.
Chatham heavyweight Tom Dallas banger (14-0) bids to send his local fans home happy when he faces American Zack Page (21-34-2)
Tickets for the fantastic night of action are available at £30 and £65 ringside from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508
Stars Set To Turn Out For Danny Mardell Charity Fight Night on May 14th
Stars from the world of boxing, film and television are set to turn out in force to show their support for a special event featuring Down’s Syndrome boxer Danny Mardell Junior at the Chigwell Police Club, High Street, Chigwell, Essex on Saturday 14th May.
Amongst the boxing fraternity that will be attending the Danny Mardell Charity Fight Night, in aid of the Down’s Syndrome Association and Oak View Special Needs School in Loughton, are Dagenham’s Kevin and Vinny Mitchell, former Olympians Billy Joe Saunders and James DeGale as well as former star boxers turned boxing coaches Jimmy and Mark Tibbs. Actors Danny Dyer, Billy Murray and Martin Bellamy represent the world of entertainment along with comedian Ricky Grover, who is best know by his alter ego ‘Bulla’ on the comedy circuit.
This special evening forms part of the ongoing legacy of Danny Mardell Senior, who before his premature death in 2005, aged just 43, started The Danny’s Challenge White Collar Boxing Charity Events to raise awareness and funding for children with special needs.
Danny’s wife Carol along with her friends want Danny’s work to live on and continue to benefit children with Down’s Syndrome and other special needs hence the upcoming Danny Mardell Charity Fight Night.
On the night there will be three bouts of White Collar Boxing, and an extra special event where Danny Junior will proudly wear his Dad’s actual boxing wear and spar with his trainer Dominic ‘Jack’ Shepherd. The night will also include performances from top entertainers Martin Bellamy and Ricky ‘Bulla’ Groves.
Following a training session at the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town Danny Mardell Junior briefly said, “I’ve had two fights, this’ll be the third. I’m looking forward to it. I’m in good shape and I’m ready to go.”
Top boxing coach Mark Tibbs expanded on young Danny’s statement by saying, “Danny’s fighting Jack Shepherd on the fourteenth of May in a three round competition.
We’ve done some work with Jack Shepherd, he’s all right Jack but we know his faults and Danny’s gonna do the business. They’ll be no hanging about, he’ll go upstairs, downstairs. He aint gonna go two rounds that Jack Shepherd.
Team Tibbs is gonna be in the corner so it can’t go wrong and Danny Mardell is gonna be the Guvnor that evening without a doubt.
It’s gonna be a fantastic evening, lots of celebrities are gonna be there, Danny Dyer, Billy Murray and a lot from the boxing world, James DeGale plus plenty of boys from the TKO Boxing Gym, Billy Joe Saunders, Kevin and Vinny Mitchell, we’re all turning up for a wonderful great evening and we hope to make this a yearly event which’ll be good.”
Former Olympic boxer Billy Joe Saunders then added, “Me and Danny’s going to be there, I’m going to be supporting Danny. I like doing things like this for charity, anything for charities.
I’ve got two little kids, but you don’t realise how lucky you are ‘til you’ve been around characters like Danny and James (Tibbs) and that. It’s a pleasure for me to attend really.”
Final word goes to Danny’s uncle, Paul Rees, who said, “The event is all about raising awareness on disabled children with Down’s Syndrome and it’s special needs. We’re just trying to make people aware that need our support and we’re going to do the best we can to raise some money to give them a good life, you know.”
The Danny Mardell Charity Fight Night, in aid of the Down’s Syndrome Association and Oak View Special Needs School in Loughton, takes place on Saturday 14th may 2011 at the Chigwell Police Club, High Road, Chigwell, Essex IG7 6BD.
Tickets for the event are £95 per person, which includes a drinks reception, a two course meal as well as free wine, beers and spirits served all evening.
Tickets are available by calling Carol Mardell on 07951 637063, Karen Lipka on 07956 254194 or Terry Sabini on 07973 469685
Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person from the TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA