MARTIN MURRAY will not be taking underdog Nick Blackwell lightly in next week’s vacant British middleweight title clash.
Murray, ranked number 4 by the WBA starts a big favourite when he meets Blackwell at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Saturday 18th June.
The popular St Helens fighter will also be risking his Commonwealth and WBA inter-continental crown against the 20-year-old from Trowbridge.
Murray has won all 22 professional contests and fought at a much higher level than Blackwell, who is unbeaten in eight bouts.
The 28-year-old said: “There is no chance of me under-estimating him. It only takes one punch to change a fight.
“A lot of people are going on about Nick’s lack of experience, but I am not surprised he has taken this chance.
“He has everything to gain and it is one he cannot knock back. I am glad he has taken it and respect him for that.
“I’ve not seen a lot of him, but he looks like a good fighter and he will be coming to win. I’ll be giving him the full respect he deserves.”
The bill also includes Olympic star Joe Murray and British champion Anthony Crolla also boxes when he faces a selected opponent with the vacant WBA inter-continental lightweight title on the line.
Prospects on the undercard include Adam Little, Dale Miles and Chris Male.
Tickets for this big night of title action are available £35, £55 (Ringside) and £75 VIP Ringside, www.brandhatton.com
International Boxing Hall of Fame Names Tecate Official Beer Sponsor
NEW YORK (June 7, 2011) – Tecate, cerveza con carácter, announced today its support of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) to celebrate the sport’s history and character as the organization’s “2011 Official Beer Sponsor.” Tecate’s sponsorship will kick off during the 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend in Canastota, N.Y., from June 9-12, and will continue with a variety of programs and activities throughout the year.
“We are proud to sponsor an organization that is dedicated to commemorating iconic athletes and personalities who have helped build the carácter of boxing. By highlighting their careers and contributions, the IBHOF helps inspire future ring champions and ultimately grow the sport,” said Felix Palau, vice president of marketing for Tecate. “Tecate’s involvement with the IBHOF is another toast to the boldness of boxing, its fans and all individuals involved in keeping it alive.”
Inductees to the 2011 class reflect the innate determination, passion and talent of the sport’s greatest, and include three-division champion Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico), junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu (Russia/Australia), heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (USA), trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain (Mexico), referee Joe Cortez (USA) and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone (USA). They will be honored during the Official Enshrinement Ceremony at the Hall of Fame Museum on June 12.
“Since 1989, our mission has been to applaud those who have made an impact on boxing, whether in or out of the ring. Along the way we have been witness to the importance of committed supporters of the sport, such as Tecate,” said Edward Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. “We are thrilled to have Tecate in our corner and look forward to celebrating the character of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.”
Tecate will be present at the various events planned by the IBHOF throughout 2011. Details on these activities will be shared with fans on the brand’s Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/TecateBoxing.
About the International Boxing Hall of Fame
A not-for-profit organization, the International Boxing Hall of Fame opened to the public in 1989 in Canastota, New York and is located at Exit 34 of the New York State Thruway. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 315.697.7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.
World Champs Choi And Asiku To Headline Summer Smash Event On June 18th
Spencer Fearon announces that the next Hard Knocks Boxing event, ‘Summer Smash’, will take place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 18th June 2011.
Following on from the massive success of the ‘Shamrock Showdown’ event in March, Mr Boxing himself has put together a World class card headlined by the WBU/WBF Featherweight Champion of the World Choijiljavyn ‘Choi Tseveenpürev, better known as Choi The Mongolian Warrior against former IBO Featherweight Champion of the World ‘Action’ Jackson Asiku from Australia.
The main feature support for Choi-Asiku features Southern Area Light Welterweight Champion Darren ‘Mr R&B’ Hamilton against Midlands Area Light Welterweight Champion Dave Ryan. Both Hamilton and Ryan will be looking to add a second belt to their collection on the 18th as the the vacant British Masters Light Welterweight title is on the line.
Spencer has put together a top class undercard in support of the two featured bouts.
West Drayton’s sensational Light Middleweight prospect Steve O’Meara takes on Newark’s heavy hitting A.A. Lowe in a highly anticipated eight rounder.
Worthing, Sussex’s unbeaten Lightweight prospect Alex Dilmaghani is set to face a tough battle against former Irish title challenger, West Ham’s own Mickey Coveney.
Next up is another unbeaten rising star, Dagenham’s Joe Catchpole who will face Scunthorpe’s Steve Spence. Also at Light Middleweight, Hayes’ resident war lord Robert Lloyd Taylor is back in action against Leeds hardman Tommy Broadbent.
Philadelphia, USA based Irish Middleweight Simon ‘Slick Fightin Irish’ O’Donnell makes his first visit to the York Hall to take on Doncaster’s Jason ‘Daddy Cool’ Ball.
Finally the highly rated London based Slovakian Heavyweight Marek Onda will be making his professional debut.
Speaking at the Prizefighter – Welterweights II weigh-in yesterday Spencer said of the event, “After the last show, the Shamrock Showdown, was a massive success I got to straight on to my next show, which is the Summer Smash at York Hall on June 18th.
We’ve got Choi versus Jackson Asiku, I mean that’s the former IBO World champion versus the Mongolian Warrior, you aint going to get a better fight than that this year.
We’ve got Alex Dilmaghani, superb kid, against Mickey Coveney. That’s another 50/50 fight.
Our Mr R&B himself, Darren Hamilton against Dave Ryan, who’s Clifton Mitchell’s fighter. Clifton Mitchell is trying to replicate the same thing that I am doing up where he’s from, down in Derby way.
We’ve got a really, really good show right, we’ve got Joe Catchpole, he’s fighting a guy he got a draw against in Steve Spence.
The show gets even better and can’t be topped, so we’ve got a very very exciting fighter Marek Onda, who’s a Slovakian Heavyweight that’s over here now. He’s the second coming, man.
I aint going to be boasting when I say go and buy your tickets now for the best show of the year so far. Go to www.hardknocksboxing.com or www.tkoboxoffice.com go and buy your tickets now for the event of the year.
Come along for the energy and the passion, I’m saying we live in the United Kingdom and I unite everyone because every different race, face all at the same place – The Hard Knocks at the York Hall.
So I am going to sell it out and also I’m telling you guys this you got to look on the shows now in boxing, people are saying Boxing is dying, that’s rubbish, it aint dying, I’m keeping it alive.
We’re here now at the Prizefighter, I’m around my old mates and they’re all now trainers, these are the guys that used to be in changing rooms together, I mean to see the solidarity that Boxing brings, I mean I’m here and you see all the different types of people that Boxing brings together, I mean there’s Yassine El Maachi, Nathan Graham and my long time friend Junior Witter, Colin Lynes I mean this is going to be a great Prizefighter. I mean this show is sold out already.
It’s going to be a great show but you know the real big show is going to come from the Hard Knocks on the 18th June, go out and get your ticket either on-line or go big up that little ugly short geezer with the glasses on from time to time, you know Johnny Eames and all his TKO lot in Canning Town. Or go to our Hard Knocks place, The Real Fight Club – yeah and if anyone wants to get fit come down there and we’ll teach you how to get fit
Hard Knocks is getting bigger and better, I’ve just been told that Sky TV are sending a camera down to see what the show is like and that small hall boxing is not bad and that I’m keeping it live. There’s nothing small hall about my shows, nothing small, nothing at all, nothing about me is small, nothing at all, so I don’t know why they call it small hall boxing.
As I said either get down to the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town or The Real Fight Club in Shoreditch for tickets for the best show of the year Summer Smash at York Hall on June 18th.”
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard seated) and £60 (Ringside) for the ‘Summer Smash’ event are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com, in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or The Real Fight Club, 2-6 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NQ or from any boxer appearing on the show. For further information call: 07960 850645