SCOTT QUIGG insists his boxing career is ready to move onto the next level under new trainer Pat Barrett.
The former European light-welterweight champion has taken over as Quigg’s trainer following the retirement of Brian Hughes.
And the unbeaten Bury star is confident that the new partnership will shine in Saturday’s (July 23) hometown World Boxing Association (WBA) world super-bantamweight title eliminator against Venezuelan Franklin Varela.
There are just a few tickets remaining for the Castle Leisure Centre clash and Scott who will also be defending his WBA intercontinental crown insisted: “Everything has gone well.
“This is the first fight without Brian and it felt a bit weird at first because I was with Brian for so long.
“Sometimes I would come into the gym and expect him to be there, but I’m enjoying myself with Pat.
“When Brian was training me I was still working with Pat in the gym so I am familiar with his methods.”
“On the night it might feel a bit different because I am used to certain things, but it won’t affect me.
“It is one of the things you have to deal with. I have gone through everything in my head and it’s going to be fine.”
Quigg who is also due to meet British champion Jason Booth in October has won all 21 pro fights.
Varela, 28, has won 19 of his 24 fights and formerly held the Venezuelan and World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino titles.
In the most recent published World Boxing Association (WBA) rankings Quigg is ranked fourth and Varela a few places below at tenth.
The last few for show which will not be televised are priced £75(VIP Ringside), £55 (Ringside) and £35 General admission and available from www.brandhatton.com /0844 847 2500/ 01925 755222
The card will be available from 7pm on Sunday 24th for free on the internet. The men behind the mic giving their expert opinion will be Phil Duffell and Micky Cantwell. Simply log on to http://www.hattonsports.tv/tv/tv-player.
DANNY PRICE SIGNS PRO WITH MALONEY
DOUBLE ABA heavyweight champion Danny Price has signed a three year managerial and promotional deal with Frank Maloney.
Price, 25, will be trained in Leeds by Mike Marsden and campaign in the cruiserweight division.
The Scarborough fighter will make his professional debut in October had set his sights on qualifying for London 2012 but was dropped from the GB squad last month.
He said: “There were a couple lads ahead of me and I decided to turn professional, but I am not going to dwell on what happened – I am only looking forward and there are no regrets.
“I signed for Frank on the recommendation of a couple old amateur team-mates David Price (no relation) and Tony Jeffries.
“They said that everything promised by Frank had happened and I felt comfortable after I met him.
“The first 18 months of my professional will be a learning curve, but within two years I will be British champion.”
Price who will begin training under Marsden next week has not lost to a domestic opponent since 2002 and among his amateur victims are Tony Bellew, Tom Dallas and David Dolan.
He won several international trophies and also a bronze medal in the world junior championships.
Maloney said: “I am delighted to sign Danny. He is in a division where he could be the stand out fighter very quickly. There can be some great fights or him against men like Tony Bellew who is growing into a cruiserweight and Jon-Lewis Dickinson.”
Hanks vs. Escalera on Saturday, July 23
On Saturday July 23rd, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing will team up with the American Cancer Society to host a benefit at the Hunts Point Produce Market to “Knock Out Cancer”. All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Cancer Society. The show will feature a number of up and coming fighters, and exciting fights, including the headliner, which see’s American Heavyweight prospect, Joe “The Future” Hanks (16-0, 11KO’s) look to capture what some believe to be the first of many Heavyweight Titles, when he takes on former, “Contender 4” participant, Alfredo Escalera Jr. (18-3-1, 12KO’s) for the International Boxing Association (IBA) Heavyweight Championship.
Hanks, who recently signed an exclusive long-term promotional deal with Star Boxing, was last in action in April, when he scored a brutal fourth round TKO over Terrell Nelson. Hanks controlled the action from the outset, dropping Nelson once in the second round and battering him for much of the fight. Nelson didn’t answer the bell to sound round five, thus giving Hanks the 4th TKO.
Still young (28-years-old), especially for a heavyweight, Hanks gained valuable experience during his amateur days, sparring with such fighters as Heavyweight Champion, Wladamir Klitschko, Chris Byrd, Jameel McCline, and Larry Donald. As an amateur Hanks was a three-time Golden Gloves Champion, and was a National Golden Gloves semi-finalist in 2007. After the Nationals, Hanks promptly turned pro, scoring a 2nd round TKO over Joseph Rabotte.
Escalera is the son of former world champion, Alfredo Escalera. After spending the majority of his career fighting at cruiserweight, the 31-years-old, Puerto Rican native, is now looking to make some noise in the heavyweight division, and he knows a win over a prospect like Hanks, put him right into the mix.
***A FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW
AT 1PM AT THE HUNTS POINT PRODUCE MARKET***
“Knock Out Cancer” will take place Saturday, July 23rd at the Hunt Point Produce Market, which is located at 772 Edgewater Road, Bronx, NY 10474. Tickets to this special event are priced at $50, $75 and $100 and can be purchased by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 or visiting www.starboxing.com. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the American Cancer Society at (718) 547- 5064 or visiting www.cancer.org. For information regarding sponsorship packages call Yilda Guerrero with the American Cancer Society at (718) 547-5064, etc. 2101. Doors open at 6:00PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:15PM. More information regarding the bouts will be announced within the coming weeks.