Promoter Frank Maloney today won the purse bids for the British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship between David Price and Sam Sexton. Maloney beat all other promoters at the bids held at the British Boxing Board of Control’s offices in Cardiff. A date and venue will be announced in the next few days and the fight will be televised Live on SKYSPORTS HD1
McDONNELL HAS WORLD TITLE IN HIS SIGHT
Jamie McDonnell will close in on a shot at a World title if he is successful in the defence of his European title against Malik Bouziane on March 3rd at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre in Sheffield.
Bouziane (13-1-1) recently fought for the IBF Super Flyweight title against Simphiwe Nongqayi in France where he scored majority draw. Two judges scored it 114-114 and the third 115-113 in favour of Nongjayi.
The former European Bantamweight champion who won the title from Ian Napa in his back yard, gave up his belts after two defenses to challenged for the IBF Super Flyweight title and has had only one loss on his Career record to date.
McDonnell (18-2-1) has not looked back since being defeated by Chris Edwards and Lee Haskins.
After a recent visit to the WBC Convention in Las Vegas with team mate David Price, McDonnell now has his sights firmly set on a crack at a World Title.
McDonnell said; “I believe I am ready for a shot at a World Title and by convincingly beating Bouziane on March 3rd I will prove that”.
McDonnell vs. Bouziane will be live on Sky Sports HD1 and tickets are still available via www.frankmaloney.com for the Hillsborough leisure centre on march 3rd in Sheffield.
Eamonn O’Kane to face Wayne Reed on March 17
Irishman faces Sheffield man to complete exciting ‘War of the Roses’ undercard
Matchroom Sport have announced that Eamonn O’Kane will face Wayne Reed at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield to complete the fantastic undercard of Kell Brook’s welterweight showdown with Matthew Hatton.
It is the fourth professional contest for ‘King Kane’, who had a long and successful amateur record culminating with him winning gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. If he wins it could be a triple celebration for the Irish boxer, with the fight being held on St. Patrick’s Day and it will be his 30th birthday the day after.
The unbeaten Dungiven fighter will be making his English debut, having boxed in Cardiff once and his native Northern Ireland twice. O’Kane’s first two fights in the paid ranks were won inside the distance, a first-round knockout on his debut in the Welsh capital and a fifth-round retirement in Craigavon. He dominated his most recent bout against Joe Rea last September at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, winning the eight-rounder 80-73.
O’Kane will also have one eye on the proposed all-Ireland Middleweight Prizefighter event scheduled in Belfast for the beginning of May, after being promised an invite to the 24th edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight-man, one night tournament.
Reed’s last outing was at Hillsborough in December when he beat Elvis Dube convincingly on points 60-53, knocking the Derby man to the canvas in the final round. The 24 year-old Sheffield man stopped Iain Jackson in November at Bramall Lane and took on former World Champion Robin Reid at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre on the undercard of Kell Brook’s win over Lovemore N’dou, getting stopped by ‘the Grim Reaper’ in the fourth round of a cracking scrap.
The fight completes a fantastic undercard for the March 17 show which features a second Commonwealth super bantamweight title defence for Carl Frampton, Greg Proksa’s first defence of his European middleweight title against Kerry Hope and former British welterweight champion Lee Purdy aiming to get back on track against Nottingham’s Adnan Amar.
Exciting middleweight prospect John Ryder hopes to take his unbeaten record into double figures against Huddersfield danger man Alistair Warren who fought for the WBC Youth World title in 2010. Amateur star Scott Cardle makes his professional debut at lightweight, while unbeaten Dudley middleweight Ryan Aston faces Barnsley’s Lee Noble and Sheffield Heavyweight David Howe also features.
Limited tickets for Kell Brook vs. Matthew Hatton plus a full championship undercard now remain priced £30 and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield Box Office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk.
£40, £60 and £150 VIP tickets have now sold-out.