A massive 71 per cent of the public would pay to watch David Haye’s big heavyweight showdown with Dereck Chisora, a poll held on the Daily Mail online revealed. The bitter rivals meet in the ring on Saturday 14th July at West Ham’s Boleyn Ground at Upton Park in one of boxing’s biggest ever grudge fights.
And only 29 per cent didn’t want to watch the fight which has become a hot talking point.
Since the pair met last week head-to-head for the first time to announce their fight, tickets have been selling fast with over 20,000 sold already.
The fight will be televised live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).
IABA UPDATE (KATIE TAYLOR QUALIFIES FOR 2012 OLYMPICS)
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Katie Taylor has qualified for the London 2012 Olympics.
Taylor was due to meet Mihaela Lacatus in the quarter-finals of the 7th AIBA World Women’s Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Qinhuangdao, China this morning (Irish time).
But the Bray woman was granted a walkover after the Romanian withdrew injured.
http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000085/C73B230.PDF
It is understood that Lacatus, a gold medal winner at the 2005 AIBA World Women’s Championships, suffered a neck injury.
In further good news for Taylor, Mavzuna Chorieva of Tajikistan beat Estelle Mossely of France this morning, a result that qualified Taylor for London 2012 as there are three Olympic places available for European boxers in Taylor’s lightweight category.
The Chorieva versus Mossely result ensured that only three Europeans will be in Friday’s semi-finals.
http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000085/C75WW60.PDF
Taylor, Russia’s Sofya Ochigava and England’s Natasha Jonas, who both won this morning, are also through to the last-four and all three will compete at the London 2012 Olympics.
Taylor, who is aiming for her fourth AIBA World title in-a-row in China, will meet Chorieva, who has also qualified for London 2012, in Friday’s lightweight semi-final.
Ochigava and Jonas clash in the corresponding semi-final.
All four semi-finalists are guaranteed at least bronze.
Following today’s results, Taylor, her Bray BC team-mate Adam Nolan, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, John Joe Nevin and Darren O’Neill will represent Ireland in the boxing event at the XXX Olympiad.
Women’s boxing will make its historic debut at the 2012 Games in three weight categories – flyweight, lightweight and middleweight.
7th AIBA World Women’s Championships Qinhuangdao, China
(Afternoon sessions begin at 2pm local time, 7am Irish time)
May 12th
51kg (Last 64)Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Veglina Svetlana (Tajikistan) RSC3
75kg (Last 64) Sinead Kavanagh (Ireland) lost to Francelis Paez Carmona (Venezuela) 19-23
May 13th
51kg (Last 32) Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Sarah-Joy Iris Rae (Jamaica) 12-4
May 14th
60Kg (Last 32) Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Rim Jouini (Tunisia) 19-6
May 15th
51kg (Last 16) Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Anna Karolina Michalczuk (Poland) RSC3
60kg (Last 16) Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Saida Khassenova (Kazakhstan) RSC4
May 16th
60kg (Quarter-finals) Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Mihaela Lacatus (Romania) W/O
May 18th
(Semi-finals – Afternoon)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Mavzuna Chorieva (Tajikistan)
60kg Sofya Ochigava (Russia) v Natasha Jonas (England)
Irish squad
51kg (Flyweight) Ceire Smith (Cavan)
60kg (Lightweight) Katie Taylor (Bray)
75kg (Middleweight) Sinead Kavanagh (Drimnagh)
Team manager: Anna Moore
Coaches: Peter Taylor and Zuar Antia
Physio: Mary Louis Ryan
Hatton impressed with Theophane
RICKY HATTON has heaped praise on Hatton Promotions world class light-welterweight Ashley ‘The Treasure’ Theophane. The Londoner will now defend his British light-welterweight title against Darren Hamilton at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool on Saturday (19th May) hoping to win a Lonsdale belt for keeps.
Theophane, 31, was due to face Steve Williams but he pulled out early on Monday because of illness – leaving Ashley in the lurch for the second successive fight.
He encountered a similar problem in December when Nigel Wright was forced out of their contest forcing Theophane to box Ben Murphy who he stopped in 11 rounds.
Hatton Promotions CEO Ricky Hatton said: “Ashley is an example to all boxers, and just wants to train and fight all comers.
“As soon as Williams pulled out he never once thought about not fighting because the British title and owning a Lonsdale belt means so much to him.
“I have nothing but admiration for him.”
Hatton hopes that Theophane will move into the world title picture later this year having dominated the British scene since winning the title against Lenny Daws in February 2011.
He added: “I am so lucky to promote so many top class fighters who are also dedicated to the sport.
“Ashley has done it his way and flown around the world solo just to benefit from top class sparring and experience in the best gyms.
“He has served his dues and a world title fight is no more than he deserves, but Hamilton is still there to give him a test.”