SERGEY RABCHENKO believes having Ricky Hatton fighting his corner will spur him on to European light-middleweight title glory on Saturday night.
The Belarussian, 26, meets Sheffield’s former champion Ryan Rhodes on Hatton Promotions ‘Road To Glory’ bill at Manchester Velodrome..
Rabchenko who has won all 20 fights, 15 by KO said: “I have had more than nine weeks training with Ricky at the Hatton gym and it has allowed to me into get into the best shape of my career.
“Ricky was always one of my favourite fighters and it has been a fantastic experience getting his expertise.
“We have also been running together and he has taught me some English words although I am not sure how many I should repeat.
“I have got a lot of respect for Ryan Rhodes previous achievement’s as a professional boxer, but that now it’s my time and I’ll be the new European champion on Saturday.
There are three other major contests on the bill.
There is a potential ‘Fight of the Year’ when Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe square off for the vacant interim WBA super-bantamweight title.
Rhodes fellow steel city slugger Richard Towers challenges France’s Gregory Tony for the vacant EU heavyweight title
In a special attraction British middleweight champion Martin Murray meets French title holder Karim Achour ahead of a big September fight that will be announced later this month.
Other fights: Craig Watson v Tomasz Mazurciewicz, Lucas Browne v Hastings Rasani,
Adam Etches v Ferenc Zold, Scott Jenkins v Kristian Laight, Adam Little v Dee Mitchell, Kallum De’Ath v Anwar Alfadi and Louis Norman v Brett Fido.
All VIP and ringside tickets have been sold. The remaining tickets are available priced at £55, £35 and £30, but are limited. You can purchase tickets by calling Hatton Promotions hotline 01925 755 222/www.ticketmaster.co.uk/0844 847 2500/www.ticketline.co.uk/0844 888 4402/www.hmv.com
ASTON TO FIGHT FOR FIRST TITLE ON PACKED BROOK SHOW
Dudley fighter in one of five title bouts in Sheffield
Exciting middleweight prospect Ryan Aston will take on Curtis Valentine for the vacant Midlands Area title on the packed undercard of the Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones show on July 7 at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield.
Aston has made an impressive start to his professional career, winning all seven of his fights in his first year in the pro ranks and impressing fans and pundits alike along the way.
The 21 year old, who stopped Paul Samuels in the fifth round of their six round clash in his last outing in Nottingham in May, faces Nottingham’s Valentine in both men’s first title bout and the Dudley man plans to finish the year in style by bagging his first belt.
“I cannot wait to get in the ring for my first pro title shot,” said Aston. “It’s been a dream year for me, I’ve fought on some big shows like the Kell Brook vs. Matthew Hatton card and the amazing Carl Froch vs. Lucian Bute show. But this is what all the hard work has been about. I’ve been training well, I feel good and hope that this will be the first of many titles in my career.”
There are now five title fights on the card in what is sure to be another explosive night in the Sheffield culminating with Brook’s IBF International welterweight title clash with the tough American Jones.
Two eagerly anticipated European title rematches as Gavin Rees defends his lightweight title against Derry Mathews and Kerry Hope faces Greg Proksa in his first defence of the Middleweight crown he took off the Pole in March.
Before the European clashes, Lee Purdy will defend his English welterweight title against Chris Johnson and one of Matchroom Sport’s newest signings Kal Yafai also makes his debut on the undercard.
Tickets for Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones featuring Ryan Aston’s first title shot are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.
VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)
Former Champ Williams Ready For July 7th Title Showdown With Conquest.
After three false starts, the long awaited showdown, between former
British Cruiserweight Champion Leon ‘Solid’ Williams and Southern Area
Champ Tony ‘Conqueror’ Conquest, is finally set to take place, on the
Olivia Goodwin promoted ‘One More Round’ event at York Hall on Saturday
7th July.
The last time this highly anticipated Clash of the Titans was due to take
place was back in January, as Williams’ first defense of his British
Crown, however Conquest was forced to withdraw due to a viral infection.
With Conquest out Williams instead defended against Nottingham’s Shane
McPhilbin.
For eleven rounds Williams totally dominated the proceedings, including
sending McPhilbin to the canvas twice. However after just thirty seconds
of the final round things took a dramatic turn, for the worse, after
McPhilbin landed a powerful clubbing shot, to the back of the defending
Champ’s head, which ultimately lead to the fight being stopped and a new
British Champion crowned.
With no quick rematch with McPhilbin, or a shot at current British Champ
Enzo Maccarinelli on the horizon, the only way Williams could get back
into the Championship mix this year would be to challenge his good friend
Conquest.
A situation that wasn’t lost on the former Champ, as he made clear when he
spoke briefly, following a training session at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym,
earlier. “Yeah it’s a stepping stone, I know I gave up the Southern Area
title before I beat Rob Norton and became British Champ, but it does lead
to bigger and better things.
God willing, I’ll get the chance to get my Lonsdale belt back after
beating Tony on the 7th.
No make that Johnny willing, Johnny, my manager Johnny Eames, will do the
business side for me, I’ve just got to win.
Preparation has been very good, sparring has been the best. I’m Dereck
Chisora’s main sparring partner, so that’s good experience and I learn
from it all the time.
This is really going to help me with the fight. Dereck’s a very big,
strong guy and after all this work Tony will feel like a lightweight in
comparison – Thank you Dereck Chisora.
I’m not trashing Tony, he’s a good friend of mine and a very good boxer,
but there’s no friendship when you step in the ring, you fight, and that’s
what we’re going to do – fight.
Team Solid is back…and climbing the ladder to the top. Team Solid all
day, every Day…Yeah.”
Leon ‘Solid’ Williams versus Tony ‘Conqueror’ Conquest for the Southern
Area Cruiserweight title co-headlines Olivia Goodwin’s ‘One More Round’
event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 7th July 2012.
Tickets, priced £60 (Ringside) and £35 (Standard Seated), for Leon
Williams vs. Tony Conquest are available on-line now at
www.tkoboxoffice.com – tickets are also be available direct from Leon
Williams or the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street,
Canning Town, London E16 4SA.