SCOTT QUIGG was expelled from school so he could continue his education in a boxing ring.

Now he is closing in on world title glory leaving his former teachers wearing Dunces caps.

The British super-bantamweight champion was 15-years-old when he was allowed to leave Bury’s Elton High School after pleading to be kicked out.

Quigg, 23, who defends his title against Welshman Jamie Arthur at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium tomorrow night (4^th Feb) said: “I always turned up for school because I didn’t want my mum to get into trouble.

“When it came to subjects like science and maths I wasn’t the brightest kid. School didn’t interest me.

“I was getting into trouble so I talked it over with my mum and said I wanted them to chuck me out.

“They called a meeting for us to go in and discuss my problems.  They laughed at my way of solving the solution because nobody had ever asked to be expelled.

“The deputy head, Miss Needham said; ‘What are you going to be, and achieve in life with no education?’

“I told the teachers I wouldn’t tell them because they would all laugh. When they pressed me I replied; ‘I am going to be a world champion boxer’.

“They then warned of what my life would be like if I failed, but my determination and vision was strong even then.

“They ended up expelling me, but putting me on a course where I went to college once a week.  I am proving them wrong.”

After being bombed with no qualifications, dad Kenneth made his son get a lowly paid job sweeping a factory floor.

Quigg added: “It gave him a motto that has remained etched ever since, ‘Train hard and you will never have to work in a factory’.”

Since turning professional shortly after his 18^th birthday Quigg has steamed to 23 consecutive wins and is now ranked third in the world by the IBF and WBA.

He is an early favourite to be voted Britain’s Young Boxer of the Year in October and behind him is the financial muscle of Hatton Promotions.

The Joe Gallagher trained prospect knows he cannot overlook former Commonwealth champion Arthur who is in the last chance saloon.

He said: “There is no danger of taking my eyes away from Arthur. If I cannot beat him it will be a struggle to reach the level I believe I can.

“Whoever has been in with Jamie knows they have been in a fight. There is no quit in him.

“I know how hungry I was to win the British title when the Jason Booth chance came and I am sure Jamie will have stepped up another gear in training.

“I have been in that position and I think it is harder keeping titles than winning them.”

Also in action tomorrow is former Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe who boxes Argentinian Jose Saez in a non-title eight rounder.

The bill will also include Stephen Foster Jr v Yauheni Kruhlik, Joe Murray v Jose Luis Graterol, Craig Lyon v Yuri Voronin, Jazza Dickens v Barrington Brown, Feargal McCrory v Sid Razak and Tasif Khan v Delroy Spencer.

Boxing starts at 6.15pm and tickets priced at £35, £55 and £75 VIP ringside. You can buy by calling  01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991  or onlinewww.hattonboxing.com

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HATTON Health and Fitness have been presented with a Business Training Award by Trafford College.

Head of the Hatton Group, Ricky Hatton received a certificate in recognition of links between the highly rated college and his private members gym in Hyde on the outskirts of Manchester.

College principal Sir Bill Moorcroft and Sally Waterfield who trains many of Hatton Health and Fitness Apprentices paid a visit to the Hatton HQ in Hyde on Wednesday 1st February.

Eleven staff members at Hatton Health and Fitness are Trafford College Apprentices studying towards qualifications in personal training and customer services.

Two weight-world champ Ricky says a good relationship in the gym’s relaxing environment between staff and loyal Hatton Health and Fitness members is something he encourages.

He said: “Our strong belief is that people come to gyms to interact with the staff and fellow members not to enter a cold place where you pay a lot and get little customer care.

“Our Apprentices are living proof that our belief in customer care and interaction with members is absolutely the right path to continue to follow.

“The staff we have are fantastic with members and a lot of that is what they have been taught by the college. I am delighted to that we have received recognition.”

Tutors like Sally have been visiting the gym for more than two years and played a major part in the development of the young and enthusiastic staff employed at Hatton Health and Fitness.

Hatton added: “Trafford College tutors have provided us with great support and given our staff that extra motivation – which is reflected in our membership retention.”

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WHERE: The Balcony at Premier Suite, Reebok Stadium, Bolton, BL6 6SF

http://www.deverevenues.co.uk

WHEN: Friday 3rd^h February @ 3pm

WHO:  Boxers appearing on Hatton Promotions bill at the above venue on Saturday 4^thFebruary

Among those weighing in will be  British super-bantamweight champion  Scott Quigg, his challenger Jamie Arthur and selected fighters boxing on the bill including Rendall Munroe, Joe Murray, Steve Foster Jr, Matty Askin and Craig Lyon

MEDIA ADVISORY: All boxers will be available for interview on the day. Please can all media arrive by 2.30pm.

There will be no formal press conference for this show, but if you wish to interview any of the boxers appearing please contact Brian Donnellan (            07795 597328        or B.Donnellan@brandhatton.com) or Paul Speak on (07932001309 or Speak3536@aol.com )

THE WEIGH-IN WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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WHERE: The Balcony at Premier

Suite, Reebok Stadium, Bolton, BL6 6SF

WHEN: Friday 3rdh February @ 3pm

WHO:  Boxers appearing on Hatton Promotions bill at the above venue on Saturday 4th February

Among those weighing in will be British super-bantamweight champion  Scott Quigg, his challenger Jamie Arthur and selected fighters boxing on the bill including Rendall Munroe, Joe Murray, Steve Foster Jr, Matty Askin and Craig Lyon

MEDIA ADVISORY: All boxers will be available for interview on the day. Please can all media arrive by 2.30pm.

There will be no formal press conference for this show, but if you wish to interview any of the boxers appearing please contact Brian Donnellan (07795 597328 or B.Donnellan@brandhatton.com ) or Paul Speak (07932 001309  or Speak3536@aol.com )

THE WEIGH-IN WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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Mayweather, a seven-time world champion in five weight classes, will be facing the heavier, much-tested Cotto, who is the pride of Puerto Rico and has the experience, heart and determination to give pound for pound king Mayweather the toughest fight of his career.

“Miguel Cotto is a world class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing,” said Mayweather, whose only other fight at super welterweight came in a World Boxing Council (WBC) world title win over Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007. “It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on and gives me the motivation to train even harder. I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto’s reign as champion will come to an end on May 5.”

Cotto, coming off of the second defense of his title, a spectacular tenth-round technical knockout win over Antonio Margarito in December 2011, is ready to face Mayweather and believes he is Mayweather’s most competitive career challenge to date.

The deal between Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) and Cotto does not come as surprise. With a much-anticipated fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao off the table at least until the fall, Mayweather-Cotto is widely considered the next biggest fight he could take. Junior middleweight titlist Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was also considered a leading candidate to face Mayweather.

Mayweather-Cotto also means that Pacquiao, who intends to fight June 9, will not be facing Cotto in a rematch. Pacquiao-Cotto II was one of the potential fights Pacquiao and his promoter, Bob Arum, had discussed. The leading candidate to face Pacquiao in June is junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr.

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By AIBA

This year, several young talents will be ready to showcase their skills and test themselves on the biggest stages of all with glory the 2016 Rio Olympics the ultimate target. The forthcoming AIBA Youth World Championships, to be held in in October, will be the first chance to see up close the array of exciting fighters coming through.

The new look Russian youth team has now some of the most talented boxers coming through and it could well be that their squad is the strongest one they have had yet. Lightweight National Youth Champion Kristian Stepanov, AIBA Junior World Champion and European Junior Championships gold medallist Sergey Sobylinskiy, current Welterweight European Youth Champion Igor Kharitonov, European Junior Champion and Denisov Youth Cup gold medallist Andrey Stotskiy and European Junior Champion Khodzhiakbar Mamakov make up an impressive squad that many predict will be dominant for years to come.

The Azeri elite team is the youngest in the world, while their youth squad is also coming up strong. They have great expectations for the immediate and long-term future. Two Azeri boxers claimed gold medals at the European Youth Championships in Dublin, Parviz Bagirov and Rauf Rahimov. Both boxers were born in 1994 so expect them to further demonstrate their impressive techniques in all the youth tournaments this year.

Uzbekistan’s best Lightweight fighter Aliyor Noraliyev secured a gold medal at the AIBA Junior World Championships in Astana last year so he will be one to watch. We can also expect great things from his accomplished compatriots Anvar Turapov, Ahmet Comert, Junior Tournament winner Akmalbek Kosimov, AIBA Junior World Champion Oybek Sharipov and Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Ulugbek Mubinov. 2012 should prove a very successful year for this squad.

Puerto Rico’s Panamerican Games bronze medallist and National Elite Champion Jantony Ortiz will be celebrating his 18th birthday in July and he will be looking to qualify and compete at the London Olympic Games. His main goal this season will be to secure a gold medal at the upcoming AIBA Youth World Championships.

Current AIBA Junior World Champion, 16-year-old Asror Vohidov, who was awarded the best junior boxer trophy in 2011, is the biggest hope for Tajikistan in the upcoming Olympic era, but he will be concentrating on the youth level championships with Rio 2016 his main objective. We are most likely to see him moving up a division to Flyweight.

The Philippines traditionally have excellent boxers in the Light Flyweight category and with Ian Clark Bautista securing a silver medal at the President’s Cup amongst the elite boxers in Jakarta last July; he will be certainly able to continue the tradition of Filipino success at the AIBA Youth World Championships.

The Dominican Republic’s rising star is Panamerican Junior Champion Huascar Ramirez who, last year, suffered only one loss. Kevin Brown of Cuba will also have some good opportunities of securing some top results. El Salvador’s new hope, Nathan Ridings, who competed at the 16th AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku is also expected to shine in 2012.

Other strong youth fighters to look out for in 2012 are Kazakhstan’s powerful Olzhas Kalaubek, India’s Agalarov Youth Cup winner Ajay Kumar, Lithuania’s European Junior Championships bronze medallist Eimantas Stanionis, Hungary’s AIBA Junior World Championships silver medallist and European Junior Champion Norbert Herczeg, Serbia’s National Elite Champion Vanja Bacic, Georgia’s former European Junior Champion Aleksandr Dokvadze, Australia’s AIBA Junior World Champion Jai Opetaia and Ukraine’s European Youth Championships bronze medallist Bohdan Blazhko.

It is shaping up to be another exciting year, full of exciting talent.

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Three times World champion, five times European titleholder, a four in a row European Union winner, and arguably Ireland’s most likely Olympic Games gold medallist and yet Katie Taylor will NOT be Irish Elite champion of 2012.
That honour will fall to Carla Wright, from the Gleann club in Belfast who on 3rd February will be crowned Irish champ without throwing a punch in anger. Carla won the Ulster Intermediate championship in September also on a walk over and the Ulster Senior title in December – again without an opponent.

Taylor has wisely opted to forgo her national title rather than take on the Irish intermediate champion, Carla Wright, who has had fewer than seven competitive fights in her career, and most, if not all, of those in Novice or Intermediate events. Such a contest if it had taken place would have been a ‘complete mismatch’ – the acknowledged world’s no 1 versus a novice although one who for the second year in a row has entered the Irish senior championships, albeit last year she withdrew giving Taylor a walk over.

It is true that Taylor had a long prearranged commitment to attend a vital training camp in Georgia during the IABA Elite Senior Championships , she would have been back and able to compete in the final against Wright. Taylor always has been and remains ‘light years’ ahead of any competition in Ireland, thus her own coaches – and the iABA – insist it would be quite pointless her taking on inexperienced boxers such as Carla Wright, so the Gleann boxer takes the title by default .

IABA High Performance Unit Chief Billy Walsh said : ‘Katie is going to be away training in Georgia, and it’s an important part of her preparation for the World Championships’ . ‘The fact of the matter is that Katie is in a different league to the rest of the girls in Ireland.’

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