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MUNROE WARNS QUIGG: I’LL FINISH THE JOB

RENDALL MUNROE is desperate to get to grips with Scott Quigg in next month’s vacant interim WBA super-bantamweight title clash.

The pair meet again at Manchester Arena in one of several big undercard fights when Ricky Hatton (45-2) makes his return against Vyacheslav Senchenko (32-1) on Saturday November 24.

Their first meeting in June ended prematurely in a third round technical draw because of a horrific cut to Rendall’s right eye.

Such an inconclusive ending was a disappointment to both warriors and the Leicester southpaw (24-2-1) warned British champion Quigg (24-0-1) said: “I will finish what I started.

“Everything is going good and I am already fit. I am going to go out there and do what needs to be done.

“Scott will turn around and say he was going to knock me out last time and all that rubbish. Fair play to him for having those dreams.

“We were only two and a half rounds into the fight and I was confident I was going to do what I wanted. I hadn’t even started getting going.

“I live clean and healthy so that helped the cut heal up quickly. I have been in full training for more than four weeks now.

“It is good that so many people will see the fight on a big card, because it will show I am still hungry and climbing the ladder.”

Although Ricky’s return has grabbed global headlines, his show features the best of British on a magnificent undercard.

Sergey Rabchenko (21-0) defends his European light-middleweight crown against Frenchman Cedric Vitu (35-1), Martin Murray (24-0-1) will feature in a major contest and Gary Buckland (26-2) risks his British super-featherweight title against local idol Stephen Foster Jr (30-3-1).

Also in action are Hatton Promotions hopefuls James Dickens (12-0), Adam Etches (9-0) and Scott Jenkins (6-0).

All tickets are sold out and broadcast details will be announced shortly.

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Unbeaten professional boxer Bradley Saunders in hardest

training yet in preparation for fourth professional outing

On The Undercard Of Battle of Britain

Relishing the chance to fight on the undercard of the highly anticipated Battle of Britain show, the Light Welterweight from County Durham has been training harder than ever to continue his unbeaten run since his professional debut in February this year.

Scotland’s Ricky Burns and England’s Kevin Mitchell will headline in the blockbuster showdown that ignites the Auld rivalry once again. Burns will put his WBO World Lightweight title on the line against his long-time rival Mitchell on Saturday 22nd September in Glasgow.

“It’s been the longest camp I’ve ever done; it’s been really full on. It’ll be 10 weeks come fight night. It’s been really good sparring with a two weight world champion in Burns. Ricky’s a gritty lad who’s really adaptable; can box back foot or dig in and have a fight. We both really go for it. It’s far more a fight than a technical spar so it’s been tremendous for me.”

The talented 26 year old from Sedgefield has also been sparring with seasoned boxers; former British Champion Ashley Theophane and former WBU World Champion Derry Mathews.

With around one hundred England and Great Britain appearances on his CV, Bradley Saunders was the most experienced amateur international of this millennium. The hard hitting former world championship medallist and 2008 Beijing Olympian is expecting that practice to propel him to the major professional titles as soon as possible.

“I’m really confident; I always played at it as amateur, cutting corners, late nights etc. but not now. So as long as I know I’ve done my part in the gym, I know I’ll be ok.”

Life outside of the gym can be just as important to a boxer and Saunders is confident and reassured by the support of friends and family.

“My personal life couldn’t be better right now; I’m surrounded by proper people. My family are really good and my brother Jeff, a 6 time British champion, just joined the army so I wish him all the best.
The support is the best ever, really good, getting better with every fight. They’re coming from everywhere for this fight, over 200 travelling up and couldn’t thank each and every one of them enough. After my first three pro outings in London, this will be a bit closer to home for my supporters”

So far the history bodes well for this popular sportsman and the future looks promising too. It takes a few wins before opportunities and sponsors come knocking so the key for Saunders is to fight regularly and successfully.

“After this I can see me being out another couple of times this year. They’re moving me on well and I’m on all the big bills so I think they are expecting big things. So all I can do is train hard, be dedicated and deliver. It’s my intention to shine every fight. You hear some prospects say they want the experience of the rounds but not me. I never take my foot off the gas and, if I get the opponent hurt, I’ll be very keen to go all out and put ‘em away. I want people talking about me after every fight.”

The Battle of Britain featuring Bradley Saunders and world title fight between Burns v Mitchell will be televised live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Channel 456 and Virgin Channel 546). For tickets call 07414 112 022 or visit Bradley’s official website www.bradleysaunders.com or follow the rising star on Twitter @BradSaunders_

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TRAD TKO Boxing Gym

ERICK ‘THE EAGLE’ OCHIENG

English Light Middleweight Champion

By Rio

London - Wednesday, 12th September 2012

Erick Ochieng: Now I’m Ready For The Big Fish - Rose or Cox Next?

On Saturday night, at Alexandra Palace in London, English Light Middleweight Champion Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng retained his title in style, with a fifth round stoppage over Southern Area champ Ryan Toms.

In doing so the 25 year old from Stoke Newington, via Nairobi, Kenya, sent a solid statement of intent to British Champion Brian Rose and Commonwealth Champion Jamie Cox that he has them firmly in his sights.

Even though he is without doubt a natural talent, Ochieng firmly puts his meteoric rise down to his manager and coach Bryan Lawrence and his unconventional approach, by today’s standard, of taking tough learning fights rather than ‘protecting’ his charge with journeymen throughout the early stages of his career.

Whilst it is true that during his early career Ochieng fought the odd journeyman, such as Matt Scriven (Erick’s debut fight) and Alex Spitko, as well as a couple of tough fighters with negative records, the vast amount of his fights have been against genuine prospects.

In just his second bout Ochieng took on, and beat, Prince David Davis in his own back yard in Nottingham, then following a fantastic second round KO against seriously tough Jon Harrison faced, and beat, unbeaten previously unbeaten prospect Curtis Valentine.

In his fifth bout Ochieng stopped the durable Alex Spitko, before going on to beat former yet another seriously tough opponent in Lee Noble.

Ochieng then suffered his only loss of his career, a highly contentious points decision to rising prospect Luke Robinson, after which referee Ken Curtis was slated by the media for this rather dubious decision.

Not being one to dwell on things, within weeks Bryan Lawrence accepted another testing challenge for his talented charge, one that could easily be described as an early career defining fight, against Liam Cameron, a seasoned, and previously undefeated in nine outings, prospect. What’s more again the bout would be in the opponents own back yard.

With another big scalp under his belt, an eliminator for the British title was quickly lined up, but fell through just weeks before fight night. Instead Ochieng took a low key six rounder, against Dee Mitchell, at the York Hall in London in order to keep busy.

This proved to be a very good move, as a few days after his victory over Mitchell, Ochieng received news that he was to get a shot at the vacant English title, the bad news though it was to be against Liverpool’s Scott Quigley, who like Erick had just the one loss - which came at the hands of Robert Lloyd Taylor in the final of the excellent Matchroom Sport promoted Prizefighter Light Middleweight tournament.

Over a thousand punches were thrown in the first eight rounds of the barnstorming, Fight of the Year’ nominated battle. The pair of Warriors stood toe to toe most of the fight throwing seemingly never ending salvos of massive uppercuts, heavy hooks and solid straights.

After eight nonstop action filled rounds, Ochieng was five rounds up on the judges scorecards and Quigley already had the look of a beaten man, as was proved just seconds into the ninth, when Quigley’s corner threw in the towel to save their man any further punishment.

Some four months later Ochieng and Lawrence were heading back up the M1 to Nottingham, where ‘The Eagle’ was set to face yet another midlander, AA Lowe, in his home town, this time though it was for the first defense of his English Crown and more importantly for Ochieng it would be in front of a massive Worldwide audience on the undercard of Carl Froch’s defense of his IBF World crown against Lucian Bute.

‘The Eagle’ put on a masterful display, boxing of the back foot and picking his punches, and boy did he pick them in style on his way to securing a virtual shut out points victory.

Which brings us full circle to Saturday night and the magnificent stoppage win over Ryan Toms, leaving only the question of what now for the soaring Eagle?

On returning to the TRAD TKO Gym earlier today, the effervescent Ochieng shared his view of the fight, as well as provided an insight into his future plans.

“First of all I want to give thanks to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for the victory.

It was awesome, you know, I knew Toms was going to be a tough opponent, which he was, he had a tough head for sure.

Everyone that can punch is dangerous, he stopped Nathan Weisse in his last fight so I knew he had power in his left hand and I knew I had to stay away from his left, if you’re fighting a southpaw you have to stay away from the left, which is what I was doing.

In the first couple of rounds I kept making him miss and focused on him and what I am going to do. I was just trying to find my distance, you know just measuring him up, because he has that good defense.

At the end of the fourth Bryan said you’ve got to walk him down and hold your ground more, so in the fifth that’s what I did, I held my ground and hit him on the body, when I did I see it in his face, he didn’t like the feel of them punches on his body, so then I thought ‘ah these body punches are getting to him’, so went at him again and threw a big left hook and he just went straight down.

For the count I went to the corner and I came back and went right back at the body, because I knew the body shots were hurting him, I see the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands and threw more shots to the body until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.

I was overjoyed and great things ahead.

I spoke with Eddie Hearn and we decided I’m going to vacate the title now and we’re ready for the big fish. We’re looking at the Commonwealth or the British, whichever comes first I’m ready for it.

I have a great team behind me, they’re doing a great job and the fan base, well what can I say, I have a great fans, you know ‘Eagle, Eagle, Eagle’ what can I say they’re just great and really support me. They really want to see me fight, not just because I’m a good looking funny guy, they come along and they are loud, which is great as this really pushes me.

I’m really happy the way things are progressing, as I keep saying I’m a World Champion in the making, it’s just a matter of time.”

PHOTOS

Erick Ochieng Eyes Clash With Rose Or Cox in near future

PHOTO CREDIT

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

JustListen2This Publicity & Promotion

Malta Boxing News

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Boxing News & Updates 23^rd August, for: Hatton Comeback, According To Ricky Hatton’s Agent, Big-time boxing returns to Brooklyn, Tapia died from heart disease, Prize Fight returns on August 25^th, Paul McCloskey will fight Manuel Perez, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, Andre Berto licensed by the CSAC, Vasquez vs. Reyes

• Hatton Comeback - It is official (According to the UK’s Daily Star) Hatton, age 33, will announce a two-fight deal sometime in the coming fortnight, and his first fight will be in November. Thus far no venue or opponent has been confirmed. According to the UK’s Daily Star, it will “almost certainly be old rival Paulie Malignaggi. Hatton is said to be planning to get a TV station interested in taking the two planned fights, with his own company Hatton Promotions promoting.

• According To Ricky Hatton’s Agent - there is “no story” behind the rumours that the 33-year-old is about to make a return to the ring. Speculation has been building for some time that Hatton’s new training regime has led him to rethink his retirement from the sport. The Daily Star reported on Wednesday that Hatton would make his comeback, likely in late November, and his target opponent was Paulie Malignaggi as part of a two-fight deal. But Hatton’s agent Paul Speak effectively ruled out a comeback, saying the former world champion was merely enjoying a cleaner lifestyle. “People are speculating but he is just keeping fit and has not made any decision on a comeback. There’s no story,” he told Sky Sports. The ‘Hitman’ has not fought since he was knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao more than three years ago.

• Big-time boxing returns to Brooklyn - After more than a 50-year hiatus on Saturday, October 20, when Golden Boy Promotions presents the first boxing event at the new Barclays Center. Televised live on SHOWTIME, the night will feature a star-studded boxing card including two world championship fights and a host of New York’s top talents. The main event will feature unbeaten Danny “Swift” Garcia defending his World Boxing Association (WBA) Super, World Boxing Council (WBC) & Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Championships against the man he defeated to win the WBC belt, legendary Mexican warrior and future Hall of Famer Erik “El Terrible” Morales. In the co-featured bout, Brooklyn’s own Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi risks his WBA Welterweight World Championship against hard-hitting Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano.

• Tapia died from heart disease - A press conference in Albuqerque held by Teresa Tapia revealed that the former five-time world champion died due to heart disease. An autopsy report released on Wednesday revealed the cause of death that had the New Mexico legend passing away on May 27. Though prescription drugs played a part, the cause of death has officially been ruled an accident due to heart disease complications. There were no illegal drugs in Tapia’s system.

• Prize Fight returns on August 25th - as it presents the latest instalment of “Fights at the Fitz” from the Grand Ballroom at Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Casino in Tunica, MS. The card features the long awaited third showdown between female lightweights Kim Connor and “Notorious” Nicole Woods. The bout will be an eight-rounder for the Ladies Mid-South belt. Both fights were toe-to-toe battles with the first ending in a draw and the second going to Connor 77-76 on all cards. The event will also feature a guest appearance by Olympic gold medal boxer Claressa Shields. Tickets are available at the Fitz Casino Gift Shop at (800-766-5825) or at Ticketmaster (online or call 800-745-3000). Doors open at 6:30p and the first bell is at 7:30p.

• Paul McCloskey will fight Manuel Perez - at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on September 22. McCloskey is aiming to get back on track after his defeat to DeMarcus Corley in May and a victory over the WBA ranked Perez would boost the title hopes of the former World title challenger. Perez, 28, successfully defended his NABA light welterweight title against Jose Miguel Cotto last month and has twice tangled with WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios. McCloskey is part of the undercard of a huge night for boxing in Belfast with Carl Frampton topping the bill against two-time World champion Steve Molitor for the Commonwealth and IBF Inter Continental titles in his hometown. Martin Lindsay welcomes Lee Selby to his hometown in a challenge for the Welshman’s British and Commonwealth featherweight titles, while fellow Belfast fighters Eamonn O’Kane, Jamie Conlan and Dee Walsh will also be in action, with O’Kane’s opponent announced tomorrow. Team GB stars Scotty Cardle, Kal Yafai and Martin Ward all continue their pro education in Belfast.

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko - prepares for his next title defense in Austria. He will face off with German, Manuel Charr at SC Olimpiyski sports arena in Moscow, Russia on September 8. In the US, Klitschko vs. Charr will be shown live on HBO, RTL broadcasts in Germany. The fight will be promoted by K2 Promotions. K2 has promoted the most heavyweight championship events in the last decade. Tickets are available on www.olimpik.ru (booking). Photos: KMG/Klitschko Press-Service.

• Andre Berto licensed by the CSAC - Former IBF welterweight champion Andre Berto has been licensed by the California State Athletic Commission after completing all necessary pre-licensing requirements. “As someone who truly believes in clean sport, I have never used any type of performing enhancing drugs. Everything I’ve achieved was the result of hard work and determination,” Berto said. “I am excited that this whole situation is behind me, and I look forward to returning to the ring soon with another exciting performance so stay tuned.” Berto’s positive test in May revealed extremely small amounts of a banned substance, which the CSAC deemed inconsistent with any performance-enhancing effect and were much more consistent with contamination of an otherwise acceptable food or supplement.

• Vasquez vs. Reyes, Fallon, NV — Presented by the City of Fallon, NV and Let’s Get It On Promotions, the “Rural Rumble: Fallon Fights 2012” show promises to be another thrilling night featuring excellent fights. The fights are this Saturday, August 25th at the Churchill County Fairgrounds, and will feature world class professional boxing. This will be the fifth installment of this annual event held in “The Oasis of Nevada.”

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Post Olympics: Women’s Boxing Set To Flourish With Major UK Event In 2013

By Rio

Great Britain’s Nicola Adams, Ireland’s Katie Taylor and America’s Claressa Shields may have won Gold at the London 2012 Olympics, however all the Women that took part deserve some of the glory and recognition for the part they played.

Each and every female boxer that took part in this historic event shone brightly, they proved without doubt that Women’s Boxing is just as competitive and exciting as those of their male counterparts.
Things may look rosy at this time, everyone is high on the stunning debut of Women’s Boxing at the Olympics, but just how long will this last before the excitement we all felt, as we watched Nicola, Katie and Claressa fight their way to Gold, becomes just a faded memory.

The natural progression for any of the male boxers taking part in the Olympics is a lucrative promotional deal with Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn or Frank Maloney, however with the British Boxing hierarchy’s attitude towards Women’s Boxing this may not be an avenue open to Nicola Adams, Natasha Jonas and Savannah Marshall, unless that is they fight abroad like the current crop of British female pro Boxers.

Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston, the prime mover behind the Women’s World Boxing Championships – Photo Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

British pro Boxer, and coach at the TRAD TKO gym in Canning Town, Marianne Marston may just prove to be the White Knight that Women’s Professional Boxing has been waiting for.

Marianne – who was discovered by legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier, and trained by Joe and his son Marvis at their landmark gym in North Philadelphia until it closed in ‘08 – is already well known for her campaigning for the Women’s Boxing cause through the media, as well as encouraging Women into the sport through her highly successful London based Women’s Boxing Classes.

But what a lot of people don’t know is that Marianne has also been highly active in her attempts to bring a World significant Women’s Boxing event to the UK.

It hasn’t been an easy journey, in mid 2011 Marianne, along with father and daughter promoting team Steve and Olivia Goodwin, proposed an all female event to the BBBofC.
The event, which was to feature three Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Championship bouts, was turned down on the basis that the BBBofC do not recognise the WIBA, or come to that any of the Female Championship Boxing organisations.

Not to be deterred Marianne continued in her quest, and as she explains it finally seems set to happen early in 2013.

“Firstly I have to congratulate Nicola, Katie and Claressa for their winning the first Olympic Women’s Boxing Gold medals.

They all fought brilliantly, they did the sport proud, as did all the girls that took part, now it’s time to truly establish Women’s Boxing here in the UK.

100 years ago they said Women couldn’t be doctors, or lawyers, or vote.
30 years ago they said Women weren’t capable of running a marathon.
This year we have proved everyone wrong who said Women couldn’t box.

Nicola, Katie, Claressa and all the female Boxers at London 2012 have proved to the World that Women can fight just as well as the men, and, just as important that there is an appetite and an audience for Women’s Boxing.
So now we’re coming for all those in the World of Professional Boxing who have tried to stop Women from competing here in the UK. You know who you are, and you have no excuses left.”

With her frustrations well and truly vented Marianne then continued, “After the board (BBBofC) refused to sanction the event in 2011, I had no intention of giving up, I’m not a quitter.

First I contacted World Boxing Federation President, Howard Goldberg.
I particularly wanted to work with the WBF after noticing on BoxRec that most of the #1 ranked girls, people like Zita Zatyko, Christina Hammer, Anne Sophie Mathis, were all WBF Champions
I then had a chat with promoter Miranda Carter to see if she would be interested in promoting the event.
Miranda’s great, she’s always been a big supporter of Women’s Boxing and regularly has a female fight on her shows.

Once Howard and Miranda were on board I contacted another big supporter of Women’s Boxing, Bruce Baker, Chairman of the PBPA (Professional Boxing Promoters Association).
I particularly wanted to work with Bruce as I had found out that the Masters titles were originally created to female fighters, so that they could have a domestic title to fight for.

All went well and it was decided to aim for October this year, however after discussions with potential sponsors earlier this year, it soon became clear that we would be better off aiming at early 2013, as many of the companies we approached said that their current budget had been decimated by the Olympics.

This delay actually may have done us a big favour, the original concept was we would be promoting an all female show headlined by a World title or two, but what we have now is a totally different concept.
Howard is particularly proud that the WBF Female World Champions are highly ranked, most the World #1 of their division, and those that aren’t #1 are all ranked in the top 5.

Because of this we decided to make this a truly World significant annual event, and created the WBF Women’s World Boxing Championships.

It’s getting quite exciting, we’ve got the website up, facebook and twitter accounts and WBF European coordinator Olaf Schroeder already has the basis of a provisional card in place.

There will be a minimum of four World Championship bouts, supported by a WBF International title fight, an International Masters title fight and two special Challenge Cup bouts.
It’s going be truly international, we’ll have German pair Christina Hammer and Ramona Kuehne, as well as Hungary’s Zita Zatyko defending their World titles.

Maria Lindberg will be challenging for the vacant Light Middle World title, probably against fellow Swede Mikaela Lauren.

We’re also hoping to get Holly Holm versus Anne Sophie Mathis. It would be awesome to host the trilogy fight here in London.

Their first two fights were stormers. Anne Sophie won the first and Holly the second, both were fought in America, but I can’t see why the American’s should get all the good fights, let’s have the decider on neutral ground right here in London.

We have Juliette Winter and New York based Suszannah Warner fighting for the vacant WBF International Flyweight title.

My TRAD TKO gym mate, former World #2 Amateur, Areti Mastrodouka will fight Kristine Shergold for the International Masters Super Featherweight title. Last time this pair met they bought the house down, it was fight of the night.
We couldn’t put on a show on here without having Angel McKenzie on it, she’s great and has helped me so much since I’ve been back in the UK.

Angel will be fighting one of the special Challenge Cup bouts, and I’ll be fighting for the other.
Going back to the Olympics for a second, It would be great to have at least one of the girls that competed on the show. Obviously we’d really love it to be Nicola, Katie or Claressa, but in all honesty all the girls were brilliant, it would be great to have one or two come and compete at this event as well.

With such a lineup I’m sure we’ll easily fill the ExCel to capacity, just as the girls did during the Olympics, it will be electric, I can’t wait.”

The date for the first World Boxing Federation Women’s World Boxing Championships 2013 is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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