Home Boxing News Welsh Boxing News – September Edition

Welsh Boxing News – September Edition

The latest news in the professional ranks of Welsh Boxing including upcoming fights and recent results.

Upcoming Fights

Back in July, Mitch Buckland (9-0, 2 Kos) stopped Scotland’s Ally Black (5-1, 2 KOs) in four rounds. Next up at the Newport Centre, Newport, on 10th October is a rematch. This time the stakes are higher, as the vacant BBBofC Celtic super lightweight title is on the line. The show is promoted by Mark Prior.

Enter The Dragon

On the same card, former WBO World cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli (39-7, 31 KOs) will be taking part in an eight-rounder. The Swansea star was last in action stopping Gyorgy Novak in the first round back in April at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.

Maerdy middleweight prospect Alex “Bad News” Hughes (5-0, 4 KOs), will take on the vastly experienced veteran Kieron Gray (8-42-1, 1 KOs). The bout is scheduled for six rounds and follows Hughes points win over Wayne Reed, at the York Hall, back in July.

Former Commonwealth super welterweight champion Bradley Pryce is to face Lewis van Poetsch (4-24). Lewis has already fought ten times this year, while it will be Bradley’s second outing of 2015.

Bradley’s brother Darren Pryce (0-9-2) has been in a Twitter battle with Kent’s Ricky Leach (0-4-1). The two fought to a draw back in April, 2014 at the York Hall, Bethnal Green. Now they get a chance to trade leather again.

23-year-old Zack Davies turned professional back in February and has won his first three paid contests. The super lightweight will next faced Worcester’s Michael Mooney (8-16, 3 KOs). Davies like Alex Hughes and Enzo Maccarinelli is trained by Gary Lockett.

Gary Buckland (30-6, 10 KOs) was originally listed to take part but got offered a shot at the British Lightweight title against Scotty Cardle, at Liverpool Olympia, this Saturday. Cardle pulled out yesterday. Gary will still fight but in a non-title fight against Merseyside boxer Sean Dodd (9-1, 2 KOs). Also, off the Matchroom card is Deeside’s “Dazzlin” Tom Doran (15-0, 5 Kos), who picked up an injury in his final spar, so won’t be fighting Matthew Mallin.

Tony Borg trained Craig Evans (14-1 3 KOs), will be looking to return to winning ways, when he takes on Thomas Stalker (10-1-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant WBO European title. The pair meet on the 10th October, 2015 at Manchester Arena, Manchester, Lancashire.

Craig lost a close decision to Scott Cardle, back in May, at the O2 Arena, Greenwich, London. The experience from that contest will be invaluable when fighting Stalker.

Photo by Digital Sports Photo/Ringnews24
Photo by Digital Sports Photo/Ringnews24

The packed card promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions sees two World titles being contested with Terry Flanagan defending his WBO lightweight title against talented Californian Diego Magdaleno and Liverpool’s Liam Smith taking on American John Thompson, for the vacant WBO World super welterweight title.

On an Andy Ayling Promotion (in association with AWA Ltd), 22-year-old Swansea prospect, Mano Lee, will be having his third contest. Welterweight Mano, has already won his first two professional contests and “Lightning” will be look to remain unbeaten at Central Hall, Liverpool, Merseyside on the 17th October.

Wrexham prospect “Fifty star Stan” Kerry Evans (5-0, 4 KOs), is next in action, at the Kings Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The Carl Greaves promotion takes place on 24th October, 2015. The 33-year-old, will be having his third contest of 2015 having already beaten Lithuanian Simas Volosinas and Slovakian Lubos Priehradnik. (Ticket information in the image below)

Kerry Evans

Sanigar Events will return to the Newport Centre, South Wales with another packed card on 30th October, 2015. Cardiff’s Craig “The Kid” Kennedy will headline along with a clash between Barrie Jones (21-10, 8 KOs) and James Lilley (7-5, 2 KOs), for the BBBofC Welsh Area super welterweight title. Kennedy is coming off a wins over Wadi Camacho and Courtney Fry. Kennedy’s opponent will be Tanzanian puncher Benki Mwakalebela (13-1, 10 KOs). A shot at the British cruiserweight title firmly in his sights.

The most successful amateur boxer in Welsh boxing history is turning professional. Andrew Selby, of St. Joseph’s Gym, younger brother of Lee, was European champion in 2011 and 2013, a silver medallist at the 2011 World Championships and represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. His career will be guided by Chris Sanigar. Andrew will be making his professional debut in Newport.

Former Commonwealth super bantamweight title champion, Jamie Arthur will be making his comeback, after a three year absence. His last fight was a memorable one with Scott Quigg back in February, 2012.

Listed to appear on the show are prospects Nathan Thorley (2-0), Kyle Jones (3-0), Danni Griffiths (6-1), Richie Canning (2-0) and Jermane Asare (2-0). Female boxer Ashley Brace will be making her professional debut.

Latest News

IBF World featherweight champion, Lee Selby will make the first defence of his title at the Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona, USA. The opponent is hard-hitting 36-year-old Fernando Montiel of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. Montiel has won World titles at three different weights; Flyweight, Super Flyweight and Bantamweight. In sixty contests, he has tasted defeat only three times. The Wednesday night fight will be broadcast by PBC on ESPN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

Photo by Digital Sports Photo/Ringnews24
Photo by Digital Sports Photo/Ringnews24

Chris Jenkins (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will get a rematch with Tyrone Nurse (31-2-1, 6 KOs) on 7th November, 2015 at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, for the vacant BBBofC British super lightweight title. The two battled to a draw in July, so it will be interesting to see who makes the adjustments to come-out on top. The Matchroom Boxing card will be headlined by the local derby between Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding.

Rhondda’s Liam Williams (12-0-1, 7 KOs) finished 2014 with the World at his feet, having won the Commonwealth super welterweight title. A hand injury has stalled his career but after recent successful surgery, “dully” could be back by the end of the year.

Liam Williams hand

Merthyr’s Kerry Hope has re-located to Australia. He’s registered two impressive wins in Queensland against Jamed Jalarante and Gunnar Jackson in Middleweight contests. Unfortunately, a trip to Hong Kong to face Petchsuriya Singwancha (15-11, 8 KOs) ended in a robbery. The Thai boxer awarded the decision after twelve rounds. It was bad enough that Singwancha failed miserably to make weight but Thai judges Visuth Yingaupagarn and Pongpan Rattanasutorn scored the fight 115-113 (Singwancha) and 114-114 respectively, whereas Jerrold Tomeldon (Philippines) scored the bout 117-111 for Hope.
After complaints from Hope’s manager, Matt Clark, the decision has been overturned and Hope has now been declared the WBC Asian Boxing Council Middleweight champion. Kerry’s record is now 23-7, 2 KOs.

Another Welshman living the dream ‘down-under’ is Jamie Weetch (7-2, 4 KOs). Based in Perth, he has won four fights this year and netted the West Australia State super middleweight title. His latest victory was on 28th August, over Kiwi Matt Te Paa. Jamie trains out of Lacey’s Gym, Currambine, WA.

Congratulations to Joe Cordina on winning Gold, in Bulgaria, at the European Championships. The Cardiffian topped a brilliant performance by Team GB, who left with six medals. Joe will now lead the charge for medals at the World Championships in Qatar next month.