The latest news in the professional ranks of Welsh Boxing including upcoming fights and recent results. This is the May edition of Welsh Boxing News.
Upcoming Fights
Current British & Commonwealth champion Liam Williams (13-0-1, 8 KOs), is looking to have his first contest of 2016 when he fights on the Frank Warren promoted card at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on June 4th.
Liam will take part in an eight round contest against Alberto Gustavo Sanchez (12-12-1, 4 KOs), 30, of Argentina.
The Gary Lockett trained boxer will then be looking to defend his titles.
Swansea’s Enzo Maccarinelli stunned the boxing World back in December with a stunning, vicious fourth round KO over Legend Roy Jones Jr in Russia. The former WBO Cruiserweight champion is returning to the division for his next assignment. He will take on the tough, World Class Dmytro Kucher (23-1-1, 17 KOs), of Ukraine, at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. The 10th June contest will be for the vacant EBU (European) cruiserweight title. The card is promoted by Frank Warren and will be live on Boxnation.
JJ Evans and Josh Keen are to appear on the Stuart Davies Promotion at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, Weston-super-Mare on 18th June. Cardiff light middleweight JJ Evans, trained by Darren Wilson, will be having his second professional contest after winning his debut in May, when he outpointed Nathan Hardy over four rounds. Lightweight Josh Keen of Blaenavon is trained by Vincent Cleverly in Aberbargoed. He will be making his professional debut.
Connahs Quay middleweight Tom Doran (17-0, 7 KOs) gets a crack at the British middleweight title on 25th June. ‘Dazzlin’ has won seven in a row, since returning to boxing in 2014. He challenges the enigmatic Chris Eubank Jr.(22-1, 17 KOs), at the O2 Arena, London. The card is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and will be live on SKY Box Office. The event is already sold-out and is headlined by the IBF Heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Dominic Breazeale.
Paul Boyce Promotions are lining up a big card in Swansea. The date set is July 2nd, though no venue has been formerly announced. Top of the card is an intriguing contest between Cardiff’s Mitch Buckland (11-0, 2 KOs) vs Chris Jenkins (16-1-1, 8 KOs). The bout will possibly be for the Celtic and Welsh super-lightweight titles.
The full card hasn’t been announced but super middleweight prospect Alex Hughes (7-0, 3 KOs) of Maerdy; welterweight Dale Evans (10-3-2, 3 KOs) of St Clears and Zack Davies (5-1, 1 KO) of Gorslas, are due to appear.
With an array of talent in Swansea, it is good to see boxing return to Wales’ second largest city.
Recent results
Hari Miles (9-10, 2 KOs) made a return to the ring, after almost two years out, and as a Heavyweight. On the 21st May, ‘H-Bomb’ took on undefeated prospect Nick Webb, at O2 Arena, London, on the undercard of David Haye vs Arnold Gjergjaj. Webb (6-0, 5 KOs), had knocked out all his five previous opponents, in one round, but was taken the full four rounds. The card was shown on the Freeview channel Dave. Unfortunately, Hari’s fight wasn’t broadcast and while the official decision (40-37) was in Webb’s favour – many thought that a draw should’ve been the result.
Cardiff’s Ice Arena Wales played host to a joint promotion by Cyclone and Sanigar on the 14th of May. The headline was Bristol’s Lee Haskins who successfully defended his IBF World bantamweight title against Mexico’s Ivan Morales. Haskins won a deserved unanimous decision over twelve rounds.
The ‘Fight of the Night’ belonged to Craig Kennedy and Joel Tambwe Djeko (9-2-1, 4 KOs). The Giant (6’6) Belgian came to Cardiff to spoil the party and in the second had Kennedy down. A tense, dramatic battle followed and it was Cardiff’s own ‘The Kid’ who became the IBF International cruiserweight champion, with a hard-fought ten round split decision. Kennedy (15-0, 8 KOs) boxed brilliantly against a hugely dangerous foe and kept calm during some sticky patches. Craig answered a lot of questions and will now push on for British and Commonwealth titles.
For a Full Fight report go here: Kennedy vs Big Joe
Andrew Selby (5-0, 3 KOs) became the quickest Welshman to win the British title when, in only his fifth fight, he out-boxed a competitive Louis Norman (11-2-1, 2 KOs), over twelve rounds. It was a remarkable and entertaining performance by the Barry boxer. The result was all the more impressive as Selby completed the full twelve rounds.
Full report here: Selby vs Norman
In a contest for the BBBofC Celtic welterweight title, Mountain Ash prospect Tony Dixon suffered his first defeat. Belfast’s Paddy Gallagher (10-2, 6 KOs) heavily dropped Dixon with a cutting right hand, near the end of the round and though Tony (7-1, 2 KOs) bravely beat the count, the referee rightly waved the contest off.
There were wins on the card for Mitch Buckland (11-0), Nathan Thorley (5-0) and Morgan Jones (7-0), while Frankie Borg (9-6) suffered a sixth-round stoppage defeat to Northern Ireland’s Conrad Cummings. Buckland and Thorley producing solid performances to clearly win on points. Jones boxed exceptionally and turned on the style, to stop a game Richard Harrison in three rounds. It was a good night for Newport’s St. Josephs gym trainers, Tony and Junior Borg, as three out of four of their boxers won.
Full Report here: Ice Arena Undercard
At the Kings Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, super lightweight Rhys Saunders scored a stunning victory over Wrexham’s Kerry Evans on the 30th April. Cardiffian Saunders floored Evans twice in the first round. Evans (6-1, 5 KOs) beat both counts but was stopped on his feet after another barrage. Saunders (3-3-1, 1 KO), won the Classic Challenge belt and is on a three-fight winning streak.
On the 9th April, at the O2 Area, London, Lee Selby defended his IBF Featherweight title for a second time, when outpointing American Eric Hunter over twelve rounds. Selby (23-1, 8 KOs), was the clear winner but did have to get up from a knockdown in the second round (the first of his career). Hunter (21-4, 11 KOs) was tricky and a counter-puncher but was simply out-boxed by the champion.
Latest News
July 30th at the Oracle Arena, Oakland, California is the likely date for Andre “S.O.G” Ward’s next fight. Ward (29-0, 15 KOs) is undefeated and considered one of the best boxers on the planet. He is looking for an opponent and has sent an offer to Cefn Fforest boxer Nathan Cleverly’s promoter Matchroom Boxing. Nathan, the former WBO light heavyweight champion, is looking for big fights and they don’t come much bigger than a fight with Ward live on HBO in the US. Ward has signed to face Sergey Kovalev later in the year, Kovalev is the man who took Nathan’s World title back in 2013.
Lee Selby was hoping to be sharing a ring with Josh Warrington, in the summer, but a wedding ring has scuppered that plan. The Leeds boxer is getting married and won’t challenge for Lee’s IBF World title. Selby’s advisor Al Haymon is looking for an alternative opponent. There is talk of a clash with Carl Frampton later this year if the Irishman defeats Leo Santa Cruz in his next fight.
Wales has a new promoter. Anne Whitlock of Barry will be promoting contests for the GBA. The German Boxing Association are interested in having shows in Wales and Anne is looking to have her first show in October. For more information visit the Boxologist Boxing Promotions Facebook page: Boxologist
Events
If you are an ex-boxer or a keen follower of the sport, please take the time to support the Welsh Ex-Boxers Association, who hold a monthly meeting at the Taff’s Well Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Taff’s Well, CF15 7QD, 7pm for 7.30pm start, normally on the first Tuesday of every month. Membership is only £5 per year. New members welcome, boxers, amateur or professional, trainers, assistants and supporters of the sport all welcome.
For more info they have a Facebook page here: Welsh ex-boxers
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