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Conor Benn will be back in action on the undercard of Amir Khan’s return to the ring at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on April 21, live on Sky Sports. 

Benn’s last action was an incredible six round roller coaster against Cedrick Peynaud at York Hall in December where Benn hit the canvas twice in the opening round before flooring the Frenchman in the fifth and sixth rounds to edge an east London classic.

‘The Destroyer’ fights on Merseyside for the first time in the paid ranks as he aims to get to 12-0, and the 21 year old is excited to show the improvements he’s made since that electric night in Bethnal Green.

“The fans enjoyed my last fight but that's not the way I should've been fighting,” said Benn. “I got the win and showed heart to come back from the first round. The support in York Hall was amazing and it really drove me on. I'm 21 and I've come into the game as a kid, but I've been tested a couple of times already.

“This is a tough, tough sport and I was scared that I was going to lose but it says a lot about me that I came back and won. I know I've got a lot to learn but I'm working hard in the gym with Tony Sims and I'm looking forward to showing improvements on my debut in Liverpool, a city that loves it's boxing - I can't wait.”

Benn’s return is part of a huge night of action in Liverpool as Khan fights for the first time since May 2016 against Canadian Phil Lo Greco.

Birkenhead’s Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd defends his Commonwealth Lightweight title against Tommy Coyle, and   former Team GB Olympians Natasha Jonas and Anthony Fowler and unbeaten Super-Welterweight Scott Fitzgerald are all in action.

Tickets are priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 VIP and go on sale at midday tomorrow (Tuesday January 30) to Matchroom Fight Pass members from   www.stubhub.co.uk   andon general sale at midday Wednesday January 31 at midday via the Echo Arena at   www.echoarena.com   and on 0344 8000 400.

Source: Matchroom Boxing [Press Release]

Ohara Davies has signed an exclusive promotional deal with Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren and will make his BT Sport and BoxNation debut at The 02 on Saturday 14th April.
 
Davies, 25, has won 16 of his 17 professional contest and will be aiming to fight his way into World Title contention after a frustrating few months. The talented Londoner has been out of the ring since his explosive sixth-round stoppage victory over Tom Farell in September.
 
A former English Lightweight Champion, Davies has also claimed WBC Silver and WBA International Super-Lightweight titles, and is determined to get his promising career back on track after teaming up with Warren.

 “I’m so glad to be on-board with Frank and the team at BT Sport and BoxNation,” said Davies. “I’d like to thank Frank for giving me this opportunity and believing in me. Frank has been in the game for years and knows the sport inside out, I know I’m in safe hands with him.
 
“I’ve had a hard few months and I needed a fresh start, I’m in the best place for that now. It’s been a while since I last fought and I’m looking forward to getting back to doing what I do best.
 
“I wasn’t fully focused last year. My mind was in a bad place and I was focusing on things that weren’t important. This year is all about keeping my head down, focusing on my boxing and getting to where I want to be in this game.
 
“I want to win a World Title as soon as I can and with Frank and MTK Global behind me I can achieve my dream. I believe that I have the potential in me to do big things in this sport. As long as I keep my head down and stay focused, there’s no limit to what I can achieve in this game.
 
“BT Sport and BoxNation viewers can expect excitement, entertainment, knockouts and good fights. The real Ohara Davies is back and I can’t wait to show the World what I can do.”
 
Promoter Frank Warren is excited to welcome Davies to his growing stable that includes Super-Lightweight talents such as Terry Flanagan and Jack Catterall.
 
“Ohara is a quality fighter and one of the best out there,” said Warren. “I’m delighted to welcome him to the team and we’re looking forward to him making his debut with us at The 02 on April 14th.”

“The Super-Lightweight division is one of the most exciting weight classes in British boxing, there’s no doubt about that. In our stable alone we have the likes of Terry Flanagan, Jack Catterall, Josh Leather and Jeff Saunders. There’s a lot of good fights to be made in the next year or so and it’s great for the fans because we are going to make sure these fights happen.”
 
Tickets for Davies’ next fight at The 02 on Saturday 14th April ranging from £40 (Tier) to £300 (Hospitalitly) are available to purchase now via  www.axs.com .


Source: Frank Warren PR [Press Release]

Amir Khan will face Phil Lo Greco on his return to the ring at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on April 21, live on Sky Sports. 

Former unified Light-Welterweight ruler Khan is back in action for the first time since May 2016 where he stepped up to Middleweight to face Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and now the 31 year old is determined to get back on the road to World title glory in his first fight of a three-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing.

Lo Greco has mixed in great company having been in with Errol Spence and Shawn Porter, and ‘The Italian Sensation’ will come face-to-face with Khan at a press conference in Liverpool tomorrow – and both men are predicting an exciting fight, with ‘King’ Khan promising to show that he’s back to his best, but Lo Greco coming to KO the Brit star.

“I can’t wait to get back into the ring on April 21 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool,” said Khan. “Phil Lo Greco will be coming with everything to win this fight and I’m not going to give him an inch. He’s an aggressive fighter who is always looking to press the fight and come forward. That makes for a very exciting and action-packed fight for the fans.  

“He’s shared the ring with the likes of Spence Jr and Porter, so he’s operated at the highest level. I respect him as a fighter and know he will be coming with big ambitions but I’m going to put on a great performance and prove to the boxing world that the ‘King’ is well and truly back.”

“Being my first fight in the UK, I'm excited about the crowd,” said Lo Greco. “I can’t wait to feel that energy. As much as UK fans love their fighters, they love great fights and I promise just that. This night will go down as one of the best fights ever in the UK.

“I'd like to thank, Eddie, Sam, Al Haymon, and of course, the entire Khandashian family for letting your daughter come out and play.

“I'm happy Amir decided to yank up his skirt and end his long-going tea party. It was time he manned up. I’ve got a full training camp this time around, there will be no room for error. Amir Khan will be knocked out.

“I’ve noticed Amir loves going more to Dubai, so I’ll send him to Du-bai, and he’ll go bub-bye, #AmirGONE.

“Boxing teaches us, history repeats itself. Once your knocked out cold, it only gets worse.”

Khan’s clash with Lo Greco is part of a huge night of action on Merseyside as Birkenhead’s Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd defends his Commonwealth Lightweight title against Tommy Coyle, and former Team GB Olympians Natasha Jonas and Anthony Fowler and unbeaten Super-Welterweight Scott Fitzgerald are all in action.

Tickets are priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 VIP and go on sale at midday tomorrow (Tuesday January 30) to Matchroom Fight Pass members from  www.stubhub.co.uk  and on general sale at midday Wednesday January 31 at midday via the Echo Arena at  www.echoarena.com  and on 0344 8000 400.

Source: Matchroom Boxing [Press Release]

Tickets are now on sale for Frank Warren's blockbuster double World Title card at The 02 on Saturday 14th April.

Hatfield star Billy Joe Saunders defends his WBO World Middleweight Championship against domestic rival Martin Murray on home soil after his career-best performance against David Lemieux in Canada.

Terry Flanagan bids to become a two-weight World Champion when he challenges for the vacant WBO World Super-Lightweight title against unbeaten American Maurice Hooker.

General sale tickets priced from £40 (Tier) to £300 (Hospitality) are available to purchase via  www.axs.com .

Full ticket prices :

£40 - Tier
£50 -Tier
£75 -Tier
£100 - Floor/Tier
£150 - Floor
£200 - Ringside
£300 - Hospitality

Source: Frank Warren PR [Press Release]

It was third time lucky for Lucas Matthysse, as he captured the WBA 'Regular' World welterweight title with an eighth round stoppage victory over Tewa Kiram at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

After coming up short in his two previous attempts at World title glory against Danny Garcia and Viktor Postol, the 35-year-old Matthysse entered the bout a prohibitive favourite against the unknown Thai fighter, but was forced to work hard for his victory after a largely abject performance throughout.

Matthysse began the contest in underwhelming fashion, unable to close the distance on his freakishly large opponent. Kiram, who was boxing outside of his native Thailand for the first time in his career, looked physically imposing from the first bell, enjoying a sizeable height and reach advantage against the Argentinean banger.

Despite many observers feeling the bout was something of a foregone conclusion, Matthysse seemed a shadow of the wrecking ball he once was when tearing through the super lightweight division. In fact, after three rounds, it was Kiram who enjoyed a healthy lead on many scorecards, simply by staying out of range of the cumbersome-looking blows of his opponent, while throwing a long left jab to keep him at bay.

The bout dragged on in the midst of a number of discerning voices from the crowd, and again it was the unheralded underdog who seemed to be in control for large portions of the match-up. Matthysse toiled painfully, unable to summon any of the offensive weaponry that once made him one of the most feared punchers in the sport. Legs wide apart and punches winging in without any effect, 'The Machine', by all accounts, looked to have truly malfunctioned... or so it would seem.

Despite exhibiting all of the telltale signs of a shopworn fighter, Matthysse proved one of the sport's oldest theories: the last thing to go on a puncher is his punch.

En route to losing yet another session, Matthysse would somehow summon one of the trademark right hand bombs that looked, for all of the money in the world, to have been beyond him. After a glancing left jab whistled past Kiram's whiskers, the follow-up right hand exploded off of his chin, sending him crashing to the canvas. Though he somehow beat the referee's count, Matthysse would again turn back the clock, showcasing his predatory finishing instincts to close the show: flooring Kiram heavily again and causing an end to proceedings.

After a gruelling career in which he has given fans some of the most exciting, action-packed bouts of his era, Matthysse can finally lay claim to (an admittedly lightly regarded portion of) a World title. Though, it has to be said, had it not been for the sub-standard level of opponent - and, evidently, his fight ending power - Matthysse would have surely suffered another crushing defeat.

The finish, as spectacular as it was, merely papered over the cracks of a performance that was in stark contrast to the sharp, deadly puncher that once was. The time for Matthysse to leave the sport has come. This writer can only hope that he does so now, while in possession of a World title trinket, rather than to risk stepping into the ring once again with one of the divisional elite.

Congratulations on a richly deserved title, Lucas. You, of all people, deserve it.

However, the time is now...

Jorge Linares retained his WBA/WBC Diamond & 'Ring Magazine' World lightweight titles with a comprehensive twelve round unanimous decision victory over Mercito Gesta at The Forum, California.

Three-weight World champion Linares entered the contest a sizeable favourite, but was made to work in the early stages by Gesta, who began the contest in aggressive fashion in a bid to unsettle his vastly more experienced - and talented - opponent.

However, ultimately it would be the class of the Venezuelan that shone through, as he found his customary silky-smooth rhythm in the third and fourth rounds, neutralising the threat of Gesta en route to a comfortable points victory.

After initially struggling at times with the unpredictable, sporadic attacks from his opponent, Linares found his range with his trademark right hand, causing swelling below the right eye of Gesta following a well-timed counter in the fourth.

Despite showing plenty of ambition in the early stages, Gesta seemed devoid of ideas and inspiration as the bout wore on, unable to string together any notable success and grew reluctant to let his hands go in the wake of Linares' snappy counter shots.

A coming together in the eighth round saw a cut open up over the right eye of Linares, but the injury did little to change the momentum of the fight. After safely negotiating the remainder of the contest (including a final round full of showboating) Linares was awarded the academic points decision with scores of 117-11 & 118-112, and will move on to higher-profile bouts in the remaining months of 2018.

While winning the contest resoundingly, Linares will be wary of the threat posed by pound-for-pound stars Mikey Garcia and Vasyl Lomachenko, both of whom are rumoured future foes. Though both potential bouts present a mouth-watering clash of styles, Linares will perhaps look back on his performance against Gesta as an opportunity missed to make a statement with the boxing world watching on.

Behind The Gloves (Rob Tebbutt) Scorecard : 118-110 (Linares)

Ukrainian superstar Oleksandr Usyk (14-0-0, 11 KO's) added the WBC World cruiserweight title to his WBO strap, with a majority decision victory over Mairis Briedis (21-1-0, 18 KO'S) after an enthralling twelve rounds in Riga, Latvia. 

With the victory, Usyk will advance to the finals of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight competition, where he will await the winner of next week's second semi-final clash between Murat Gassiev and Yunier Dorticos in Sochi, Russia.

The bout was a fantastic advertisement for the sport, with two unbeaten fighters risking everything in a wonderful display of grit, determination and, above all, world-class skill.

Hometown hero Briedis began the bout in the ascendancy, backing Usyk up early on with a volley of straight right hands that forced the favourite on to the back foot. Briedis - who entered the contest on the back of a largely underwhelming performance against Cuban Mike Perez in their respective quarter-final - made a mockery of pre-fight predictions of a dominant Usyk victory as he charged forward relentlessly in a bid to unsettle his opponent.

However, as has been the custom of Usyk in his so far unblemished professional career, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist safely navigated the early onslaught, before finding a rhythm in the middle rounds and picking Briedis off behind a snappy southpaw jab and rapier straight left hand.

As the bout progressed, Briedis began to show signs of fatigue, no doubt a consequence of both his fast start to the contest and Usyk's early investment in body punching.

Showcasing his remarkable engine, the 6ft 3' Usyk continued to motor, simply overwhelming Briedis with a foray of punches that forced the Latvian on to the back foot for the first time in the fight. With Briedis seemingly slowing as each round went by, Usyk began to pick his shots cleverly, landing a crisp southpaw left in the ninth round that rocked his opponent on to his heels.

With the finishing line in sight, a clearly bedraggled Briedis showed tremendous heart, biting down on the gumshield and engaging in a series of violent exchanges with Usyk, landing a punishing right hook of his own in the tenth to show there was still life in the now-deposed WBC champion.

Despite the frightening pace of the fight, there was still more to come from both men in the twelfth - and final - round. However, it was Usyk who would finish the stronger of the two, with his straight shots and expert control of distance once again rubber-stamping his superiority as the bout drew to a close.

After being met by a rapturous applause from the raucous Riga crowd at the final bell, both men celebrated with their respective teams ahead of the announcing of the scorecards.

With scores of 114-114 & 115-113 (x2), Usyk claimed a deserved majority decision. Despite initial jeers from the largely pro-Briedis crowd, the watching audience gave both men a standing ovation after the end of a truly captivating contest.

Though many had predicted a dominant performance from the Ukrainian kingpin, the bout was tremendously competitive from the first bell to the last, making for a showpiece spectacle and, once again, reminding the boxing world of the beauty and magic of the 'best against the best'.

Behind The Gloves (Rob Tebbutt) Scorecard : 116-112 (Usyk)

Undefeated prospects Crocker, Joyce, Ward, McCullagh, Maxwell, Williamson and Dickinson will feature on action-packed April 21 bill
 
Seven undefeated prospects have been added to an already-stacked undercard for Carl Frampton’s April 21 headline bout against Nonito Donaire in Belfast.

Frampton and Donaire will clash in a much-anticipated Featherweight battle on a Frank Warren-promoted bill at the SSE Arena, live in UK and Ireland on BT Sport and BoxNation.

Frank Warren and MTK Global last week revealed that the support bill will also feature three tasty all-Ireland battles – and another batch of up-and-coming talent has been now added to the card!

Four Irishmen – including two Belfast natives – and three English fighters are among the fighters unveiled today, with Lewis Crocker, David Oliver Joyce, Tyrone McCullagh andSteven Ward making up the home contingent while Troy Williamson, Sam Maxwell and Alex Dickinson will also feature on a bill brimming with up-and-coming stars.

Lewis Crocker, David Oliver Joyce, Steven Ward and Alex Dickinson all featured on last November’s ‘Frampton Reborn’ card with the trio set to return to the SSE Arena on April 21.

Hard-hitting hometown Welterweight Lewis Crocker (4-0, 4KOs) will be looking to maintain his knockout streak following his first-round stoppage win over Hungarian Gyula Rozsas two months ago, fellow Belfast native Steven Ward (6-0, 2KOs) is coming off the back of a six-round points win over Przemyslaw Binienda of Poland, while Rio Olympian David Oliver Joyce(5-0, 4KOs) delivered one of his most impressive pro performances so far last November when the Mullingar man halted Barcelona-based Nicaraguan Reynaldo Cajina.

Derry Super-Bantamweight Tyrone McCullagh (9-0, 5KOs) is the fourth Irish fighter to be added to the card and he will be aiming to follow up an impressive win over previously-undefeated German Tom Tran in Belfast last month.

Former Team GB amateur star Sam Maxwell (5-0, 4KOs) is one of three English fighters set to cross the Irish Sea and the Commonwealth Games medallist could be looking to record his seventh victory on April 21 as he was this week added to MTK Global’s March 16 ‘Mersey Beat-Down’ bill in Liverpool following his third-round stoppage victory in Germany last November.

Heavyweight Alex Dickinson (3-0, 2KOs) is also scheduled to box in Liverpool in March before fighting in Belfast where he recorded his last win on the ‘Frampton Reborn’ card, while Darlington Middleweight Troy Williamson (5-0, 3KOs) makes up the undefeated prospects added to the bill.

The April 21 fight night will also feature three tasty all-Irish fights as Dubliner Jono Carroll (15-0, 2KOs) clashes with Belfast’s Marco McCullough (18-4, 11KOs) for the IBF European Super-Featherweight title, Tyrone McKenna (15-0-1, 6KOs) meets Light-Welterweight rival Philip Sutcliffe Jr(14-2, 9KOs), while WBO European Champion Conrad Cummings (12-1-1) and Irish champion Luke Keeler (13-2, 5KO) will do battle at Middleweight.
 
*A limited number of tickets for Frampton v Donaire are available to purchase from the SSE Arena Belfast Box Office,  www.ssearenabelfast.com  and 0044(0)28 9073 9074. Prices range from £40 (tier) to £400 (inner-ring hospitality).

Source: Frank Warren PR [Press Release]

On Saturday night at The Forum, Inglewood, California, Lucas ‘The Machine’ Matthysse will take on the WBA’s number one-ranked welterweight contender, Tewa Kiram of Thailand, for the organisation’s vacant ‘Regular’ belt. Having previously fallen short in world championship bouts against Danny Garcia and Viktor Postol at junior welterweight, the Argentine knockout artist will be hoping to make good on his third attempt to claim a title belt.

Right up until his fight against Garcia, Matthysse was unquestionably the most-feared man at 140lbs; a hammer-fisted wrecking-ball of a fighter who lived up to his nickname by tearing through normally durable opponents such as DeMarcus Corley, Humberto Soto, Ajose Olusegun and, most impressively, the then-IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson in a non-title clash. 

The only reversals on Matthysse's record were controversial split decision losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander. In the eyes of many in the boxing world, he deserved to be an unbeaten fighter going into the Garcia fight. The experts agreed, with an overwhelming majority picking him to defeat Garcia. However, Garcia produced perhaps the best performance of his career to upset the apple cart, closing Matthysse’s right eye, out-boxing him and even knocking him down for the first time in his career in the eleventh round, en route to a competitive but unanimous decision victory. With the upset victory, Garcia would claim the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titles, leaving Matthysse empty-handed in the process.