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]
Matchroom Boxing, JD Sports and Sky Sports are looking for the next generation of boxing announcers with the launch of ‘The MC Academy’.
Budding MC’s are invited to enter by uploading a video clip of themselves (maximum of 30 seconds long) introducing a fight to Twitter or Instagram using #MCacademy by Wednesday February 28. A judging panel led by Hall of Fame MC Michael Buffer joined by promoter Eddie Hearn and Head of Boxing at Sky Sports Adam Smith will select the best ten entries who will travel to Sky Sports’ HQ for a final audition and a backstage tour of the studios.
Three finalists will emerge from the audition day and they will meet Buffer who will put them through their paces in an MC Masterclass before they face the fans at an upcoming public work out.
The time spent with Buffer and at the work out will be turned into a final video montage for each of the three finalists, and fans will be able to vote for the winner – who will then get a BBBofC license and MC at Matchroom shows.
“I have a very busy schedule this year and I can’t be everywhere,” said Buffer. “So we’re starting The MC Academy. Let’s find a new voice and a new face who can help me out!
“There will be no age restriction and, of course, it’s open to both men and women! Show me what you’ve got, and good luck!
“So, ladies and gentlemen...boys and girls! Send in your videos and let’s get this party started”
“This is a great chance for an aspiring MC to learn from a legend and take centre stage at our shows,” said Hearn. “We expect to see some amusing entries over the next few weeks but also hope to unearth the next Michael Buffer!”
“Eddie and I have talked for a long time about launching this innovative and interactive new competition to find an MC!” said Smith. “It is a wonderful chance for everyone to have a go, team up with a mate, hit the notes solo or come up with something different - as we move into a flourishing and vibrant new period for boxing.
“So however young, old or crazy you are - have a go! It will be a lot of fun whittling down the list and what an opportunity to join us at Sky for the grand final and moreover being mentored by the legendary Michael Buffer! Bring it on!!”
“JD Sports are excited to launch The MC Academy,” said JD Sports’ Group Marketing Director Stephen White. “We are committed to supporting the next generation of boxers and now the next generation of MC’s too!”
For further information and terms and conditions, visit http://www.matchroomboxing.com/mcacademy/
Source: Matchroom Boxing [Press Release]
BoxNation subscribers will be able to enjoy more exclusively live world title action this Saturday night when WBC super-featherweight world champion Miguel Berchelt puts his title on the line against Ghanaian hotshot Maxwell Awuku.
The second World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight semi-final between Murat Gassiev and Yunier Dorticos had all the makings of an absolute barnburner.
Expectations were high heading into Saturday’s showdown in Sochi between the two fan-friendly knockout artists and they duly delivered, perhaps even exceeding these. In an early candidate for Fight of the Year, Gassiev triumphed by dramatic twelfth round knockout after an epic struggle which elevated the reputation of both men.
While both men brought a well-earned reputation for heavy-handedness to the ring, the contrast in styles and backgrounds added an extra layer of intrigue. Dorticos, a product of the Cuban amateur boxing system, was regarded by many, including myself, as the more consummate boxer and superior athlete, endowed with natural physical advantages of height, reach and speed. On the other hand, Gassiev, who possessed limited amateur experience but had learnt quickly on the job as a pro under the tutelage of Abel Sanchez, was thought to hold the edge in brute strength and durability.
The early rounds of the fight gave us our first surprise as Gassiev, a tank of a man who usually presses inexorably forward, opted to move and fight off the back foot while Dorticos was the aggressor, stalking his foe with mean intentions. This, combined with his higher punch output, was probably enough to shade him the early rounds, although Gassiev did a good job of blocking many of Dorticos’ punches with a tight guard and countered with some eye-catching shots to the head and body. This gave us our second surprise of the night as Dorticos, who had previously been stopped in the amateur ranks and dropped and hurt as a professional by lesser foes and punchers, took them without flinching.
SHOWTIME Sports will present the Heavyweight World championship unification between undefeated IBF and WBA World Champion Anthony Joshua MBE and unbeaten WBO World Champion Joseph Parker on Saturday, March 31 live on SHOWTIME from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
British sensation Joshua, who has knocked out all 20 of his professional opponents, burst onto the global scene with a dramatic knockout of long-reigning Heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko in the universally acclaimed 2025 Fight of the Year at Wembley Stadium in London.
In two fights last year, Joshua drew 168,000 spectators combined to massive stadium events in the U.K. Now, he faces another significant challenge in Parker, a native of New Zealand with 24 wins, no losses and 18 knockouts. Parker is attempting the third World title defence of his WBO belt.
Joshua vs. Parker is just the second Heavyweight championship unification in history between undefeated World titleholders. The only fighter to emerge victorious from a matchup of unbeaten Heavyweight World champions was Mike Tyson in 1987.
With the addition of Joshua vs. Parker, SHOWTIME will televise all four of the Heavyweight World titles in the same month as undefeated American Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) will defend his WBC belt against unbeaten Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs) on Saturday, March 3 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The four top-rated Heavyweights--Wilder, Ortiz, Joshua and Parker--boast a combined record of 111 wins, zero losses and 100 knockouts.
Both Heavyweight championships are cornerstones of a remarkable 2018 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING schedule that now includes 16 undefeated fighters and 13 world titles fights across 11 marquee events through the first six months of the year.
“The Heavyweight division is in the midst of a renaissance and SHOWTIME is delivering the all of the pivotal bouts to our subscribers,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Anthony Joshua is a global superstar and we’re proud to present his sixth, and perhaps most challenging, World title fight to the U.S. audience. Joshua vs. Parker will be the 12thHeavyweight World championship match on SHOWTIME since Deontay Wilder won his title in 2015, an undisputed industry-leading offering in boxing’s preeminent division.”
The event is promoted by Matchroom Boxing in association with Duco Events. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will televise the event live from Principality Stadium where organizers expect a sell-out of 80,000 spectators. The host of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Brian Custer. Mauro Ranallo calls the action from ringside along with International Boxing Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former two-division World champion Paul Malignaggi. A 2018 Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Gray, serves as ringside reporter.
Source: Matchroom Boxing [Press Release]
Conor Benn has signed a two-year promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing.
Benn has raced to 11-0 with 8 KOs in the pros since turning pro with Eddie Hearn in April 2016, with his last fight proving to be a small-hall classic as he recovered from hitting the deck twice in the opening round with two knockdowns of his own against Cedrick Peynaud at York Hall in December.
‘The Destroyer’ is back out in April on the undercard of Amir Khan’s return to action at the Echo Arena in Liverpool and the 21 year old is itching to get back into action on Merseyside and start a big year on a high.
“I’m delighted to have signed a new deal with Eddie and Matchroom Boxing,” said Benn. “I can’t wait to get back out in action on the Khan undercard, Liverpool is a great fighting city and I’m looking forward to fighting in front of such a knowledgeable fanbase. I want to entertain the fans but I’m still a work in progress.
“The Peynaud fight was a real learning curve but there was a lot of things that went wrong in camp to the last fight, I had a severe skin reaction out in New York for starters. That aside, I had four great fights last year. I was flat on the night but I’ve learned a couple of lessons from the fight. One of which, I’ve got the will to win which deep down, I didn’t know I had. A rematch is due, he’s deserved that and I’m sure it’ll happen this year and I’ll win it convincingly.”
“I'm delighted to extend our agreement with Conor and am very excited about the future,” said Hearn. “Conor has become an exciting feature on our shows and at 21, he has so much potential in the sport. 2018 is the year he will begin challenging for titles and Sky Sports viewers are guaranteed action when he steps into the ring.”
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 on sale now priced £40, £60, £80 and £100 from www.echoarena.com and on 0344 8000 400.
Face value tickets for April 21 are available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ . StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.
Source: Matchroom Boxing [Press Release]
Jordan Gill will face Jason Cunningham in an eliminator for the British Featherweight title on the latest installment of the JDNXTGEN series at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on Sunday February 25, live on Sky Sports.
Gill has cruised to 18-0 in the paid ranks but finally gets a big fight after over five years as a pro, as the 23 year old looks to close in on the Lord Lonsdale belt held by Ryan Walsh.
‘The Thrill’ has been frustrated in waiting for a crack at the English strap, but Gill believes victory against former Commonwealth champ Cunningham in his third fight with new trainer Dave Coldwell could be the launchpad for a big year.
“I want to be fighting regularly and I want to be in big fights,” said Gill. “This year I'm looking at all the top guys in Britain, and they know it. I've had two fights with Dave and it's really clicking, I'm mandatory for the English title but Samir Mouniemne vacated the title because he didn't want to fight me, then Ben Jones said no – these guys don't want to face me. But I can take a step closer to the British title in Manchester so things are looking good.
“The gym is buzzing. We’re a tight group, I’m the youngest in there and I've got the most to learn, but I think that we're all learning all the time, even Tony Bellew as an experienced World champion says he’s growing all the time. It shows in our fights and you're going to see me get better in every fight.”
Gill takes on Cunningham on stacked bill of action topped by a first British Lightweight title defence for Lewis Ritson against Joe Murray.
Qais Ashfaq makes his debut under the Matchroom Boxing banner, with Tasha Jonas continuing her path to a World title shot, her Joe Gallagher gym mates Hosea Burton, Marcus Morrison and Sam Hyde tasting their first action of the year, as do unbeaten Commonwealth gold medal man Scott Fitzgerald and exciting Northampton Super-Welterweight Kieron Conway.
Tickets are on sale now priced £40 and £60 with VIP tickets at £100 from www.stuhbhub.co.uk
Source: Matchroom Boxing [Press Release]