British Boxing News: Frampton-Quigg, Ryan Walsh, Langford

Norfolk’s media flocked to the KickStop Gym in Norwich today as stylish Cromer featherweight Ryan Walsh put on a show for the cameras. History maker Walsh was put through his paces by trainer Graham Everett ahead of his maiden title defence against Aberdeen’s unbeaten Darren Traynor this Friday at London’s York Hall, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Walsh carved his name into the boxing history records last September when he joined super-featherweight brother Liam as the first set of twins to simultaneously hold British titles. Unbeaten southpaw Liam has enthralled championship rings since winning the Commonwealth title back in 2010 but now it’s Ryan’s name on fight fans lips.

“I’ve been sat behind Liam in his shadow for two years, pushing him and motivating him and vice-versa. He’s been doing brilliant things in boxing, won numerous titles and he’s inspired me. Me and Liam work very hard, his success has always been my success. I couldn’t be the fighter that I am without my brothers and although Michael isn’t as involved as he was but there’s no bigger supporter than him. The success has come from genuine hard work with each other, we push each other to be the best we can be” said Walsh.

“The media attention is something that I’ve got to get used to as it’s quite new to me. Last time there was a lot of interest in myself and Liam because of the record but this time it’s all about me. I do quite like the attention I have to admit, usually I’m away from all this at the training camp so it’s nice to come home to.”

Ryan, now ranked 13th by the WBO, has the honour of kicking off a massive year of boxing on BoxNation as he headlines an action-packed show at Bethnal Green’s York Hall and is relishing fighting in front of the cameras.

He continued: “I just can’t wait. The buzz around this fight has been unreal, we’re doing really well on the tickets and I’m sure the Farmy Army are going to be making a hell of a racket come Friday night. Fighting under the Warren name is huge and I’m a big fan of BoxNation so it’s great to be starting the year off as top of the bill. Being top of the bill adds a bit of pressure but I’m going to be getting a lot of attention which is what I want.”

“I look at the division and it’s a very exciting one. I can’t look past Darren Traynor but after Friday I’ll have a much better idea about what direction I’m heading in. By the end of the year I should have had a good four or five fights. Starting early in January is brilliant because it gives me a chance to be very active this year.”

One downside of fighting so early on in the year is being involved in full training over the festive period but Ryan is confident that his sacrifices will be worth it come fight night. The 29 year-old has spent the past five and a half weeks pounding the mountainside roads of Tenerife as prepares to fight over 12 rounds for only the third time in his career.

He added, “Preparation for this fight has been brilliant. Every camp is slightly different and I’ve taken things from every one that I’ve ever been involved in. My diet and my exercises have all changed, not dramatically though because I think if it’s not broke don’t fix it; all I’m trying to do is improve.”

Headlining the show is Ryan Walsh making the first defence of his British Featherweight title against Darren Trayner.  Chief support on the card sees Dulwich’s Ahmet Patterson face Ryan Aston for the Vacant IBF Intercontinental Super-Welterweight Championship; on the undercard Erith super-bantamweight Lewis Pettitt makes his comeback; Dagenham lightweight talent Ediz Hussein competes in a six rounder; West Ham super-welterweight Sam McNess; Chelmsford super-middleweight Billy Long; Chingford lightweight Archie Sharp; West Ham super-lightweight Ben Smith and Sidcup super-featherweight D.P Carr.

Remaining tickets are available from Ticket Master at www.ticketmaster.co.uk and 0844 844 0444

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 415 and Freeview 255.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  or watch online at watch.boxnation.com and via iPhone, iPad or Android and Amazon devices.

A brilliant 2015 took unbeaten Brummie middleweight Tommy Langford to the cusp of contention. Now it’s time to transform rich potential into something more concrete.

The 26 year old former England amateur skipper dips his toes into 12 round championship waters for the first time next month when he fronts up to Dronfield’s decent Lewis Taylor in a quality clash for the vacant Commonwealth strap at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

The fight serves as a tasty hors d’oeuvre to WBO World Lightweight Champion Terry Flanagan’s shootout with Derry Mathews.

‘Last year was fantastic for me,’ admits the articulate Devon born sports science graduate who has won 15 straight as a pro.

‘I had four good wins, won my first title (WBO Inter-Continental) and got a 10 rounder under my belt. Finally my performances are getting me credit and other people are starting to agree that I’m as good as I always thought I was.

‘In addition to my fights, throughout the year I really benefitted from quality sparring with the likes of Chris Eubank Jr, Liam and Callum Smith, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam and Liam Williams. Mixing with such quality lads has been vital for my learning.

‘Sparring fighters beneath my ability can be intense but it lacks the intelligence, the cuteness, the mental challenges. Against the calibre I’m sparring now, you can waste nothing because every little mistake gets punished. It’s been really beneficial for my development. I’ve always had good offence. This forces me to eradicate silly defensive mistakes.

‘I’ve got all the punches. Now I need to improve my ring generalship, develop a greater understanding of when to throw which punches. At this level, you can’t afford to get game plans wrong.’

A stylish, highly skilled operator, schooled by respected coach Tom Chaney in Hall Green, Langford has latterly added some bite to his often beautiful boxing. Four of his last six victims failed to cross the finishing tape though he concedes he is more a breaker of hearts than bones.

‘I’ve never professed to be a banger but my punches hurt and my work rate combined with my boxing ability makes me every bit as dangerous,’ says the diehard West Bromwich Albion fan.

‘When I’m constantly throwing and landing, opponents have got to defend or get out the way. It must be very frustrating, highly demoralising. You notice their heads drop mid fight. When I land four or five in a row, it’s exciting for the fans.’

Ominously, Langford’s career path continues to mimic that of fellow Baggie Richie Woodhall – the former WBC Super-Middleweight champion – with whom he is so frequently compared.

Tommy says: ‘It’s ironic that, like Richie, my first major title shot will be for the Commonwealth. Richie reigned on the Commonwealth throne for a long time, before adding European and world titles. Let’s hope the similarities continue.’

Having impressively dispatched imports from Mexico, Argentina and Poland in his last three gigs, the six footer squares off with 18-1-1 Derbyshire rival Taylor in a fight that would have been a fitting bill topper at any small hall venue in the Midlands.

‘I really enjoyed the attention of being main event at Wolverhampton Civic against Rios but it’s equally good to be part of these massive bills. Rather conveniently the Baggies are away at Everton that day so hopefully a lot of fans will stay up for my fight,’ says Langford who already holds the WBO Inter-Continental belt and a world ranking of six with the same governing body.

‘Cristian Rios, who I shut out in October, was Argentine champion and a very good fighter but not recognised on these shores. So fighting a top ten domestic rival from the same region heightens interest, gives the fans and press something to get their teeth into.

‘Lewis is a big tall middleweight like myself, a good stand up boxer with a decent jab. He’s pretty busy himself so the fans are likely to see an exciting fight, a good spectacle. I want to win in fights like that. It’s better for recognition.

‘But it’s a case of levels and I aim to show that I’m a grade above Taylor. He’ll find there’s a difference between throwing lots of shots at defensive minded journeyman and getting away with the same thing against a contender like me. I’ll punish his mistakes.

‘I WILL win but the manner I win is increasingly vital this year if I’m to throw my name into the hat for a world title challenge to Billy Joe Saunders.

‘I intend to deliver a performance that’ll separate myself from all the other domestic contenders. That will open doors for me.   I’m confident I’ll force another stoppage.’

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 415 and Freeview 255.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  or watch online at watch.boxnation.com and via iPhone, iPad or Android and Amazon devices.

Cyclone Promotions and Matchroom Boxing are delighted to confirm the first two Ireland vs. England battles on the undercard of Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg’s World Super-Bantamweight unification clash at the Manchester Arena on February 27, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the US.

Belfast’s Marco McCullough and Morecambe’s Isaac Lowe clash for the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight title while unbeaten former Team GB star Charlie Edwards tackles Belfast’s Luke Wilton in a final eliminator for the British Flyweight title at the sold-out arena.

McCullough will be full of confidence ahead of his first action of 2016 having finished a challenging year with wins over Sergejs Logins and Sergio Prado – and the 26 year old expects to have too much for the local man in Manchester.

“I'm delighted to be part of this massive show,” said McCullough. “To be boxing on Sky Sports Box Office on the undercard of my Cyclone stablemate Carl Frampton is a huge moment in my career.

“Isaac is a talented lad but I have boxed at a higher level and I'm one hundred percent confident that I will be walking away with that Commonwealth belt on February 27. My uncle Tommy Waite won the Commonwealth Bantamweight title in Manchester sixteen years ago and I can't wait to emulate him.

“I have boxed in front of massive crowds before against former World Champions, Isaac hasn't, and it's this experience that will prove the difference on the night. I will have the bigger support in Manchester and I'm going to do them proud and win this fight in style.”

English champion Lowe turns 22 this week and the ‘Westgate Warrior’ believes he’ll KO his Belfast rival and notch a second major title in his blossoming career.

“It’s great to get the opportunity to box on such a big show,” said Lowe. “To fight on Sky Sports Box Office is a dream come true so early in my career – I’m so excited.

“Marco has had a good career, he’s a strong puncher – but he’s hittable and beatable. He’s been knocked out twice and on my day I beat him all day long. He is my toughest test so far, but as we’ve seen with my past two fights – the better opposition, the better I perform.

“I’m expecting him to give everything he’s got – but I’m confident I will weather the storm and emerge victorious. If the Irish boo me, so be it. I will feed off that and perform even better. Remember, there will be 10,000 screaming fans from North West, so we will do our best to drown them out. I want to prove to everyone in Britain that I am World class.”

Surrey starlet Edwards landed the English Flyweight title in his fifth fight and defended it in style in November at the Manchester Arena with a sixth round stoppage of Phil Smith to end his debut year on a high. The 22 year old says he wants to hit the ground running in 2016 by landing a British title shot with a big win over the experienced Wilton.

“It’s great to be on such a huge bill in my first fight in 2016,” said Edwards. “Last year was amazing, starting in January with my pro debut before ending the year in Manchester with a first defence of my English title, I couldn’t have asked for more.

“Luke has been around for a while and has had a lot more fights than I have, so I am expecting a tough night, but I am on a roll and I feel unstoppable, and I fully expect to put in a great performance in Manchester.”

Cyclone and Matchroom will be announcing further championship fights on the undercard later this week.