Wood Updates On Flanagan, Fitzgerald; Confirms Ajisafe Capture

By Elliot Foster, Matt Bevan

Promoter Steve Wood is one of the busiest men in the whole of British boxing and he expects 2017 to be no different as he gives Boxing Scene an update on his fighters and his expectations for them.

Wood, who manages the likes of Terry Flanagan, the WBO lightweight world champion, Josh Warrington, who is on the verge of a world title shot at featherweight and recently signed terms with Frank Warren, and Tommy Coyle is exciting big years for three of his big names.

He also revealed that he has added former British light-heavyweight champion Bob Ajisafe to his ranks and is excited about the potential of the likes of Tom Farrell and Scott Fitzgerald, the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, this year.

“With Terry we’re looking to make one more defence of his belt, probably around early April in Manchester, before focusing on securing him a mega fight with the likes of Jorge Linares or Vasyl Lomachenko,” Wood said exclusively.

“He needs that breakout fight to go from a normal world champion to a revered world champion and I’m very confident that he isn't just the top lightweight on the planet, he can be top 10 pound-for-pound.

“Josh Warrington will be more active and push for a world title by the end of the year. We want to build him into an even bigger star in Leeds [than he already is] and the ultimate goal is a world title fight at Elland Road in 2018. We’re hoping he’ll be out in April and then again in May, when he’ll headline in Leeds.”

Warrington was most recently in action last July, live on Sky Sports, when he defended his WBC International featherweight title at the First Direct Arena against Patrick Hyland.

A fight with Lee Selby looked close at one point but didn’t come to fruition and now that he has switched promotional allegiances, his manager –– under whom he has won English, British, Commonwealth and European honours –– is excited about what the future may hold.

“He’s now with Frank, who made a big play to sign Josh,” Wood continued telling ‘Scene. “The bottom line was it was a serious financial offer that was too good not to take and Frank is as committed as us to keeping Josh active, so he simply had to move.”

“Tommy Coyle’s dream is still to win the British title and he’s never not in an exciting fight,” Wood says of his former British and Commonwealth title challenger.

‘Boom Boom’ returns from his loss to Tyrone Nurse in July for the British super-lightweight title next month –– at Hull Arena, live on Sky Sports –– when he takes on Kofi Yates, as part of the supporting cast to Gavin McDonnell’s vacant WBC super-bantamweight world title challenge against Mexico’s Rey Vargas.

“I think he’ll do a good job [next month],” Wood says about Coyle, “and then he’ll look to fight Nurse again or go for the vacant title if Tyrone moves on and vacates.

“He’s such an entertaining fighter and Sky absolutely love him, so no matter what level he is fighting at, there will always be interest in him. I’m sure he’ll capture the British and fulfil his dream very soon.”

Not content with what he already has to work with, Wood told Boxing Scene that he has recently added another name to his already-well-balanced firm.

“We’ve just added Bob Ajisafe to our stable,” he said, “and he will be out either February or March, before we look at getting him back in the title mix up, while I’m also very excited about where we will go with Tom Farrell and Scott Fitzgerald this year.

“Tom is so well schooled and if anything winning the WBA International super-lightweight belt may have come a bit early. He’ll have a couple of defences of the title this year on VIP shows and then we’ll move him on to bigger things in 2018.”

Farrell is also being earmarked as a potential fighter to feature on Eddie Hearn’s planned April 22 card in Liverpool, live on Sky Sports, which Boxing Scene understands will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

“Scott is another one to keep an eye on,” Wood emphasises, “and he’ll be headlining a card in Preston at the Guild Hall on March 11. We want to build his fan base there, which is so important, so they have seen him before he wins the titles. You don’t want to bring him back and not have many there. He’s a Matchroom fighter, but we’ve had the go ahead from Eddie Hearn to go [home with him].

“There’s plenty of other breakout stars to watch out for including Zelfa Barrett, who will be let off the leash soon. His uncle Pat wants him to have a couple more development, but we can’t hold him back much longer. He’ll be looking at titles by the end of 2017.

“Jack Arnfield will defend his belt against Mick Hall next week on ITV before a British title eliminator later this year and there is a lot of talk surrounding Jack Massey, who will be a part of the BT deal and moved on pretty quickly.

“Rick Godding is back and pushing for titles, as is Joe Murray who is coming off the back of a stunning knockout in Denmark which got everyone talking.

“Talking of Denmark, Isaac Lowe will travel there to challenge Dennis Ceylan for his European title on March 18 in Aarhus.

“Maxi Hughes will challenge Martin J Ward for the British title on March 25 in Manchester [at Manchester Arena, as part of the Sky Sports-aired undercard to Anthony Crolla’s world lightweight title rematch against Jorge Linares] and Shayne Singleton will do the same against Bradley Skeete, we’re just waiting on a date but it’s looking like the back end of April. We’re also going to push Ryan Doyle towards a British title fight.

“There is plenty going on for us and VIP TV is going from strength-to-strength. It’s good for the lads to have their fights filmed and interviewed after, as it sets them up for when they get a chance on Sky or Box Nation, so it’s a good learning curve for them. In a way we are a feeder promoter to the big TV boys, so we make sure they’re ready when it happens.

“Our first show of the year will be February 18 at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, before March 11 in Preston, as we said. Then we’ll be in Buxton on March 18, back to Manchester April 22 and Bolton on May 6. I’m also working on a Liverpool card but don’t have a set date for that yet.”