Kirk Goodings, winner of boxing's version of the X-Factor, will make his debut for top promoter Frank Warren on his big Excel show on Saturday 9th July.

 

Hundreds of young hungry fighters applied for a coveted place in the inaugural Camp 24, held at the famous East London Peacock gym in January this year, only 24 were selected and after a series of fitness tests, bag work, pads and sparring, 21-year-old Goodings was the eventual winner.

 

The Sunderland star, who is unbeaten in five fights, landed a four-fight promotional deal with Warren and has now been added to the undercard of one of the biggest domestic showdowns in recent years between John Murray and Kevin Mitchell.

 

Lightweight Goodings will compete in a four round contest against an opponent to be confirmed.

 

Tunde Ajayi, creator of Camp 24 along with Carli Wheatley, said, "I'm very excited for Kirk and what the future holds for him. He was the first ever winner of Camp 24 and hopefully by joining the best promoter in the business, Frank Warren, he will go on to achieve big things."

 

Goodings said, "I'm so happy for the opportunity Frank Warren has given me to appear on such a fantastic bill and I'm very grateful for the once in a lifetime opportunity Tunde gave me in entering the Camp 24 competition and joining his Staminaforsale Team. I have just turn 22 so I'm very young, but having such a good team around me I feel I can make slow and steady progress and make everyone in Sunderland proud of me. Murray and Mitchell are at the top of their game and I aim to be in their position in the not to distant future."

 

Tickets for North 'n South are available now, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, from 0844 844 0444 or ticketmaster.co.uk

GALLAGHER CONTINUES TO DEFEND UNBEATEN RECORD

 

Top trainer Joe Gallagher's winning streak can continue for years according to John Murray.

 

The Mancunian takes on Kevin Mitchell on July 9 at London's ExCeL Arena.

 

On Saturday Gallagher looks to extend his personal unbeaten record as a trainer to 50 fights when Matt Macklin challenges Felix Sturm in Cologne.

 

And two weeks later the attention will turn to Murray in his WBO Intercontinental lightweight title challenge at the ExCeL.

 

"I'm sure Macklin will do the business on Saturday," said Murray, who is in Germany with Macklin.

 

"The whole camp is buzzing at the moment and all the boys are looking to stay unbeaten for as long as they can.

 

"Joe's got a fantastic record as a trainer, and none of us wants to be the one who brings the unbeaten streak to an end.

 

"If things go to plan on Saturday, the pressure will be on me at the ExCeL, but it's the kind of challenge I relish.

 

"There's no way that Kevin Mitchell will be taking my unbeaten record, or Joe's either, and I think we'll both stay undefeated for a very long time.

 

"He'll come out throwing bombs but he'll leave with his tail between his legs.

 

"I'm coming to London to prove that I am the best lightweight in the country and that we've got the best gym in the country up in Manchester as well."

 

Tickets for North 'n South are available now, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, from 0844 844 0444 or ticketmaster.co.uk

Wayne Reed vows to end Robin Reid’s career

Sheffield fighter aiming to put Prizefighter pain behind him on Saturday

Wayne Reed faces former WBC World Champion Robin Reid at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre on Saturday – and says he’ll end the 40 year-olds career at the sell-out show live on Sky Sports.

Both men took part in the 17th edition of Prizefighter in Liverpool, and while Reid crashing out to Tobias Webb by unanimous decision was a surprise, it was the second quarter-final when Reed took on local favourite Joe Ainscough that caused the controversy. The three-round contest was tight until the final stages when Reed floored the Ainscough before the final bell, seemingly enough to claim a place in the semi-finals.

But it was not to be, Ainscough took the split-decision and Reed’s corner was livid. Reed has fought since – a points win over fellow Sheffield man Dean Walker in April – and says that it is time to move on from that contentious night in Liverpool.

“After Prizefighter I was in the gym the next morning and I was so angry that I absolutely battered the bags,” said Reed. “But a week or so later time is a healer so I was over it really, you just have to get on with it, there's nothing I could do about it.

“I lost the first round, won the second round and knocked him down in the final round - so even if I was losing the final round I still won the round, as it was I battered him and knocked him down so it had to be a 10-8 round. If you were being very objective - and I know it's all about opinions - you could've said the second round was a draw, but even then I won the fight by a point. That's my opinion anyway, but it's gone now and all I can do is look forward, starting tonight.”

Reed may have got over the loss to Ainscough – only his second as a pro – but when Walker and he were called into the Rotherham bout at 24 hours notice, it was all people wanted to ask him about, much to his chagrin.

“When I fought Dean everyone kept mentioning Ainscough, the split decision or Prizefighter and I got really annoyed,” said Reed. “I was telling them that I was trying to get ready for another fight, shut up. I was warming up and trying to get focussed and people were coming into the changing room asking me about Prizefighter – I had to tell them to get out in the end. It's understandable as it was a shocker so people are going to be able to talk about it.

“I said in my interview on Sky before Prizefighter that any publicity is good publicity and to be fair it has got people interested in me – but not for the right reasons. Having said that, everyone is coming to watch me fight and I've sold a ton of tickets, well over 150 and I could have sold more too. I can’t wait to get in there.”

And when he does get in there, he’ll face the former WBC World Champion Robin Reid, who returned to the ring for Prizefighter after almost four years away from boxing.

Reid’s decision to return to the ring for Prizefighter was befitting of a man who always fought in the public eye. He won his WBC belt in 1996 and defended it three times before losing it in 1997 and then had memorable title challenges against the likes of Sven Ottke, Silvio Blanco and of course, Joe Calzaghe.

Reid had a warm-up bout before Prizefighter, but his last major fight came in 2007 against Carl Froch in Nottingham when he lost to The Cobra in a British title challenge. Tonight will be The Grim Reaper’s 49th professional fight – and Reed is intending to make it his last.

“He's old enough to be my Dad!” said Reed. “I'm going to end his career, his time has gone. Prizefighter isn't really made for him; he's a twelve round fighter who won't come alive until after three rounds. I don't watch DVDs of my opponents but obviously I've seen footage of his old fights. I've got nothing but respect for what he's achieved but the writing is on the wall for him.

“I've been on the weight for weeks so I'm in great shape and after this I'm looking for a contract and an English title shot.”