British News: Josh Warrington, Pearce, Upton, More

Josh Warrington believes his hometown fans have a massive part to play on Saturday night as he faces Dennis Tubieron for the vacant WBC International Featherweight Championship in an official World title eliminator at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, live on Sky Sports.

Warrington is aiming to continue his unstoppable rise to the top having landed the Commonwealth, British and European titles in a remarkable 18 month period, and the Leeds star is gunning for more on Saturday night.

Victory over Filipino Tubieron – who drew for the same title they boxed for in his last action in December – would see Warrington make great strides in the WBC to go with his number eight ranking in the IBF.

The 24 year old fights in his First Direct Arena fortress for the third time inside a year and in front of his biggest crowd yet. Warrington destroyed Davide Diele in front of over 7,000 fans in October, but with Saturday just a handful of tickets away from being a 10,000 sell-out, Warrington expects the roof to come off when he enters the ring.

“The Leeds crowd are very passionate of their own,” said Warrington. “They just see a lad from the estate who gives it his all and they want to get behind that. I speak to some of the lads when I go dropping tickets off and we just talk about Leeds and they say ‘we’re right behind you, you’re doing the city proud and putting Leeds on the map’. It’s good to hear that and I think they can relate to me being a lad from the estate who goes down Elland Road on a Saturday.

“When you walk out and you’ve got that many fans behind you can’t help but buzz off it. I remember last time here before the fight I was standing behind the doors and it was the calm before the storm. The doors opened and there’s people hanging over bannisters and they’re slavering, ‘come on Josh, come on’ and I’d not even walked to the ring yet. I just had a little glance up and I thought ‘wow, there’s some numbers here’ and I looked at my old man and he turned around to me and he said ‘you know what, enjoy yourself but as soon as you get in that ring you listen to me’.

“I walked to the ring against Diele and I couldn’t believe it. I was using the energy from the crowd and I think that’s what you do, using the atmosphere and you can’t get tired because you’ve got that many people shouting your name and you find the energy to throw punches for them as well as yourself but the main thing is you’ve got to keep your discipline in there and you can’t get carried away when they shout.

“I also think it can help when opponents come over. I think the last fight Dieli got spooked, I watched it back on TV and when he’s walking to the ring he’s looking up at the crowd, you see it in his eyes and when he gets in the ring and his corner is facing the crowd and he don’t want to look up, he keeps putting his head down and I think that’s his distraction and I think that played a part that night.

“Tubieron has boxed at higher level. I was speaking to Paulie Malignaggi’s trainer a few weeks ago and he’d heard of him, he said he’d seen him sparring over in America and knows he’s got a high work rate. It’s a massive opportunity for him, guys that come out of the Philippines are fighting for their lives so they never just come over for a walkover, and give it their all.

“I know I’ve got to be on my game because we are stepping up in level. I’ve got to show I can be at this level and can go beyond. I’m looking to put a good performance on and looking to get the win because I know that keep on winning big things are to come for myself and Leeds.”

Warrington’s clash with Tubieron is part of a big night of action in Leeds with a tasty rematch between Martin J. Ward and Maxi Hughes, this time for the vacant WBC International Super-Featherweight Championship.

Tyrone Nurse was set to challenge Chris Jenkins for the vacant British Light Welterweight title but unfortunately Jenkins has been forced out through illness – Nurse is still set to fight for a title on the bill, with news to follow as soon as possible.

Elsewhere on the bill, there is action for Leeds’ British Light Heavyweight champion Bob Ajisafe gets eight-round action, unbeaten Prizefighter champion Jono Carroll, Scotland’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist Callum Johnson, Brixton’s Cruiserweight prospect Isaac Chamberlain, Leeds’ Middleweight Reece Cartwright and Hull Light Welterweight Carl Chadwick.

Extremely limited tickets remain priced £30 and £40 from the First Direct Arena on 0844 248 1585 and at www.firstdirectarena.com.

Stourbridge boxer, Steven Pearce, takes on Sleaford’s Amir Unsworth at Walsall Town Hall next month.

The International Masters champion has campaigned at light middleweight but is targeting a return to welterweight and a second shot at a Midlands Title.

His contest with Unsworth is for a British Bronze Masters Title but he has his eyes firmly set on another crack at the Midlands strap. It takes place at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday, 25th April and Pearce, fresh from a February ring return following a lengthy absence, is ready to push on in 2015.

“It felt good to fight again put into practise the things I'd been working on in the gym,” he told www.uko-boxing.com. “I felt calm and relaxed. I didn't waste any punches. I need to be more active and ready to take big fights if the money and notice is right, so I'm glad this is now a title fight and eliminator because it will open doors to better fights for the winner.”

Pearce, although keen on another Midlands title tilt, has no intention of facing current Midlands Area Light Middleweight Champion, Jason Welborn as, although still managed by Errol Johnson, Welborn has linked up with Pearce at ‘Coops Camp’ in Brierley Hill.

As stablemates, Pearce believes the pair will not meet and instead, the former Midlands Area Welterweight king has his eyes on a second spell as Midlands Champion, having held that strap in 2013. The belt is currently vacant and is being contested by Stafford’s Rob Hunt and Nuneaton’s Sullivan Mason on the same evening as Pearce takes on Unsworth. Having defeated Hunt in 2013, Pearce will be an interested spectator after his clash with Unsworth.

However, the 30 year-old insists he is only focussed on the task at hand.

“Jason is a team mate now and that fight will never happen. I'm getting back down to welterweight if I fight for Midlands Area Title again. This one is at a catch weight between the two and I will be interested to see who wins out of Hunt and Mason.

“I’m concentrating only on my fight though. Amir is a tough strong fighter. I respect and rate him he's won titles and fought at English Title level. Styles make fights and this has the makings of an explosive battle. The crowd will be getting their monies worth!”

Tickets to see Pearce in action are priced at £30 and £60 Ringside and are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.

As well as Hunt versus Mason, there is a packed card.

Pearce’s new stablemate, Jason Welborn, and Midlands Area Light Welterweight Champion, Luke Paddock, also feature alongside the likes of Wolverhampton welterweight, Sid Bowater, Stoke light welterweight Josh McLaren, Welshpool light middleweight, Warren Sinden, Ludlow light middleweight, Craig Morris, and Burton light welterweight, Tom Shaw.

LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT prospect Pauly Upton believes he's on the fast track to title glory and he aims to underline potential when he makes his northern debut in Oldham on April 18.
 
The oldest Upton sibling has only once boxed outside of London since turning professional in 2013 and feels a little northern exposure will help increase his ever growing fan base.
 
He also hopes it will enable him to boost his experience as he's set his sights on getting a few belts around his waist in the year ahead.
 
"It's all about exposure and the more people who get to see me fight, the better," he said. "I've based in Hyde with Ricky [Hatton] for a while now and people keep asking me when I'm going to be fighting in the north.
 
"I'll fight anywhere because no matter what town I'm in, my job is the same and that's to beat my opponent and hopefully look good doing it. Fighting in Oldham is great because it’s a new place with a new crowd, but I'll still be the home fighter.
 
"I think if I do a couple more six rounders or even eight rounders on shows like this, I'll be looking at some kind of title.
 
"I'd love a title fight as soon as possible but it's all up to Ricky. Whenever he's think I'm ready we'll go for it. Whether that's in the middle of the year or at the end of the year, I don't know, but I'd take it now if it was offered.
 
"I've made big improvements since I've been with Ricky. He's brought me on a lot. I've only had three fights with him, but I've developed and he can see how I've improved and so can my supporters.
 
"I don't know exactly who I've got on April 18 yet but I've been given a couple of names and they're tough boxers. I'm ready for anyone and I can't wait to get back in the ring."
 
The April 8 bill is presented by VIP Promotions at the Oldham Sports Centre and will feature former English super-featherweight champion Jon Kays, Middleton's unbeaten Liam Taylor, highly touted prospect Alex Rutter, Oldham's own Ronnie Heffron and the return of Manchester puncher Matthew Hall amongst others.